Divination • Greater Scrying

Greater Scrying

Greater Scrying is the faster, longer legacy form of Scrying. Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e cast it as a standard action, sustain the sensor for one hour per level, and allow a limited set of divinations and communication magic to function reliably through the sensor.

Greater Scrying at a Glance

5.5e / 2024	No separate Greater Scrying spell in SRD 5.2.1; use Scrying
5e / 2014	No separate core Greater Scrying spell; use Scrying
Pathfinder 1e	Bard 6, Cleric 7, Druid 7, Sorcerer/Wizard 7
D&D 3.5e	Bard 6, Cleric 7, Druid 7, Sorcerer/Wizard 7
Legacy Witch archive	Listed here as Witch 6 for the preserved Witch spell tradition

Spell Rules by Edition

5.5e / 2024
5e / 2014
Pathfinder 1e
D&D 3.5e

Greater Scrying — 5.5e / 2024

Status: there is no separate Greater Scrying spell in SRD 5.2.1. Use the current Scrying spell rather than importing the legacy upgrade.

Greater Scrying — 5e / 2014

Status: there is no separate core 2014 Greater Scrying spell. Use the 2014 Scrying spell.

Greater Scrying — Pathfinder 1e

School	Divination (scrying)
Level	Bard 6, Cleric 7, Druid 7, Sorcerer/Wizard 7
Casting Time	1 standard action
Components	V, S
Duration	1 hour/level
Saving Throw	As Scrying
Spell Resistance	As Scrying

The spell otherwise functions as Scrying. If the target fails its save, the magical sensor follows the subject and lets you see and hear the target and nearby surroundings under the normal Pathfinder scrying rules.

The following spells function reliably through the sensor: Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect Good, Detect Law, Detect Magic, Message, Read Magic and Tongues.

Pathfinder 1e rules reference

Greater Scrying — D&D 3.5e

School	Divination (Scrying)
Level	Bard 6, Cleric 7, Druid 7, Sorcerer/Wizard 7
Casting Time	1 standard action
Components	V, S
Duration	1 hour/level
Saving Throw	As Scrying
Spell Resistance	As Scrying

The spell otherwise functions as Scrying. The sensor uses the normal 3.5e scrying procedure and remains subject to protections that block or foil scrying.

Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect Good, Detect Law, Detect Magic, Message, Read Magic and Tongues function reliably through the sensor.

D&D 3.5e SRD reference

What Changed?

5.5e / 2024 and 5e / 2014: there is no separate Greater Scrying spell; modern characters use Scrying.
Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e: Greater Scrying dramatically reduces casting time and extends the sensor to 1 hour per level.
Legacy Witch archive: the Witch list preserves Greater Scrying at 6th level, but that archive placement does not alter Pathfinder’s published class list.

Using Greater Scrying in Play

The main advantage is speed. A standard-action casting makes it viable when the party cannot spend an hour preparing a normal scrying attempt, while the long duration supports surveillance, pursuit and extended observation. The spells that work through the sensor are primarily information and communication tools; Greater Scrying does not turn the sensor into a general-purpose remote spellcasting point.

Counterplay and Rulings

A successful saving throw still defeats the scrying attempt under the base spell’s rules.
Protections such as Nondetection, Mind Blank and effects that block scrying interact according to the active edition.
The sensor can be detected or dispelled under the edition’s normal scrying rules.
Only the specifically listed spells gain the reliable through-sensor benefit.

Related Magic

Scrying · Detect Scrying · True Seeing

Rules Sources and Licensing

Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e use their open rules versions of Greater Scrying. The 5.5e and 2014 panels are status notes only and do not create a modern conversion.

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