Metamagic — Shape the Spell

D&D 2024 — Sorcerer Metamagic

Access: The Sorcerer gains Metamagic at level 2 and modifies spellcasting by spending Sorcery Points. Each option states its own cost, and the Sorcerer’s class feature limits how many options may be applied to the same casting. Empowered Spell and Seeking Spell have special exceptions allowing use alongside another option.

Distant Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; doubles a spell’s range of at least five feet or makes a Touch spell’s range 30 feet.

Extended Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; doubles qualifying duration to a maximum of 24 hours and grants Advantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration on the affected spell.

Quickened Spell: 2 Sorcery Points; changes an Action casting to a Bonus Action. The option restricts casting other level-1-or-higher spells during the turn.

Empowered Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; rerolls up to the caster’s Charisma modifier in damage dice (minimum one) and requires keeping the new rolls.

Subtle Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; can remove Verbal, Somatic and certain uncostly, unconsumed Material components. The spell’s other restrictions still apply.

Example: A Sorcerer uses Quickened Spell to cast a damaging spell with a Bonus Action, then uses their Action to Disengage. They do not get to spend an Action on a second level-1-or-higher spell that turn.

D&D 2024 Basic Rules — Sorcerer.

D&D 2014 — Sorcerer Metamagic

Access: A Sorcerer gains Metamagic at level 3 and spends Sorcery Points to modify spells. Unless an option says otherwise, the caster uses only one Metamagic option on a spell.

Distant Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; doubles a range of five feet or more or changes Touch to 30 feet.

Extended Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; doubles a duration of at least one minute, up to a 24-hour maximum. This version does not grant Advantage on Concentration saving throws.

Quickened Spell: 2 Sorcery Points; changes an Action casting to a Bonus Action. After casting a Bonus Action spell, other spells in that turn are restricted to cantrips with an Action casting time.

Empowered Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; allows limited damage-dice rerolls, keeping the second results. It can be used alongside another Metamagic option applied to that casting.

Subtle Spell: 1 Sorcery Point; removes Verbal and Somatic components but not Material components.

Example: A Sorcerer quickens a spell and uses their Action for a cantrip. A second levelled spell cast using that Action is not permitted by the 2014 Bonus Action casting rule.

D&D 2014 Basic Rules — Sorcerer.

Pathfinder 1e — Metamagic Feats

Access: A spellcaster selects metamagic feats for which they qualify. Usually the modified spell occupies a slot a number of spell levels above its normal level. Unless a rule explicitly changes its effective spell level, the adjustment does not by itself increase the saving-throw DC.

Prepared casters: Choose the metamagic version while preparing the spell. Spontaneous casters: applying most metamagic feats changes an ordinary standard-action spell to a full-round action, unless a specific exception applies. Quicken Spell is an important exception: Pathfinder allows it to be used with spontaneously cast spells.

Examples: Extend Spell uses a slot one level higher; Empower Spell uses a slot two levels higher; Maximize Spell uses a slot three levels higher; Quicken Spell uses a slot four levels higher. Heighten Spell alters the spell’s effective level rather than merely increasing its slot cost.

Example in play: A wizard prepares a 1st-level spell modified by Extend Spell using a 2nd-level spell slot. The spell lasts twice as long as normal where its duration is eligible.

Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook — Metamagic Feats.

D&D 3.5e — Metamagic Feats

Prepared casters: A wizard or another spellcaster who prepares spells selects metamagic versions during preparation. The spell uses a slot of the higher level required by the feat. Except for Heighten Spell, this higher slot does not change the spell’s effective level for saving-throw DCs.

Spontaneous casters: A Sorcerer or Bard may apply a metamagic feat when casting rather than when preparing. An ordinarily standard-action spell becomes a full-round action; a longer spell may require an extra full-round action. The same increased casting-time rule applies to a Cleric spontaneously converting a spell to cure or inflict.

Special case: Quicken Spell, under the original 3.5e core rules, cannot be applied to a spontaneously cast spell. Multiple metamagic feats may be combined if the resulting slot is available, and their adjustments accumulate; the same feat cannot be applied repeatedly to one spell.

Magic items: A caster does not normally apply their own metamagic feat directly to a wand or scroll as it is activated. An item can instead be created to contain a spell already modified by applicable metamagic rules.

Example: A wizard prepares a 3rd-level spell with Empower Spell (+2 slot levels) and Maximize Spell (+3 slot levels) using an 8th-level slot. The spell’s base save DC remains determined by the spell’s actual level, unless another rule explicitly changes that level.

D&D 3.5e SRD — Metamagic Feats.