Widen Spell — The Expanding Circle
A wall of fire that seals an alley may engulf a courtyard when its caster widens the spell. A larger effect can catch more foes, but a careless magician can also endanger allies, cover routes of escape or draw unwanted attention.
At a Glance
| D&D 2024 | No standard Widen Spell feat; Sorcerer Distant Spell changes range, not area |
|---|---|
| D&D 2014 | No standard Widen Spell feat; Sorcerer Distant Spell changes range, not area |
| Pathfinder 1e | Widen Spell feat: doubles eligible burst, emanation or spread dimensions; +3 slot levels |
| D&D 3.5e | Widen Spell feat: doubles eligible burst, emanation, line or spread dimensions; +3 slot levels |
Widen Spell Rules by Edition
Widen Spell — D&D 2024
Availability: Widen Spell is not a standard feat or Sorcerer Metamagic option in the 2024 Basic Rules. Distant Spell can double the range of an eligible spell or turn Touch range into 30 feet, but does not increase the radius or length of the spell’s area of effect.
Example: A spell that can be placed 60 feet away and creates a 20-foot-radius area can be cast at greater range if eligible for Distant Spell, but its area remains 20 feet in radius. A change to the area requires a separate published feature or an agreed campaign rule.
Widen Spell — D&D 2014
Availability: There is no standard 2014 Widen Spell feat or Sorcerer Metamagic option. Distant Spell modifies how far away a spell can reach, not the area it covers. Careful Spell changes how selected creatures fare against the spell; it does not expand its radius.
Example: Using Distant Spell to double the range of a spell that creates a 20-foot-radius burst does not make that burst 40 feet across or 40 feet in radius.
Widen Spell — Pathfinder 1e
Type: Metamagic feat. Prerequisites: None. Double each numeric measurement of an eligible spell’s burst, emanation or spread area. The widened spell occupies a slot three levels higher than its normal spell level. The core feat does not explicitly include line-shaped areas in its eligible list.
Example: A spell filling a 20-foot-radius spread now fills a 40-foot-radius spread, before considering walls, cover or the spell’s other limitations. A 3rd-level spell widened in this way uses a 6th-level slot.
Doubling the radius changes the covered space substantially more than simply adding a second copy of the original affected area.
Widen Spell — D&D 3.5e
Type: Metamagic feat. Prerequisites: None. Double the numeric measurements of a spell’s eligible burst, emanation, line or spread area. The spell uses a slot three levels above its normal level. Spells without these area shapes are unaffected.
Example: A 20-foot-radius spread becomes a 40-foot-radius spread. An eligible line-shaped spell can likewise have its applicable line measurement doubled. A 3rd-level spell needs a 6th-level slot when widened.
Measure the enlarged area using the original spell’s shape and line-of-effect rules; the feat changes dimensions, not the spell’s school, save DC or damage dice.
Applying an Expanded Area
- Confirm that the spell has an area shape allowed by the relevant edition’s feat.
- Increase each eligible numerical measurement by 100%.
- Use the higher spell slot required by that feat, and apply the spell’s ordinary saving throws and effects.
- Check whether the enlarged area catches allies, creates a new obstacle or reaches beyond the intended ground.
Related techniques: Enlarge Spell · Maximize Spell · Empower Spell · Spell Components.
Sources and Licensing
Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e Widen Spell rules are sourced to their separate published metamagic feats under applicable Open Game Content terms. The modern D&D panels explain related options without claiming a standard fifth-edition Widen Spell feat exists.
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