Universal Magic • Making Spell Effects Last
Permanency
Some magic is meant to fade. Permanency makes selected effects endure. The cost matters: D&D 3.5e sacrifices experience points, Pathfinder 1e consumes diamond dust, and the spell itself does not exist as a general-purpose core spell in fifth edition.
Permanency at a Glance
| 5.5e / 2024 | No general Permanency spell in SRD 5.2.1 |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | No general core Permanency spell; some spells have their own enduring effects |
| Pathfinder 1e | Universal, Sorcerer/Wizard 5; diamond dust with cost and level thresholds |
| D&D 3.5e | Universal, Sorcerer/Wizard 5; XP cost tables preserved below |
| Witch archive | 6th-level historical Witch-list placement, not a default Pathfinder Witch spell |
Spell Rules by Edition
Permanency — 5.5e / 2024
Status: no spell by this name in SRD 5.2.1. Do not spend Pathfinder diamond dust or D&D 3.5e XP to extend a modern spell. Use the duration and permanence clauses in the specific 2024 spell being cast.
Permanency — 5e / 2014
Status: no general 2014 core spell by this name. Individual spells that become permanent through repetition or their own duration wording follow their own rules; the older Permanency tables are not interchangeable.
Permanency — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Universal |
|---|---|
| Level | Sorcerer/Wizard 5 |
| Components | V, S, M (diamond dust worth the appropriate listed gp cost) |
| Casting Time | 2 rounds |
| Range | See text; determined by the underlying spell |
| Target / Area | See text and the permitted spell list |
| Duration | Permanent (subject to dispelling) |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
First cast the allowed spell; then cast Permanency, meeting its minimum caster level and diamond-dust cost. The Pathfinder list assigns different prices for self-only effects, effects on other creatures or objects, and spell effects placed on areas.
| PF1e example | Minimum caster level | Diamond dust |
|---|---|---|
| Detect Magic (self) | 9th | 2,500 gp |
| Darkvision (self) | 10th | 5,000 gp |
| Arcane Sight (self) | 11th | 7,500 gp |
| Enlarge Person (eligible creature) | 9th | 2,500 gp |
| Wall of Force (area) | 13th | 12,500 gp |
Consult the complete Pathfinder Permanency cost lists for every eligible spell, caster level and cost. A self-only effect requires dispelling by a higher-level caster; effects on others, objects and areas can be dispelled normally as specified.
Permanency — D&D 3.5e
| School | Universal |
|---|---|
| Level | Sorcerer/Wizard 5 |
| Components | V, S, XP (see original XP tables below) |
| Casting Time | 2 rounds |
| Range | See text |
| Target / Effect / Area | As specified by the spell being made permanent |
| Duration | Permanent; see text |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
Cast the underlying spell, then Permanency. The 3.5e version spends XP instead of Pathfinder’s gp-priced diamond dust: examples include 500 XP for Detect Magic and 1,500 XP for Arcane Sight. Each spell has its own caster-level minimum and permitted target. The full original self, creature and area XP tables are retained intact below.
Rules source: D&D 3.5 SRD — Permanency.
Using Permanency in Play
Players: check the caster-level threshold before buying costly dust or spending XP; not every sustained spell is eligible. GM: decide whether the underlying effect can be dispelled, and whether the permanent magic belongs to a creature, object or area.
Counterplay: Counterspell can stop the casting where supported; Dispel Magic can remove an ongoing permanent effect as the edition allows. The resource cost is not a promise of immunity to dispelling.
Mythical Context
The protective aegis of Athena signifies a ward that belongs to its bearer rather than a momentary flourish. Permanency raises a similar campaign question: what happens when enchantment outlives its caster and becomes part of an heirloom, stronghold or oath? See the Metropolitan Museum’s Athena wearing the aegis.
Historical Context
Cypro-Phoenician gold amulet cases held written spells intended to call for divine protection. Some date from between the seventh and second centuries BCE. They provide historical parallels for spells meant to endure in an object, although not proof of permanently sustained magical effects. See the Metropolitan Museum’s ancient gold amulet case.
Rules Sources and Licensing
Pathfinder Core Rulebook Permanency (OGL v1.0a), and D&D 3.5 SRD — Permanency (OGL v1.0a). Modern edition panels are status notes, not conversions. The original site’s legacy XP tables and rule text are preserved immediately below.
Original D&D 3.5e XP Tables and Rules
This material is Open Game Content, and is licensed for public use under the terms of the Open Game License v1.0a.
This spell makes certain other spells permanent.
Universal
Level Sorcerer/Wizard 5
Components V, S, XP
Casting Time 2 rounds
Range See text
Target, Effect, or Area See text
Duration Permanent; see text
Saving Throw None
Spell Resistance No
Depending on the spell, you must be of a minimum caster level and must expend a number of XP.
You can make the following spells permanent in regard to yourself.
| Spell | Minimum Caster Level | XP Cost |
| Arcane sight | 11th | 1,500 XP |
| Comprehend languages | 9th | 500 XP |
| Darkvision | 10th | 1,000 XP |
| Detect magic | 9th | 500 XP |
| Read magic | 9th | 500 XP |
| See invisibility | 10th | 1,000 XP |
| Tongues | 11th | 1,500 XP |
You cast the desired spell and then follow it with the permanency spell. You cannot cast these spells on other creatures. This application of permanency can be dispelled only by a caster of higher level than you were when you cast the spell.
In addition to personal use, permanency can be used to make the following spells permanent on yourself, another creature, or an object (as appropriate).
| Spell | Minimum Caster Level | XP Cost |
| Enlarge person | 9th | 500 XP |
| Magic fang | 9th | 500 XP |
| Magic fang, greater | 11th | 1,500 XP |
| Reduce person | 9th | 500 XP |
| Resistance | 9th | 500 XP |
| Telepathic bond1 | 13th | 2,500 XP |
| 1 Only bonds two creatures per casting of permanency. |
Additionally, the following spells can be cast upon objects or areas only and rendered permanent.
| Spell | Minimum Caster Level | XP Cost |
| Alarm | 9th | 500 XP |
| animate objects | 14th | 3,000 XP |
| Dancing lights | 9th | 500 XP |
| Ghost sound | 9th | 500 XP |
| Gust of wind | 11th | 1,500 XP |
| Invisibility | 10th | 1,000 XP |
| Mage’s private sanctum | 13th | 2,500 XP |
| Magic mouth | 10th | 1,000 XP |
| Phase door | 15th | 3,500 XP |
| Prismatic sphere | 17th | 4,500 XP |
| Prismatic wall | 16th | 4,000 XP |
| Shrink item | 11th | 1,500 XP |
| Solid fog | 12th | 2,000 XP |
| Stinking cloud | 11th | 1,500 XP |
| Symbol of death | 16th | 4,000 XP |
| Symbol of fear | 14th | 3,000 XP |
| Symbol of insanity | 16th | 4,000 XP |
| Symbol of pain | 13th | 2,500 XP |
| Symbol of persuasion | 14th | 3,000 XP |
| Symbol of sleep | 16th | 4,000 XP |
| Symbol of stunning | 15th | 3,500 XP |
| Symbol of weakness | 15th | 3,500 XP |
| Teleportation circle | 17th | 4,500 XP |
| Wall of fire | 12th | 2,000 XP |
| Wall of force | 13th | 2,500 XP |
| Web | 10th | 1,000 XP |
Spells cast on other creatures, objects, or locations (not on you) are vulnerable to dispel magic as normal.
XP Cost See tables above.
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