Comments from the Author: These experimental spellhacks let you use your spells to modify other spells. We’re playtesting these for the upcoming Dark Matter revision, where magic has advanced beyond medieval fantasy fare just as technology has. Click here for all the spellhacks currently released!
Spellhacks are an experimental new variety of magic that uses spells to modify spells. These spells can be leveraged by arcane spellcasters of any stripe, but wizards are typically at the cutting edge of spellhacking. These spells are marked with the (spellhack) tag.
The spells counterspell, glyph of warding, and contingency also inherit the (spellhack) tag.
Failsafe Spellhack
2nd-level abjuration (spellhack)
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher before the spellhack ends and the spell fails to have any effect on any creature—such as if the spell dealt no damage, all of its spell attack rolls missed, it was negated by counterspell or similar magic, or every creature succeeded its saving throw against the spell and suffered no effect—you can recover the spell slot you expended cast the triggering spell. The spellhack then ends.
You can cast this spellhack and another spell of 1st level or higher on the same turn.
Improvised Spellhack
2nd-level evocation (spellhack)
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
The next time you cast a spell of 2nd level or lower before the spellhack ends, you can replace its casting with that of a compatible spell. A spell is compatible if it is of the same level as the spell you cast, has a casting time of 1 action, and you could have prepared it from your class’s spell list when you last prepared spells. The spellhack then ends.
If you are a class, such as a bard, that doesn’t prepare spells, this spellhack fails and its casting is wasted.
You can cast this spellhack and another spell of 1st level or higher on the same turn.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spellhack using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can replace the casting of a spell of up to the same level as the slot used to cast the spellhack, up to 5th level.
Mirror Spellhack
3rd-level evocation (spellhack)
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
When a creature you can see within 60 feet casts a compatible spell that affects you before the spellhack ends, you can use your reaction attempt to duplicate its spellcasting. A spell is compatible if it is of a level you can cast. You can’t use this spellhack to duplicate a spell that had no effect on you, even if it forced you to make a saving throw against it.
Make an ability check using your spellcasting modifier. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, you can immediately cast the spell as a part of the same reaction (expending a spell slot of the spell’s level and material components) immediately after the triggering spell is cast, and the spellhack ends. The duplicated casting uses your spell attack bonus and spell save DC. On a failure, the spellhack doesn’t end.
You can cast this spellhack and another spell of 1st level or higher on the same turn.
Scroll Spellhack
3rd-level transmutation (spellhack)
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a blank scroll)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
When you cast a compatible spell before the spellhack ends, you can magically inscribe the spell into a spell scroll instead of casting it, and the spellhack ends.
A spell is compatible if it has a casting time of 1 action and is of 3rd level or lower.
While holding the scroll, a creature can use an action to produce the spell’s effect, destroying it in the process. If the spell requires concentration, the creature must concentrate. The spell uses your spell attack bonus and save DC.
The scroll fades and becomes unusable when you cast this spellhack again, or after 8 hours.
You can cast this spellhack and another spell of 1st level or higher on the same turn.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spellhack using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, its compatible spells can be of up to the same level as the slot used to cast the spellhack, up to a maximum of 5th level.
