Universal Magic • Legacy Rune Spell

Arcane Mark

Arcane Mark creates a personal magical rune that can be visible or hidden. Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e retain the spell directly; fifth-edition rules do not use a spell named Arcane Mark.

Arcane Mark at a Glance

5.5e / 2024	No spell named Arcane Mark in the SRD spell list
5e / 2014	No spell named Arcane Mark in the core spell list
Pathfinder 1e	0-level Sorcerer/Wizard spell
D&D 3.5e	0-level Sorcerer/Wizard spell
Witch archive	0-level legacy Witch spell

Spell Rules by Edition

5.5e / 20245e / 2014Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e

Arcane Mark — 5.5e / 2024

Status: Arcane Mark is not a named spell in SRD 5.2.1. Do not import the permanent 3.x rune mechanics into 5.5e automatically.

For a temporary harmless mark, symbol or cosmetic magical sign, use an edition-appropriate spell or feature approved by the Games Master.

Arcane Mark — 5e / 2014

Status: Arcane Mark is not a named core 2014 spell. The permanent-rune rules below belong to earlier editions.

Arcane Mark — Pathfinder 1e

School	Universal
Level	Sorcerer/Wizard 0
Components	V, S
Casting Time	1 standard action
Range	Touch
Effect	One personal rune or mark fitting within 1 square foot
Duration	Permanent
Saving Throw	None
Spell Resistance	No

You inscribe a personal rune of no more than six characters. It may be visible or invisible and can be placed on a substance without damaging it. An invisible mark becomes visible under magic that reveals invisible or magical writing.

The mark cannot normally be dispelled; the caster can remove it, and Erase can remove it. A mark placed on a living creature fades through normal wear in about a month.

Revealing the rune: Detect Magic makes an invisible mark glow without necessarily making it understandable. See Invisibility, True Seeing, a gem of seeing or a robe of eyes also reveals it; Read Magic interprets any words. Arcane Mark must be applied before Instant Summons is cast on the same object.

Arcane Mark — D&D 3.5e

School	Universal
Level	Sorcerer/Wizard 0
Components	V, S
Casting Time	1 standard action
Range	0 ft.
Effect	One personal rune or mark fitting within 1 square foot
Duration	Permanent
Saving Throw	None
Spell Resistance	No

The caster inscribes a personal rune of up to six characters, visible or invisible. Detect Magic causes an invisible mark to glow and become visible, while Read Magic can reveal any writing incorporated into it.

The mark can be removed by its caster or by Erase. On a living creature, ordinary wear causes it to fade in about one month. Arcane Mark is also a prerequisite for using Instant Summons on the marked object.

What Changed Between Editions?

5.5e / 2024 and 5e / 2014: no standalone Arcane Mark spell.
Pathfinder 1e and 3.5e: the spell remains a permanent personal rune with no saving throw or spell resistance.
Witch use: the spell remains in the preserved legacy Witch archive only; modern Witch rules use their own edition spell lists.

Using Arcane Mark in Play

The spell is useful for signatures, property marks, coded warnings, coven symbols and identifying objects intended for later retrieval. An invisible mark is especially useful when the caster wants proof of ownership or identity that is not obvious to ordinary inspection.

Worked Example: The Substituted Letter

A courier carries two apparently identical letters. The sender’s invisible six-character mark is on only one. Detect Magic makes that rune visible; Read Magic can interpret its words. The marked letter becomes the stronger lead, but the spell does not certify that its contents are true or that the mark was not copied by some other method.

Counterplay and Related Magic

Arcane Mark is permanent in the legacy rules but can be removed by its caster or Erase. Because the mark itself is not an ongoing fifth-edition effect, do not assume modern Counterspell or Dispel Magic interactions. Compare Detect Magic and Read Magic for finding or interpreting magical writing.

Mythical Context

In Greek myth, Hermes was associated with boundary markers and signs that established a place or a claim. An invisible arcane signature echoes this idea: the mark defines an identity even when the unaided eye cannot see it. See Encyclopaedia Iranica’s account of Hermes and boundary stones.

Historical Context

Inscribed gems and seals have survived from the ancient world. A Late Roman amulet in the British Museum bears incised figures and inscriptions intended to be meaningful to its bearer. It documents the use of marked objects, not a historical invisible magical signature. See the British Museum’s engraved magical amulet.

Rules Sources and Licensing

Pathfinder Reference Document: Arcane Mark gives touch range. The revised 3.5e SRD retains 0 ft.; this is an edition difference.

Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e mechanics are preserved as edition-specific legacy rules. The fifth-edition panels are status notes rather than conversions.

← Witch Spell Lists

Open Game License v1.0a & Section 15 Copyright Notices

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

1. Definitions: (a) “Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content;

(b) “Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted;

(c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute;

(d) “Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity;

(e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures; characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product Identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content;

(f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor;

(g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content;

(h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that You Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use the Open Game Content.

5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content You Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity.

You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark.

The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity.

The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

System Reference Document Copyright 2000–2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.