Detect Blood Traces Spell

5.5e / 2024 — No Direct Official Equivalent

There is no official 2024 spell named Detect Blood Traces. Do not present the legacy blood-forensics mechanics as core modern D&D.

A modern campaign can convert the spell, but should decide explicitly which information is magical rather than ordinary forensic science and which skill or ability checks replace the old Heal/Craft structure.

5e / 2014 — No Direct Official Equivalent

The 2014 spell list likewise has no direct bloodtrace divination. Detect Magic does not normally identify who shed old blood, how old the stain is, or what substances were present in it.

Pathfinder 1e — Third-Party Conversion Only

This is not a core Pathfinder spell. Its legacy Heal and Craft (alchemy) checks adapt easily to PF1e, but the spell should remain labelled as third-party material.

Use the magical bloodtrace as the source of impossible information. Do not imply that mundane medicine can infer social identity, culture or nationality from blood alone.

Original d20 Rules

The spell senses blood shed within the area during the previous 48 hours.

• 1st round: detect whether spilled blood is present.
• 2nd round: locate bloodstains and determine how many different creatures shed blood.
• 3rd round: study individual bloodtraces using the Heal skill.

Each Heal check requires 2 full rounds. Failure gives no information rather than false information. Checks may be retried while the spell remains active; taking 20 requires enough remaining duration.

Foreign substances: a successful check can reveal a broad category such as alcohol, poison, drug or another unusual contaminant. Identifying the exact substance requires a separate Craft (alchemy) check, originally DC 20 and subject to modification for rarity.

Barriers: the spell is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or earth. Living flesh also blocks the effect, so it detects spilled blood rather than blood still circulating in a creature.