Divine Magic • Core Spell Reference

Mending

Mending preserves existing workmanship rather than creating replacement material. Click to enlarge; click again to close.

Choose your edition before using the spell. Its level, casting procedure, targets, effects, and limits follow the rules in the selected panel.

Mending at a Glance

5.5e (2024)	Cantrip
5e (2014)	Cantrip
Pathfinder 1e	Orison (level 0)
D&D 3.5e	Orison (level 0)
Browse	Cleric spells • Cleric class

Spell Rules

5.5e (2024)5e (2014)Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e

Mending — 5.5e (2024)

Cleric cantrip. Edition source.

Spell	Transmutation Cantrip (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard)
Casting Time	1 minute
Range	Touch
Components	V, S, M (two lodestones)
Duration	Instantaneous

This spell repairs a single break or tear in an object you touch, such as a broken chain link, two halves of a broken key, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin. As long as the break or tear is no larger than 1 foot in any dimension, you mend it, leaving no trace of the former damage. This spell can physically repair a magic item, but it can’t restore magic to such an object.

Mending — 5e (2014)

Cleric cantrip. Edition source.

Spell	Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time	1 minute
Range	Touch
Components	V, S, M (two lodestones)
Duration	Instantaneous

Mending — Pathfinder 1e

Cleric orison (level 0). Edition source.

School	transmutation
Level	bard 0, cleric 0, druid 0, sorcerer/wizard 0
Casting Time	10 minutes
Components	V, S
Range	10 ft.
Target	one object of up to 1 lb./level
Duration	instantaneous
Saving Throw	Will negates (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance	yes (harmless, object)

This spell repairs damaged objects, restoring 1d4 hit points to the object. If the object has the broken condition, this condition is removed if the object is restored to at least half its original hit points. All of the pieces of an object must be present for this spell to function. Magic items can be repaired by this spell, but you must have a caster level equal to or higher than that of the object. Magic items that are destroyed (at 0 hit points or less) can be repaired with this spell, but this spell does not restore their magic abilities. This spell does not affect creatures (including constructs). This spell has no effect on objects that have been warped or otherwise transmuted, but it can still repair damage done to such items.

Mending — D&D 3.5e

Cleric orison (level 0). Edition source.

School	Transmutation
Level	Brd 0, Clr 0, Drd 0, Sor/Wiz 0
Components	V, S
Casting Time	1 standard action
Range	10 ft.
Target	One object of up to 1 lb.
Duration	Instantaneous
Saving Throw	Will negates (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance	Yes (harmless, object)

Mending repairs small breaks or tears in objects (but not warps, such as might be caused by a warp wood spell). It will weld broken metallic objects such as a ring, a chain link, a medallion, or a slender dagger, providing but one break exists.

Ceramic or wooden objects with multiple breaks can be invisibly rejoined to be as strong as new. A hole in a leather sack or a wineskin is completely healed over by mending. The spell can repair a magic item, but the item’s magical abilities are not restored. The spell cannot mend broken magic rods, staffs, or wands, nor does it affect creatures (including constructs).

Mending and Magical Natural Philosophy

In the learned magical natural philosophy of 1454, Mending is a favourite introductory demonstration of the difference between continuity, form, and substance.

A torn sheet of parchment remains substantially the same object even though its continuity has been broken. Bring the surviving pieces together and Mending may restore the division. Burn away half the parchment, however, and there is no surviving substance for the spell to reunite.

University masters use examples like these because the lesson reaches far beyond a cantrip: magic that repairs a relationship between surviving parts is not automatically magic that creates matter, restores information, or reverses destruction.

Apprentices who understand that distinction are less likely to mistake Mending for Reforge, fabrication magic, or a general restoration effect. Reforge changes the shape and function of existing metal; Mending restores qualifying physical damage. Neither spell makes skilled workmanship irrelevant.

What Changed?

5.5e / 2024 and 5e / 2014: Mending repairs a single break or tear no larger than 1 foot, but does not restore lost magic to an item.
Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e: the older spell uses edition-specific object limits and repair rules rather than the fifth-edition 1-foot break-or-tear test.

Using Mending in Play

Mending is ideal for repairing a snapped link, torn strap, cracked vessel, broken key or damaged manuscript when the missing material is still present. It repairs physical damage; it does not recreate missing treasure, restore expended charges or replace a destroyed magical property unless the selected edition specifically says otherwise.

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Counterplay and Related Magic

Mending repairs only the damage and object sizes permitted by the selected edition. It does not restore expended magic, replace missing valuable material or undo every form of destruction. Compare Make Whole where that spell exists. Because the repair is instantaneous, Dispel Magic does not normally undo a completed repair.

Rules Sources and Licensing

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