Good Memory
Spontaneous casters (bards and sorcerers) who have positive Intelligence modifiers have additional spells known at each level per the table Bonus Spells Known. Prepared casters gain bonus cantrips known only, but can prepare additional spells at each spell level based on having a higher Intelligence (and therefore a greater capacity for memorization).
Warlocks and rangers are now prepared casters under House Rules; see Access to Omnipotence.
The usual rules still apply for learning said spells, as a 5th-level sorcerer who attunes to a headband of intellect +2 which increases his Intelligence score from 14 to 16 (and therefore his modifier from +2 to +3) doesn’t “suddenly” know an additional 2nd-level spell, nor does he automatically know an additional 4th level spell, as he can’t yet cast from that level anyway; it must be a spell you have studied (from a spellbook or scroll) or which has been taught to you by another spellcaster. Typically, you must have studied and practiced the new spell(s) for at least one long rest per spell level before you can add them to your repertoire, so the aforementioned 5th-level sorcerer will need to wait two long rests before the new 2nd-level spell becomes part of his regular selection.
Bonus Spells Known
| INT Mod | Bonus Spells Known | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantrip | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| +1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| +2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| +3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| +4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| +5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| +6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| +7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| +8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| +9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| +10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
A 3rd level cleric with a Wisdom modifier of +3 and an Intelligence modifier of +1 can prepare 6 spells of any level and an additional 1st-level spell, plus she has 1st and 2nd-level domain spells which are always prepared. Since her spells are granted by an omnipotent being, if her Intelligence modifier increases (such as from attuning to a headband of intellect), she can prepare additional spells beginning with her next long rest.
A 9th level wizard with an Intelligence modifier of +4 can prepare 13 spells from any spell level, plus 2 1st-level spells, 2 2nd-level spells, a 3rd-level spell, and a 4th level spell. She would also know 7 cantrips. Since her spells are written into her spellbook, if her Intelligence modifier increases (such as from attuning to a headband of intellect), she can prepare additional spells beginning with her next long rest.
A multiclass spellcaster cannot know any more spells than are allowed by the highest number permitted by one of their spontaneous caster classes, plus the above bonuses for each level. Example: a fourth-level bard and third-level sorcerer with an Intelligence score of 15 would use the bard’s “spells known” value (7), as it is higher than the third-level sorcerer’s (4), plus the additional known 1st and 2nd level spells based on her intelligence modifier. This means she has a total of 9 spells known, at least one of them is a 2nd level spell, and they can be from the spell lists for either class.
Why this limitation for multiclass spellcasters? Because the whole idea behind granting bonus spells based on one’s Intelligence score is that Intelligence governs one’s ability to memorize things, so a person of higher Intelligence can memorize more spells. It therefore becomes illogical that a person of average or low Intelligence could “know” 11 spells as a 4th level bard/3rd level sorcerer, simply because she has multi-classed!
A character who can cast cantrips or spells from only their heritage, background, or subclass and does not have the spellcasting class feature with an allotment of spell slots does not gain bonus spells known. For example, an elven monk who can innately cast true strike as their heritage cantrip and uses their ki to cast fireball does not know any additional cantrips or third level spells, as those spells are not known from or cast as a spontaneous spellcaster class.
Added to House Rules in 2023.