Magic Circle Against Evil

Choose the affected creature types

Choose one or more of the following: Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends or Undead. The spell affects a creature because it has a chosen type, not because it is good or evil.

Outward-facing circle

• A creature of a chosen type cannot willingly enter the Cylinder by nonmagical means.
• If it tries to enter by teleportation or interplanar travel, it must first succeed on a Charisma saving throw against the caster’s spell save DC.
• It has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets within the Cylinder.
• Targets within the Cylinder cannot be possessed by it or gain the Charmed or Frightened condition from it.

Inward-facing circle

The caster can reverse the magic. A creature of a chosen type cannot willingly leave the Cylinder by nonmagical means. Teleportation or interplanar travel across the boundary requires the same Charisma save. Its attack rolls against targets outside have Disadvantage, and the possession, Charmed and Frightened protection applies to targets outside.

Protection, suppression and exclusion

• Protection: attack rolls against protected targets have Disadvantage, and specified possession, Charmed and Frightened effects cannot be imposed.
• Suppression: the spell does not suspend an existing Charmed or Frightened condition and does not expel an existing possessor unless another rule says so.
• Exclusion: willing nonmagical crossing is prohibited; magical crossing is possible only after the Charisma save.
• The spell does not block saving-throw effects, areas of effect, breath weapons or ranged effects that do not use attack rolls.

Summoned creatures and Planar Binding

The 2024 Planar Binding targets a Celestial, Elemental, Fey or Fiend that remains within 60 feet for the entire 1-hour casting time. Its rules identify an inverted Magic Circle as the usual way to hold a summoned creature during that casting.

1. Cast an inward-facing Magic Circle and choose the target’s creature type.
2. Summon or otherwise place the eligible creature within the Cylinder. The circle does not create the creature.
3. Keep the target within 60 feet for the full hour. If it escapes and leaves range, there is no legal target at completion.
4. At completion, the creature makes the Planar Binding Charisma save. On a failure, it serves for that spell’s duration.
5. If another spell summoned or created the creature, that spell’s duration extends to match the binding.

Dispel Magic and Dimensional Anchor

Dispel Magic can target the circle as an ongoing spell. A 3rd-level circle ends automatically; an upcast circle requires a sufficiently high slot or the normal spellcasting-ability check. Planar Binding is separate and must be ended separately.

SpiralWorlds presents Dimensional Anchor as an independent 2024-compatible conversion rather than a core 2024 spell. When it is used, follow that conversion’s wording. A successful anchor prevents the target from using the magical travel that the circle would otherwise allow after a successful Charisma save.

Outward-facing circle

• Every creature in the area gains the effects of Protection from Evil.
• Evil summoned creatures cannot enter the area.
• A creature in the area, or one that later enters it, receives one attempt to suppress effects controlling it.
• On success, those effects remain suppressed only while the creature stays in the area. Leaving and returning does not grant another attempt or renew that protection.
• The spell does not stack with Protection from Evil.

Spell Resistance and protection

The caster must overcome an evil summoned creature’s Spell Resistance to keep it physically at bay. The deflection bonus, resistance bonus and protection from mental control still apply to warded creatures regardless of the enemy’s Spell Resistance.

Inward-facing circle

• The inward circle binds a nongood called creature, including a creature brought by Lesser Planar Binding, Planar Binding or Greater Planar Binding.
• The calling spell must be cast within 1 round of casting the circle. The circle can contain the called creature for no more than 24 hours per caster level.
• The creature cannot cross the boundary. If it is too large to fit, the spell functions only as normal Protection from Evil for that creature.
• Breaking the powdered-silver circle ends the trap immediately. The prisoner cannot disturb it directly or indirectly, but another creature can.
• A prisoner with Spell Resistance can test the trap once per day. If the caster fails to overcome that resistance, the creature escapes and destroys the circle.
• Ordinary ranged weapons, spells and magical abilities can cross the circle, although the prisoner cannot reach across or attack the circle itself.

Dimensional escape and Dimensional Anchor

A creature capable of astral projection, blink, dimension door, etherealness, gate, plane shift, shadow walk, teleport or similar travel can escape an ordinary inward circle. A successful Dimensional Anchor cast on the creature before it acts prevents that route and lasts as long as the circle.

Planar Binding: saves, Spell Resistance and escape

1. Prepare the inward circle and state the kind of elemental or outsider to be called. A specific individual requires its proper name.
2. Cast the relevant Planar Binding spell. The target makes its Will saving throw to resist being called.
3. Spell Resistance does not prevent the initial calling. If the Will save fails, the creature appears in the trap.
4. Once trapped, it may try each listed escape method once per day: test Spell Resistance against the caster-level check, use dimensional travel, or make the Planar Binding Charisma check.
5. If it remains trapped, resolve Planar Binding’s opposed Charisma negotiation for service. The circle contains; the calling spell governs arrival, escape and service.

Dispel Magic

A targeted Dispel Magic can end the ongoing circle through the PF1e caster-level check. Physically breaking the silver line is a separate method. Planar Binding has an instantaneous duration, so dispelling the circle removes containment but does not reverse the completed calling.

Outward-facing circle

• Every creature in the area gains the effects of Protection from Evil.
• No nongood summoned creature can enter. This is broader than PF1e’s “evil summoned creatures” wording.
• The caster must overcome the excluded creature’s Spell Resistance to keep it at bay.
• The deflection bonus, resistance bonus and protection from mental control apply regardless of the enemy’s Spell Resistance.
• The spell and Protection from Evil do not stack.

Unlike PF1e, 3.5e does not add a separate one-attempt-on-entry suppression clause. Use the mental-control wording inherited from Protection from Evil: qualifying control is suppressed while the ward applies, and possession is barred from taking control, but an existing possessing life force is not expelled.

Inward-facing circle

• The circle binds a nongood called creature associated with Lesser Planar Binding, Planar Binding or Greater Planar Binding.
• The calling spell must be cast within 1 round of the circle. Maximum containment is 24 hours per caster level.
• The prisoner cannot cross the boundary. If it is too large for the area, only normal Protection from Evil applies to it.
• The prisoner cannot disturb the silver line directly or indirectly, but another creature can break it and end the trap.
• A prisoner with Spell Resistance can test the trap once per day. Failure to overcome that resistance releases it and destroys the circle.
• Ranged weapons, spells and magical abilities can cross an ordinary circle.

Dimensional escape and calling diagram

Dimensional travel bypasses an ordinary inward circle unless Dimensional Anchor prevents escape. A hand-drawn special diagram takes 10 minutes and a secret DC 20 Spellcraft check; take 10 when unpressured, or take 20 in 3 hours 20 minutes.

• A successful diagram allows Dimensional Anchor to be cast on the circle during the round before the calling spell.
• The anchor holds called creatures for 24 hours per caster level.
• The prisoner cannot use Spell Resistance against the circle.
• None of its attacks or abilities can cross the diagram.
• Its Planar Binding Charisma escape DC increases by 5.
• Any outside disturbance of the diagram releases it immediately.

The legacy text says “summoning spell” in the diagram passage, but the associated Planar Binding spells use the Calling subschool. Apply the procedure to the called creature and the calling spell rather than treating summoning and calling as interchangeable.

Planar Binding resolution

1. Prepare the inward circle and specify the kind of elemental or outsider. A particular individual requires its proper name.
2. Begin the 10-minute Planar Binding casting within 1 round of completing the circle as the practical resolution of the legacy timing language.
3. The target makes its Will save. Success resists the call. Spell Resistance does not prevent initial arrival.
4. After appearing, it may try Spell Resistance, dimensional travel or the listed Charisma escape check once per day.
5. If it remains trapped, resolve the opposed Charisma negotiation for service. A refused bargain does not dismiss the creature.

Dispel Magic

A targeted Dispel Magic uses 1d20 + caster level, maximum +10, against DC 11 + the circle caster’s level. Success ends the ongoing circle. Planar Binding is instantaneous once the creature has been called, so dispelling or breaking the circle removes the trap without undoing the completed calling.