Handbooker Helper: Spell Components

Dani Carr is here to charm you with the basics of using spellcasting components and focuses in D&D 5e.

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[ryanschmidt]

"Focus takes care of the smaller stuff, but not the financial burden." College. This is college.

[pavarottiaardvark]

"Nobody said spells were easy"

Wrong! My fiend patron said they were super easy and had no downsides!

[Emmanemanemm]

Only alchemist's spells will cost you an arm and a leg

[Entias]

"Some spells cost an arm and a leg to be completed." We talkin' about D&D or Fullmetal Alchemist?

[Rathkryn]

My favorite Requires Material Components example is the _Mending_ cantrip for my _College of Swords_ Bard. Since his weapons count as his spell focus, they replace the lodestones. So when my bard casts _Mending_ he's using his daggers to fix tears in clothing. I just picture him using them like knitting needles.

[aethyr]

It remind me of two boys trying to cast "Raise Dead" without the material component. It did cost them an arm and a and more.

[samanthamansfield]

THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT HANDBOOKER HELPER YET, THANK YOU. THE ARCANE FOCUS HAS BEEN CONFUSING ME FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS!!!! SWEET CLARITY!

[MaximillianGreil]

The hand holding the focus can also be used to cast somatic components. So, a wizard can cast spells holding a staff and a dagger with no problems. The staff hand counts as the somatic hand. (PHB page 203)

[Bishpo]

"Some spells require you to say something in order for you to cast."
Caleb: :D

[JohnPablob]

Fun fact: "Olfacies, sicut brassica!" means "You smell like Cabbage!" In latin.

[Puliping]

Something important that's missing!
Paladins, like Clerics, can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus. Rangers, however, cannot use any sort of focus (only component pouches), just like Arcane Tricksters (Rogues) and Eldritch Knights (Fighters).

[strider]

Oh god the Wilhelm scream getting so much work in this series xD

[MisterSmith]

The benefit of an Arcane Focus is simplicity, and possibly associating such a Focus with your character...a Wizard with an "Entertainer" background, for instance, could style his Focus as a conductor's baton, or cane.

But as Caleb Widowgast has shown in marvelous ways, the use of components can add fun descriptive layers to gameplay...sticking a licorice root in his jaw for an added introduction to "Haste", or a puff of powdered iron for "Slow", or (personal favorite) a "smooshing" of phosphorous for a "Wall of Fire"....

Personally, I love the use of a hot pepper for the spell, "Dragon's Breath"...yeah, YOU could use it, but giving it to a party member is funny as hell...

"Eat the pepper!"

"Ah...no thanks.."

"It is LITERALLY a matter of life and death!"

"Um..."

"Our friends are DYING!"

"Oh, jeez...alright..."

(shoves hot pepper into their mouth as LIGHTNING explodes from their esophagus)

[Amdoss]

Probably have an extra Percy arm lying around somewhere. Bugbears seemed to like that toy quite a bit.

[shaneheidt]

I love that Danni grabbed her CR necklace when mentioning a holy symbol 🤣

[Jimersion]

Just remember: the spell costs do not have to be YOUR arm and/or leg.

[MrClonedzero]

Even though i already know all (read: most) of the rules in these little videos i still really dig them, and can see them being super helpful to new players. Keep it up folks!

[aldograciano]

3:39 Is that a Full Metal Alchemist reference? Gods! I love this guys!

[TheLukeskywalker]

The exception to somatic component is Warcaster feat, as you can have sutff in both hands and still complete the spell.

[kiran_vibez]

Every comment here is a reference to FMA and now the feels are coming back...