Spell Schema Reference

Complete field reference for spell entries in the 5etools data format.

File Location

Path: {book}/spells/spells-{source}.json
Fluff: {book}/spells/fluff-spells-{source}.json

JSON Structure

{
  "spell": [
    {
      // spell objects
    }
  ]
}

Core Fields

Required Fields

name (string) - Spell name, must be unique within source
source (string) - Source book abbreviation (PHB, DMG, etc.)
level (number) - Spell level (0-9, where 0 = cantrip)
school (string) - School of magic single-letter code
time (array) - Casting time specification
range (object) - Range specification
components (object) - V/S/M components
duration (array) - Duration specification
entries (array) - Main spell description

Optional Core Fields

page (number) - Page number in source book
otherSources (array) - Additional source references
srd (boolean/string) - Available in System Reference Document (SRD Name if the name is different)
basicRules (boolean) - Available in basic rules

School Codes

A - Abjuration
C - Conjuration
D - Divination
E - Enchantment
V - Evocation (note: V, not E)
I - Illusion
N - Necromancy
T - Transmutation

Casting Mechanics

Casting Time (`time`)

Array of timing objects:

// Standard actions
[{"number": 1, "unit": "action"}]
[{"number": 1, "unit": "bonus"}]
[{"number": 1, "unit": "reaction"}]

// Conditional reactions
[{"number": 1, "unit": "reaction", "condition": "which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell"}]

// Extended casting
[{"number": 1, "unit": "minute"}]
[{"number": 10, "unit": "minute"}]
[{"number": 1, "unit": "hour"}]
[{"number": 8, "unit": "hour"}]
[{"number": 24, "unit": "hour"}]

Range (`range`)

Object specifying targeting range:

// Self-targeting
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "self"}}

// Touch spells  
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "touch"}}

// Ranged point target
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 60}}
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "miles", "amount": 1}}

// Area effects from caster
{"type": "radius", "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 20}}
{"type": "sphere", "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 40}}
{"type": "cone", "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 15}}
{"type": "line", "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 100}}

// Special ranges
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "sight"}}
{"type": "point", "distance": {"type": "unlimited"}}

Components (`components`)

Object with V/S/M flags and material description:

// Verbal only
{"v": true}

// Somatic only  
{"s": true}

// Verbal and somatic
{"v": true, "s": true}

// All components with material
{
  "v": true,
  "s": true, 
  "m": "a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur"
}

// Complex material component
{
  "m": {
    "text": "a diamond worth at least 1,000 gp",
    "cost": 100000,
    "consume": true
  }
}

Duration (`duration`)

Array of duration objects:

// Instantaneous
[{"type": "instant"}]

// Timed durations
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "round"}}]
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "minute"}}]
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 10, "type": "minute"}}]
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "hour"}}]
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 8, "type": "hour"}}]
[{"type": "timed", "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "day"}}]

// Concentration spells
[{
  "type": "timed", 
  "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "minute"}, 
  "concentration": true
}]

// Up to duration
[{
  "type": "timed",
  "duration": {"amount": 1, "type": "hour", "upTo": true}
}]

// Permanent effects
[{"type": "permanent", "ends": ["dispel"]}]
[{"type": "permanent", "ends": ["dispel", "trigger"]}]

// Special duration
[{"type": "special"}]

Content and Description

Main Description (`entries`)

Array of strings and complex objects:

[
  "A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger to a point you choose within range and then blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame.",
  "The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried."
]

Higher Level Effects (`entriesHigherLevel`)

Array describing effects when cast with higher level slots:

[
  {
    "type": "entries",
    "name": "At Higher Levels",
    "entries": [
      "When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by {@scaledamage 8d6|3-9|1d6} for each slot level above 3rd."
    ]
  }
]

Mechanical Effects

Damage Types (`damageInflict`)

Array of damage types the spell can deal:

["fire"]
["acid", "cold", "fire"]
["bludgeoning", "piercing", "slashing"]
["necrotic", "radiant"]

All Damage Types:

Physical: bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Elemental: acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder
Energy: force, necrotic, psychic, radiant
Biological: poison

Conditions Applied (`conditionInflict`)

Array of conditions the spell can inflict:

["blinded"]
["charmed", "incapacitated"]
["frightened", "stunned"]

All Conditions: blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, grappled, incapacitated, invisible, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned, unconscious

Saving Throws (`savingThrow`)

Array of required saving throws:

["dexterity"]
["wisdom", "charisma"]

Ability Names: strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, charisma

Attack Types (`spellAttack`)

Array indicating attack roll types:

["M"]  // Melee spell attack
["R"]  // Ranged spell attack
["O"]  // Other/special attack

Targeting and Area Effects

Area Tags (`areaTags`)

Array describing area of effect:

["ST"]  // Single target
["MT"]  // Multiple targets
["S"]   // Sphere
["C"]   // Cone  
["L"]   // Line
["Y"]   // Cylinder
["H"]   // Hemisphere
["Q"]   // Square
["R"]   // Rectangle
["N"]   // Square/Rectangle
["W"]   // Wall

Misc Tags (`miscTags`)

Array of miscellaneous mechanical properties:

["SCL"]  // Scaling (cantrip damage increases)
["SGT"]  // Single target
["HL"]   // Has "At Higher Levels" section
["OBJ"]  // Can affect objects
["PRM"]  // Creates permanent effects
["SMN"]  // Summons creatures
["THP"]  // Grants temporary hit points
["UBA"]  // Can be used as bonus action
["LGT"]  // Creates light
["HEL"]  // Provides healing
["FMV"]  // Forced movement
["MAC"]  // Multiple attack rolls/checks

Spell Lists and Availability

Class Lists (`classes`)

Object specifying which classes can learn/prepare the spell:

{
  "fromClassList": [
    {"name": "Sorcerer", "source": "PHB"},
    {"name": "Wizard", "source": "PHB"},
    {"name": "Light Domain", "source": "PHB"}
  ]
}

Subclass Lists (`subclasses`)

Additional availability through subclasses:

{
  "fromSubclass": [
    {
      "class": {"name": "Cleric", "source": "PHB"},
      "subclass": {"name": "Light Domain", "source": "PHB"}
    }
  ]
}

Special Mechanics

Ritual Casting (`meta`)

Object for special casting methods:

{"ritual": true}  // Can be cast as ritual

Cantrip Scaling (`scalingLevelDice`)

Object describing damage scaling for cantrips:

{
  "label": "fire damage",
  "scaling": {
    "1": "1d10",
    "5": "2d10", 
    "11": "3d10",
    "17": "4d10"
  }
}

Advanced Fields

Ability Checks (`abilityCheck`)

Array of ability checks the spell might require:

["strength"]
["intelligence", "wisdom"]

Creature Type Interactions (`affectsCreatureType`)

Array of creature types affected by the spell:

["beast", "humanoid"]
["undead"]
["aberration", "celestial", "elemental", "fey", "fiend"]

Immunity Grants (`conditionImmune`, `damageImmune`, etc.)

Arrays of immunities/resistances granted:

"conditionImmune": ["charmed", "frightened"]
"damageImmune": ["poison"]
"damageResist": ["bludgeoning", "piercing", "slashing"]
"damageVulnerable": ["cold"]

Publication Information

Availability Flags

srd (boolean) - Available in System Reference Document
basicRules (boolean) - Available in D&D Basic Rules
legacy (boolean) - From legacy/outdated content

Source References

otherSources (array) - Additional publications containing this spell
reprintedAs (array) - Where this spell was reprinted with changes

Multimedia

hasFluffImages (boolean) - Has associated artwork in fluff file
hasFluff (boolean) - Has extended lore in fluff file

Formatting Tags in Text

Spell descriptions use 5etools formatting tags:

{@damage 1d6} - Damage rolls
{@condition blinded} - Conditions
{@spell fireball} - Spell references
{@creature goblin} - Creature references
{@item longsword} - Item references
{@dice 1d20} - Dice rolls
{@dc 15} - Difficulty classes
{@scaledamage 1d6|1-9|1d6} - Scaling damage
{@quickref Cover||3} - Quick reference links

Example Complete Spell

{
  "name": "Fireball",
  "source": "PHB", 
  "page": 241,
  "level": 3,
  "school": "V",
  "time": [{"number": 1, "unit": "action"}],
  "range": {
    "type": "point",
    "distance": {"type": "feet", "amount": 150}
  },
  "components": {
    "v": true,
    "s": true,
    "m": "a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur"
  },
  "duration": [{"type": "instant"}],
  "entries": [
    "A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger to a point you choose within range and then blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes {@damage 8d6} fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.",
    "The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried."
  ],
  "entriesHigherLevel": [
    {
      "type": "entries", 
      "name": "At Higher Levels",
      "entries": [
        "When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by {@scaledamage 8d6|3-9|1d6} for each slot level above 3rd."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "damageInflict": ["fire"],
  "savingThrow": ["dexterity"], 
  "areaTags": ["S"],
  "miscTags": ["OBJ"],
  "classes": {
    "fromClassList": [
      {"name": "Sorcerer", "source": "PHB"},
      {"name": "Wizard", "source": "PHB"}
    ]
  },
  "srd": true,
  "basicRules": true,
  "hasFluffImages": true
}

This schema provides the complete specification for spell data as used in Mimir’s D&D content system.

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