Analyze Portal
Analyze Portal is specialised divination for magical gateways. It locates portals and Gate-like effects, then reveals their activation conditions, direction and destination one property at a time.
At a Glance
| Primary rules | D&D 3.5e, Spell Compendium |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 3, Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3; Portal 2 |
| School | Divination |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 round/level |
| Key check | Caster level check against DC 17 for each property studied |
Choose the Legacy Version
Analyze Portal — D&D 3.5e Spell Compendium
| School | Divination |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 3, Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3, Portal 2 |
| Components | V, S, M |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Area | Cone-shaped emanation |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 round/level |
| Saving Throw | See text |
| Spell Resistance | No |
After one round studying the area, you learn the size and location of any magical portal or Gate-like effect in the cone. If several are present, you can study only one portal at a time.
Each additional round of study can reveal one property. For each property, make a caster level check against DC 17. On a failure, you can try that property again on the next round.
- Any key or command word required to activate the portal.
- Special conditions governing its use, such as restricted times.
- Whether it is one-way or two-way.
- A brief view of the destination area, limited by the spell’s range.
The destination view does not let other divinations or spell-like abilities operate through the portal.
Material components: a crystal lens and a small mirror.
Analyze Portal — D&D 3.0 Forgotten Realms
| School | Divination |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 3, Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3; Portal 2 |
| Components | V, S, M, DF |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Area | Quarter-circle emanation |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 round/level |
The original Forgotten Realms version follows the same investigation sequence but uses the older quarter-circle area wording and includes a divine focus for appropriate divine access.
The later 3.5e Spell Compendium revision is the cleaner version to use at a 3.5e table.
Unusual Portals
Random portals: the spell tells you that the destination is random and whether the portal can be activated now, but not the schedule governing future availability.
Variable portals: it identifies the portal as variable; when you study the destination, you see only the destination currently selected.
Creature-only portals: the spell reveals the restriction and shows where creatures go. If equipment is diverted somewhere else, that separate destination remains hidden.
Malfunctioning portals: the spell identifies the portal as malfunctioning but does not diagnose the exact malfunction.
Using Analyze Portal
Before crossing
The spell is at its best when a portal is dangerous because the party does not understand its rules. A minute spent casting and several rounds of concentration can reveal whether a gate needs a key, works only at certain times, or sends travellers somewhere unexpected.
Portal networks
In regions containing several linked gateways, the spell lets an investigator build a practical map of which portals connect, which are one-way, and which are currently unsafe.
What it does not do
It does not disable the portal, change its destination or protect travellers from whatever lies beyond. It is information magic. Pair it with travel, warding or portal-control magic when the party needs more than diagnosis.
Related Magic
- Gate — the spell can identify a gate-like magical passage in its area.
- Detect Magic — can reveal a portal’s magical aura but gives less operational detail.
- Dimension Door — short-range dimensional travel rather than portal analysis.
- Dimensional Lock — blocks dimensional travel in an area.
- Bard Spells — legacy Bard access.
- Sorcerer and Wizard Spells — legacy arcane access.
Sources and Licensing
- Spell Compendium (Wizards of the Coast, 2005), p. 10 — later D&D 3.5e revision. Mechanics are summarised for reference; this source is not presented as Open Game Content.
- Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast, 2001), pp. 66–67 — earlier D&D 3.0 version.
Keep this reference growing
If this page helped with your reading or game, you can support its upkeep or explore the curated books.
Explore the Bookshop — epics, classics and stories behind imagined worlds.