No part of the D&D game has as much variety as the powers that describe what characters can do. Even so, the way that various powers are described follows a structured format. Here’s the information you need to understand how a power works.

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NAME AND LEVEL

The first line of a power description gives the name of the power, the class it’s associated with, the kind of power it is (attack or utility), and the power’s level (or the fact that it’s a class feature). In the above example, acid wave is an attack power that a wizard can choose at 19th level. Some powers, such as the racial powers in Chapter 3 and the feat powers in Chapter 6, carry different information on the right side of this line.

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FLAVOR TEXT

The next section of a power description gives a brief explanation of what the power does, sometimes including information about what it looks or sounds like. The flavor text for acid wave appears here as an example. A power’s flavor text helps you understand what happens when you use a power and how you might describe it when you use it. You can alter this description as you like, to fit your own idea of what your power looks like. Your wizard’s magic missile spell, for example, might create phantasmal skulls that howl through the air to strike your opponent, rather than simple bolts of magical energy. When you need to know the exact effect, look at the rules text that follows.

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KEYWORDS

A power’s keyword entry gives you important rules information about the power. The first keyword indicates whether the power is an at-will, encounter, or daily power. (One example of each type is given above.) The color used in the line containing the power name also conveys this information: At-will powers have a green bar, encounter powers have a red bar, and daily powers have a black bar. The other keywords define the fundamental effects of a power. For instance, a power that deals acid damage is an acid effect and thus has the acid keyword. A power that has the poison keyword might deal poison damage, or it might slow the target, immobilize the target, or stun the target. But the poison keyword indicates that it’s a poison effect, and other rules in the game relate to that fact in different ways. Dwarves have a bonus to saving throws against poison effects, for example. Keywords help to determine how, or if, a power works when the target has resistance, vulnerability, or immunity to a damage type or an effect type, or if the power interacts with existing effects. For example, a ritual that forbids teleportation could block a power that has the teleportation keyword. Resistance or immunity to one keyword of a power does not protect a target from the power’s other effects. When damage of a power is described as more than one type, divide the damage evenly between the damage types (round up for the first damage type, round down for all others). For example, a power that deals 25 fire and thunder damage deals 13 fire damage and 12 thunder damage. If a power allows you to choose the damage type, the power then has that keyword for feats, resistances, and any other information that applies. For example, the wizard spell elemental maw does 6d6 + Intelligence modifier damage of a type chosen from the following list: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder. If you choose lightning damage, the Astral Fire feat (+1 feat bonus to damage rolls when you use powers that have the fire or radiant keywords) doesn’t add to the power’s damage, but the Raging Storm feat (+1 feat bonus to damage rolls when you use powers that have the lightning or thunder keywords) does.

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Aside from usage keywords (at-will, encounter, and daily), keywords fall into four categories. Power Source: The power sources described in this book are arcane, divine, and martial. Basic attacks, racial powers, and epic destiny powers have no power source.

Damage Type: Many powers create energy or a substance that deals damage to their targets. Acid: Corrosive liquid. Cold: Ice crystals, arctic air, or frigid liquid. Fire: Explosive bursts, fiery rays, or simple ignition. Force: Invisible energy formed into incredibly hard yet nonsolid shapes. Lightning: Electrical energy. Necrotic: Purple-black energy that deadens flesh and wounds the soul. Poison: Toxins that reduce a creature’s hit points. Psychic: Effects that target the mind. Radiant: Searing white light or shimmering colors. Thunder: Shock waves and deafening sounds.

Effect Type: Some powers are classified according to how their effects work. Charm: Mental effects that control or influence the subject’s actions. Conjuration: Powers that create objects or creatures of magical energy. Fear: Effects that inspire fright. Healing: Powers that restore hit points. Illusion: Powers that deceive the senses or the mind. Poison: Substances that hamper or impede a creature. Polymorph: Effects that alter a creature’s physical form. Reliable: If you miss when using a reliable power, you don’t expend the use of that power. Sleep: Powers that cause sleep or unconsciousness. Stance: A stance power lasts until the end of the encounter, for 5 minutes, or until you use another stance power. Teleportation: Powers that transport creatures instantaneously from one location to another. Zone: Powers that create lingering effects that extend over an area.

Accessories: These keywords identify items used with the power. If you have a proficiency bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls from your weapon or an enhancement bonus to your attack rolls and damage rolls from a magic weapon or an implement, you add that bonus when you use a power that has the associated keyword. Implement: Many arcane spells are more effective when used in conjunction with an implement—a wizard’s staff, orb, or wand, or a warlock’s rod or wand. Many divine prayers use holy symbols as implements. To grant its benefit to a divine character, a holy symbol must represent the character’s patron deity or one of a group of deities the character serves. It’s not necessary to have an implement in order to use a power that has the implement keyword. Weapon: Many martial powers, as well as several divine powers, can be used only if you’re wielding a weapon. (You can use an unarmed attack as your weapon.) A weapon’s reach or range determines the reach or range of a power it’s used with.

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The next line of a power description begins with what type of action you have to take when you use the power. Most powers require a standard action. Some powers are move actions, a few are immediate interrupts or immediate reactions, a handful are minor actions or free actions, and a scant few require no action.

Trigger: An ally in range is hit by an attack Trigger: An adjacent enemy moves away from you Trigger: Some powers come into effect only if a triggering condition occurs. Examples of some typical “Trigger” entries are given above.

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ATTACK TYPE AND RANGE

Following a power’s action type on the same line is the power’s attack type and its range. The four attack types are melee, ranged, close, and area. Each of these attack types (fully described in Chapter 9) has rules for range and targeting. Even though these terms are called “attack types,” they apply to utility powers as well as attack powers.

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A melee power affects a target (or targets) within melee reach. Many melee powers require a weapon. You make a separate attack roll against each target. Melee weapon: A melee attack power that has a range of “weapon” allows you to attack a target within the reach of the weapon you’re wielding. Some weapons extend your reach beyond adjacent squares. Example: If you use a “Melee weapon” power while you’re wielding a dagger, you can attack a target within 1 square of you. If you’re wielding a halberd (a reach weapon), you can attack a target within 2 squares of you. Melee 1: A melee power that has a range of 1 can be used only on an adjacent target. Melee touch: A melee power that has a range of “touch” can be used on any target you can reach. (Some creatures larger than Medium size have a reach of more than 1 square.)

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A ranged power affects a target (or targets) at a distance. For details about how ranged attacks work, see page 270. Ranged weapon: A ranged attack power that has a range of “weapon” allows you to attack a target within your weapon’s range (see the table on page 219). If the target is farther away than normal range but within long range, you take a –2 penalty to attack rolls. Example: If you use a “Ranged weapon” power with a shortbow (normal range 15, long range 30), you take a –2 penalty when attacking targets 16–30 squares away, and you can’t attack creatures farther away than 30 squares. Ranged [number]: A ranged power that has a range expressed as a number can be used on a target within the indicated number of squares. Ranged sight: A ranged power that has a range of “sight” can be used on any target within line of sight. You still need line of effect to the target.

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A close power creates an area of effect (page 272) that originates in a square of your space, and most close powers can hit multiple targets. For details about how close attacks work, see page 271. Close burst [number]: A close burst power allows you to target creatures or objects within the indicated number of squares from you in all directions. See page 272 for how to determine the area of a burst. Close blast [number]: A close blast power allows you to target creatures or objects within an adjacent area that is the indicated number of squares on a side. See page 272 for how to determine the area of a blast.

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An area power creates an area of effect (page 272) that can originate in a distant square and hits multiple targets or creates an obstacle. For details about how area attacks work, see page 271. Area burst [number] within [number] squares: To use an area burst power, choose a square within the range indicated by the second number. The power affects targets in that square or within a number of squares equal to the first number. Area wall [number] within [number] squares: To use an area wall power, choose a square within the range indicated by the second number to be the wall’s origin square (page 272). The first number represents the number of squares the wall occupies (all of its squares must be within range).

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A power that has a range of “personal” affects only you.

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PREREQUISITE OR REQUIREMENT

Prerequisite: You must be trained in Stealth. Requirement: You must be wielding a light blade.

Certain powers are usable only if you meet a predetermined condition. Prerequisite: You must meet this provision to select this power. If you ever lose a prerequisite for a power (for example, if you use the retraining system to replace training in a skill with training in a different skill), you can’t use that power thereafter. Requirement: You must meet this provision to use this power. You can have the power in your repertoire, but it is not available to you unless you fulfill the requirement.

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TARGET

Target: One creature Target: You or one ally Target: Each enemy in burst Targets: One, two, or three creatures Target: One object or unoccupied square

If a power directly affects one or more creatures or objects, it has a “Target” or “Targets” entry. When a power’s target entry specifies that it affects you and one or more of your allies, then you can take advantage of the power’s effect along with your teammates. Otherwise, “ally” or “allies” does not include you, and both terms assume willing targets. “Enemy” or “enemies” means a creature or creatures that aren’t your allies (whether those creatures are hostile toward you or not). “Creature” or “creatures” means allies and enemies both, as well as you.

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ATTACK

Attack: Strength vs. AC Attack: Charisma vs. Will Attack: Constitution vs. Fortitude Attack: Intelligence + 4 vs. Reflex Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, one attack per target

Most attack powers that deal damage require you to make an attack roll. The “Attack” entry specifies the kind of attack you make and which of the target’s defenses you check against. If you have a modifier to your attack roll, that’s mentioned here as well. Example entries are given above. If your power can attack multiple targets, you make a separate attack roll against each target.

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HIT

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. Hit: 3d6 + Intelligence modifier force damage, and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn. Hit: 5d6 + Intelligence modifier acid damage, and ongoing 10 acid damage (save ends). Hit: The target is immobilized (save ends). Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage, and the target is slowed and grants combat advantage to you (save ends both). Hit: 3d6 + Wisdom modifier thunder damage, and you push the target a number of squares equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you regain hit points as if you had spent a healing surge. Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you and each ally within 10 squares of you can spend a healing surge.

Every power that requires an attack roll includes a “Hit” entry, which explains what happens when an attack roll succeeds. Example entries are given above. See “Attacks and Defenses,” page 269, for how to make attack rolls, how to deal damage, and how to apply various effects, including conditions and forced movement. Ongoing damage is a fixed amount rather than an amount determined by a die roll. Ongoing damage is applied to a target each round at the start of the target’s turn until the target makes a successful saving throw. If a “Hit” (or “Effect”) entry contains “(save ends)” or “(save ends both),” the indicated consequence of the successful attack persists until the target makes a successful saving throw. If a hit grants you the ability to compel the target to move, whether through forced movement or teleportation, you can move it any number of squares up to the number specified (or not move it at all, if you so choose). Some powers add modifiers to attack rolls or damage rolls. These modifiers apply to any roll of the dice, but not to ongoing damage or other static, nonvariable effects. The paladin’s wrath of the gods prayer, for example, adds her Charisma modifier to her and her allies’ damage rolls until the end of the encounter. When her cleric ally invokes flame strike, the damage equals 2d10 + Wisdom modifier + the paladin’s Charisma modifier fire damage and ongoing 5 fire damage. The ongoing damage doesn’t increase, because it’s a static effect. Whenever you affect a creature with a power, that creature knows exactly what you’ve done to it and what conditions you’ve imposed. For example, when a paladin uses divine challenge against an enemy, the enemy knows that it has been marked and that it will therefore take a penalty to attack rolls and some damage if it attacks anyone aside from the paladin. Applying a Penalty: When a power description includes wording such as “a penalty to attack rolls equal to your Charisma modifier,” that means you subtract the value of your ability modifier from the result or the numerical quantity that’s being penalized. If your ability modifier is not a positive number, it does not provide a penalty. Regaining Hit Points: Some powers allow you or someone else to regain hit points. Sometimes the recipient of this benefit needs to spend a healing surge (page 293), but if a power description includes the wording “as if . . . had spent a healing surge,” then the beneficiary gains the appropriate number of hit points but does not spend a healing surge to do so. Within x Squares of You: When this language appears in a power description, treat the effect it refers to as a close burst for the purpose of determining line of effect. Duration: Most powers take effect and then end— their effects are instantaneous, perhaps as brief as a single swing of your sword. Some powers last beyond your turn, however—for instance, until the end of the current encounter or until the end of your next turn. If you use a power outside combat, it lasts for 5 minutes unless otherwise noted.

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MISS

Miss: Half damage. Miss: Half damage, and no ongoing fire damage. Miss: Half damage, and the target is not pushed or immobilized.

Sometimes the dice are against you, and you miss your target. Missing isn’t always the end of the story, however. A miss can indicate a splash effect, a glancing blow, or some other incidental effect of a power. Examples of some typical “Miss” entries are given above. Half Damage: When you calculate half damage, remember to apply the rule about rounding down (page 11). If a damage roll produces a result of 1, half of that damage is 0.

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SECONDARY TARGET AND SECONDARY ATTACK

Secondary Target: One creature within 3 squares of you Secondary Target: The same or a different target Secondary Target: Each enemy adjacent to the primary target Secondary Targets: Two creatures within 10 squares of the primary target

Some powers allow you to make secondary (or even tertiary) attacks. The power description indicates if you can make such an attack after the previous attack was a hit, if that attack was a miss, or regardless of whether the previous attack hits or misses. Unless otherwise noted, the range of a secondary (or tertiary) attack is the same as for the attack that preceded it.

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EFFECT

Effect: Until the end of your next turn, the target’s attack rolls against you take a penalty equal to your Wisdom modifier. Effect: You become invisible and then teleport 4 squares. The invisibility lasts until the start of your next turn. Effect: The power’s area is difficult terrain until the end of your next turn. You can end this effect as a minor action. Effect: You gain temporary hit points equal to 2d6 + your Constitution modifier.

Many powers produce effects that take place regardless of whether your attack roll succeeds, and other powers have effects that occur without an attack roll being required. Example entries are given above. The effects of powers are as varied as the powers themselves. Some effects impose a condition on the power’s target. Other effects provide a bonus or a benefit (for you or your allies) or a penalty (for enemies). Still others change the nature of the battlefield or create something that didn’t exist a moment ago. Two kinds of powers—conjurations and zones— produce distinctive effects that are governed by special rules.

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Powers that have the conjuration keyword create objects or creatures of magical energy. Unless a power description says otherwise, a conjuration can’t be attacked or physically affected, and allies of the conjuration’s creator can move through the space a conjuration occupies, but enemies can’t. A conjuration uses your ability scores and defenses to determine the outcome of attacks it makes and attacks against it (if such attacks are possible). Environmental phenomena and other forces have no effect on a conjuration unless a power description says otherwise. For example, a conjuration that produces an icy hand functions in a fiery, volcanic cavern without penalty. If a power allows you to move a conjuration, at least 1 square that the conjuration occupies must remain within the power’s range. If you move far enough away from a conjuration that it is no longer in range, its effect immediately ends. If a conjuration’s creator is slain, the conjuration immediately ends.

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The zone keyword applies to powers that create lingering effects that extend over an area. For example, some zones create terrain effects, such as difficult terrain or scorching fire that harms anyone who enters it. Zones cannot be attacked or otherwise physically affected unless a power description says otherwise. If zones overlap and impose penalties to the same roll or score, creatures in the overlapping area are subject to the worst penalty; the penalties are not cumulative. Similarly, a target in the overlapping area takes damage from whichever zone deals the most damage, regardless of damage type. Environmental effects, attacks, and other forces have no effect on a zone unless a power description says otherwise. For example, a zone that deals fire damage is in no way diminished by a power that deals cold damage. If a power allows you to move a zone, at least 1 square that the zone covers must remain within the power’s range. If you move far enough away from a zone that it is no longer in range, its effects immediately end. Unless otherwise specified, a zone fills a power’s area of effect. Use the standard rules for areas of effect to determine which squares it fills. If a zone’s creator is slain, the zone immediately ends.

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SUSTAIN

Sustain Minor: The zone persists. Sustain Minor: You slide the target 1 square, whether you hit or miss. Sustain Minor: When you sustain the power, you make a secondary attack. Sustain Move: You can sustain this power until the end of the encounter or for 5 minutes. Sustain Standard: You remain invisible as long as you don’t make an attack.

If a power has a “Sustain” entry, you can keep that power active by taking a specified type of action (minor, move, or standard) during your turn. The “Sustain” entry tells you if a power has an effect that occurs when you take the action to sustain it. See “Durations,” page 278, for more about sustaining a power.