Divination 5e D&D Guide

You close your eyes and chant the ancient incantation, linking your mind as it becomes a conduit for mysterious forces beyond mortal comprehension.

Visions of the past, present, and future flash before your inner eye, revealing secrets and prophecies that may aid or doom your quest.

The boundaries of time and space are no obstacle to the insatiable hunger for knowledge.

The Player’s Handbook States the following:

Divination 5e

4th-level Divination (Ritual)

Casting Time: 1 Action

Range: Self

Components: V, S, M (requires at least 25 GP in the form of incense and an adequate sacrifice for your religion that the spell will consume.)

Duration: Instantaneous

You come into contact with a deity or a god’s servants thanks to your magic and an offering. You just inquire about one thing that needs to happen within the next seven days—a goal, an event, or an activity.

The DM responds honestly. The response could consist of a single word, a mysterious rhyme, or an omen.

Any variables affecting the result, like casting of further spells or the gain or loss of a companion, are not considered by the spell.

Before the end of your next long rest, if you cast Divination two or more times, there is a cumulative 25% chance that each casting after the first results in a random reading. The DM secretly makes this roll.

Spell Type – Foreknowledge

Which Classes Can Pick Divination 5e?

Traditional classes, such as the Cleric, Druid, and Wizard, can freely unlock Divination.

All three traditional classes can freely unlock and use Divination at level 7.

Subclasses like the Circle of the Land – Forest (Druid) and Circle of the Land – Grassland (Druid) can also freely unlock Divination.

Both subclasses can unlock and use Divination at level 7.

Is Divination Good in 5e?

Being able to contact divine energies will always be good in some sense, even if you aren’t always getting positive feedback.

Players must understand that a mere spell connecting them to the divine is inherently good. Issues arise when the player using them isn’t think creatively or doesn’t understand the spell’s limits.

Advantages – Divination

Ritual Spell

Ritual spells aren’t common in higher-leveled spells, as they have some simple benefits that make them much easier to cast.

Casting a spell as a ritual increases the casting time but makes the spell not consume a spell slot. The spell also doesn’t have to be prepared beforehand.

Note: Having another spell slot at hand is great when some rough-looking bandits suddenly greet you!

Versatility

Divination can be used in so many unique ways that the only real disadvantage it has is related to a player’s understanding and insight.

Knowing how Divination works enables you to ask questions with a guaranteed answer.

Questioning insight allows you to think beforehand, understanding what needs to be asked to receive a more detailed or accurate answer.

Note: Be very focused before casting this spell. It might help you formulate clearer questions, leading to more specific answers.

Disadvantages – Divination

Material Component

Divination’s Material Components might not be very expensive, but they can be challenging to get your hands on.

In certain areas, ritualistic sacrifices might be banned outright! Spending all your time trying to find materials in the wilderness or outside towns can lead to a relatively uneventful day.

Possible Circumstances

As mentioned in the description of Divination, it doesn’t always account for any changing circumstances that could potentially change the outcome of the answer.

Actions such as casting a different spell or gaining a companion aren’t considered.

Note: The best thing to do is to keep questions concise.

Don’t be frustrated if a companion were to die. Most spells, like Divination, can be tricky to understand fully.

Spells Similar to Divination 5e

Similar spells to Divination are Augury, Commune, Foresight, and Scrying.

When or How Should I Use Divination?

Incorporated Into Campaign

Divination can also be incorporated into the campaign in many ways.

Small Scale

Players can freely unlock it during a quest, receive a quest that can only be completed using Divination, or even use it to predict what they need to do next in their campaign (as a way to progress their storyline).

Large Scale

DMs can try to weave the spell (and others like it) into nations’ cultures, allowing players to learn it through their journey to these cities.

They can even have players do a ritual with multiple people to witness potential cataclysms (end-game quests) in the near future!

There are so many exciting ways a DM can incorporate this diverse spell.

Roleplay

Divination adds that a sacrificial item is specific to the caster’s religion. There are many religions in the D&D universe, meaning there’s an extensive array of materials for players to use.

If the players wanted, they could have the DM change the spell in ways that suit their religion. This will increase the roleplay ability and make the spell feel more personal.

Having some small details added to a character can go a long way!

Frequently Asked Question

Which is Better, Divination or Commune?

While both spells are very similar, there are some apparent differences between the two.

Divination delivers more concise answers, while Commune only has two options (yes or no). Commune, on the other hand, lets the caster ask up to three questions, while Divination only allows one question.

While Commune doesn’t use an action to be cast, Divination having more accurate information might tip the scales in favor of Divination. The only problem is that you’ll be using a 4th-level spell slot.

Divination is better if you need a precise answer, while Commune is better if you need to ask many questions.

Final Thoughts

Divination brings powerful insight but can also bring madness and despair if you look too far.

When your visions fade, you are left to ponder the wisdom you gained. Be warned, as the price you pay for forbidden knowledge can be significant.

Players need to think carefully about taking Divination. They must weigh its potential usefulness in their campaign and the benefits of using it to possible consequences.

Even so, try it and see if it fits your playstyle!