Magic Stone 5e Spell Guide: Full User Guide & Examples

Welcome to the Magic Stone 5e full spell guide. We’ll explore what it is, who should use it, and when, where, and why to use it. We’ll also lay out some tips for how DMs can incorporate it into campaigns, so let’s get started right away.

Magic Stone 5e: What Is It? Is It Good?

• LEVEL: Cantrip / 0
• CASTING TIME: 1 Bonus Action
• RANGE/AREA: Touch
• COMPONENTS: V, S
• DURATION: 1 Minute
• SCHOOL: Transmutation
• ATTACK/SAVE: Ranged
• DAMAGE/EFFECT: Bludgeoning
• CLASSES: Druid, Warlock, Artificer

You touch one to three pebbles and imbue them with magic. You or someone else can make a ranged spell attack with one of the pebbles by throwing it or hurling it with a sling.

If thrown, it has a range of 60 feet. If someone else attacks with the pebble, that attacker adds your spellcasting-ability modifier, not the attacker’s, to the attack roll.

On a hit, the target takes bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your spellcasting-ability modifier. Hit or miss, the spell then ends on the stone.

If you cast this spell again, the spell ends early on any pebbles still affected by it.

What Is Magic Stone in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition?

Magic Stone is a cantrip-leveled Transmutation spell present in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition errata.

It’s primarily a damage-dealing spell as it empowers nearby pebbles to turn into magical projectiles when thrown by the caster or another person.

Magic Stone’s empowered pebbles deal 1d6 + the caster’s spellcasting modifier. When thrown, the pebbles use the caster’s modifier for the Attack role, even if they are thrown by someone other than the caster.

Who Can Use Magic Stone?

Magic Stone is naturally on the Druid, Artificer, and Warlock spell lists. So, all Druids, Artificers, and Warlocks will have the option of adding this Cantrip to their repertoires.

Players of other classes who want to take the Magic Stone spell in Fifth Edition will need to take the Magic Initiate feat and select Druid,  Artificer,  or Warlock as their spellcasting class.

They will then have the option of adding Magic Stone to their spell lists.

When Should I Use Magic Stone ?

You should use Magic Stone any time you need to use a damaging spell. Magic Stone is a powerful cantrip that packs damage and versatility into one very complete package.

In terms of Cantrips, it really is one of the most comprehensive cantrips a person can use. 

Magic Stone can be especially useful if you run into a low-level situation where your party needs to have damage from magical sources.

Since Magic Stone’s attacks can be used by players other than the caster, they can give the stones to their party members and effectively grant them spellcasting even if they’re playing a physical class.

While this doesn’t replace the need for magical weaponry as the party scales into the late game, it does act as a suitable hold-over if your party has a low-level scuffle with a monster that’s immune or resistant to damage from non-magical sources.

Where Should I Use Magic Stone?

There are no bad places to use Magic Stone. Since it has no innate cost and doesn’t have a downside for players to contend with, Magic Stone can be used willy nilly – wherever it suits you is fine.

Why Should I Take Magic Stone?

Magic Stone is an incredibly versatile cantrip.

While Magic Stone doesn’t scale with level, it does scale with the caster’s modifier (one of few cantrips that does), and this scaling extends to any other party members who might utilize the empowered pebbles made by Magic Stone.

If only used by the caster, Magic Stone provides the caster with three rounds worth of attacks for one bonus action, which is fantastically economical.

It’s also cantrip-level, so it doesn’t use a spell slot, which is great for Warlocks who need to conserve as many spell slots as they possibly can during combat.

Since players can give the stones to other people to throw as well, they functionally grant spellcasting to any player who is close to the caster.

This is a great way to get around Resistance or Immunity to damage from Non-Magical Sources.

Additionally, players who like Magic Stone can take Spell Sniper, which would allow them to cast Magic Stone on pebbles from a distance, enabling them to provide their allies with pebbles wherever they may stand.

Overall, Magic Stone is an economical and powerful spell that players can use to the fullest, and it’s on spell lists that can really use the power boost from it!

How Can DMs Incorporate Magic Stone into Their Campaigns?

Of course, for Dungeon Masters, the question of how to naturally incorporate Magic Stone into their campaign is going to come up.

It’s natural for Dungeon Masters to want to give their players chances to use the spells they’ve elected to add to their spell lists.

The good news is that it’s really easy to incorporate Magic Stone since it’s a damage-dealing spell; all you really have to do is throw combat at players who have Magic Stone, and they’ll have a chance to use it.

But, adding chances to use the spell when it’s most effective is a little more challenging. 

Since Magic Stone doesn’t scale with level, it falls off hard late game. This wall is further solidified by the introduction of Magic Weapons as you get further into your players’ stories.

Giving your players a chance to use Magic Stone after level 5 but before level 10 will give them the most opportunities to use the spell effectively.

The spell is most effective before Level 11 when almost every other damage cantrip makes the spell useless by scaling with level. 

While Magic Stone’s first wall is level 5, most physical classes will get an Extra Attack, which is what you’re waiting for.

You’ll want to give your players an enemy that is either Resistant or Immune to damage from Non-Magical sources.

Base your choice of Resistance or Immunity on what kind of challenge your players are looking to get from their campaign.

Level 5 is generally a little bit early to give players enemies resistant or Immune to damage from non-magical sources (because this is generally too soon for players to have amassed the necessary magical weaponry to deal with them).

However, in the case of Magic Stone, that’s exactly what we’re banking on.

We want players to utilize Magic Stone as the weapon of choice for their physical players in this instance.

Since the spell has an Attack roll, it counts as using the Attack action and will trigger Extra Attack, allowing the player to hurl two of the stones per turn. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Magic Stone

Is Magic Stone Magic Damage?

There is no such thing as “magic damage” in D&D 5e. Rather, the types of damage come from a source that is either Magical or non Magical. Magic Stone deals Bludgeoning damage that comes from a Magical Source.

What Kind of Roll Is Used to Throw a Magic Stone?

The errata makes it clear that throwing a Magic Stone is “making a Ranged Spell Attack” and Spells that have an Attack Roll use the Attack Action. So, this uses an Attack action.

Can You Throw All Three Magic Stones at Once?

Martial classes that have Extra Attack can throw more than one stone per turn. Fighters can throw up to three stones per turn when they’ve reached level 11 and gotten their second Extra Attack.

Does Magic Stone Work With Spell Sniper?

Yes. Spell Sniper allows players who have Magic Stone to cast the spell on pebbles that are further away. However, since Spell Sniper only works on the cast, you cannot throw the stone further.