Witchcraft • Legacy Wounding Spell
Ghostly Slashing
Ghostly Slashing makes a wound appear as though an unseen attacker has struck the target. It is preserved as a legacy d20 Witch spell and is not automatically part of later-edition Witch lists.
Ghostly Slashing at a Glance
| 5.5e / 2024 | No conversion published here |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | No conversion published here |
| Pathfinder 1e | Not a Pathfinder Witch spell by default |
| D&D 3.x Legacy | Witch 1, Cleric 2 |
Spell Rules by Edition
Ghostly Slashing — 5.5e / 2024
Status: no conversion is published here. Use the 5.5e Witch’s modern spell list and Hexcraft.
Ghostly Slashing — 5e / 2014
Status: no direct conversion is presented.
Ghostly Slashing — Pathfinder 1e
Status: this legacy spell is not added to the Pathfinder Witch list by default.
Ghostly Slashing — D&D 3.x Legacy
| School | Transmutation |
|---|---|
| Level | Witch 1, Cleric 2 |
| Components | V, S, M |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./level) |
| Target | One living creature |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | Yes |
The target suffers an open wound that appears to have been inflicted by a ghostly attacker. The spell deals 1d4 slashing damage + 1 per caster level, to a maximum +20.
It has no effect on undead or constructs. The material component is a small metal flake.
Using Ghostly Slashing in Play
The spell is most distinctive when the unexplained wound matters: a duel where no blade was drawn, a guarded victim harmed from across a room, or evidence designed to suggest an unseen assailant.
What Changed?
No modern conversion is assumed. The remote slashing wound, caster-level bonus damage and immunity of undead and constructs remain legacy mechanics.
Counterplay and Related Magic
Spell Resistance applies under the original rules, while undead and constructs are unaffected. Because the damage is instantaneous, Dispel Magic does not undo it after resolution. Compare other legacy direct-damage Witch spells rather than importing this formula into later editions.
Rules Sources and Licensing
Legacy source: Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks.
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