On a turn, you can expend only one spell slot to cast a spell.
from the D&D 2024 5th Edition Free Rules
This new rule limits how many spells a character can cast in one turn. Only one spell slot per turn. This rule is much clearer than the convoluted rules governing Bonus Action spells in 2014 D&D. But how will it change play? What are the consequences of this rule change? And should we incorporate it into our ongoing games?
2014 D&D vs. 2024 D&D: What’s different?
In 2014 D&D, when a character casts a Bonus Action spell, the only other spell they can cast is a cantrip with a casting time of one action. Now, in effect, that’s not very different than the new 2024 rule. Both rules mean a character can only cast one »leveled« spell (any spell that requires a spell slot) per turn. But the first significant difference in the clarity of the rule. The simplicity of »one spell slot per turn« is easy to remember, and less likely to lead to rules discussions at the table.
Reaction spells (counterspell, shield)
However, there are some mechanical consequences to this new phrasing in 2024 D&D. First, the rule means that a character cannot cast a leveled spell with the casting time of a Reaction on their turn if they have cast another leveled spell before. The wizard can no longer counterspell the counterspell that the NPC mage cast against them. Because that would require two spell slots in a turn: the spell the wizard cast, and the counterspell they are casting afterwards.
The same goes for shield: The wizard might cast fireball and then try to move away from an enemy. Now they can no longer cast shield against the attack of opportunity because they’ve already cast the fireball.
In my opinion, that’s not a bad consequence. Again, it makes the rules easier: one spell slot per turn. No counterspelling counterspells no shielding opportunity attacks. Once you’ve cast a leveled spell, your magic is spent for the turn.
Action Surge
Previously, characters could still cast two leveled spells if they had the Action Surge feature of the fighter. Because the 2014 rule only concerned spells cast as a Bonus Action, two spells cast as an Action were allowed. Now 2024 D&D allows one spell slot per turn — no Action Surge double-casting.
Again, this makes the game simpler, and more approachable. We won’t see expert players outperform the new players at the table because the expert has taken two levels of fighter on their sorcerer so that they could cast two fireballs in one turn. Once again, in my opinion, this makes the game more streamlined, easier to understand, and more focused on the story.
Onboarding this rule into our ongoing games
This is one of those rules from 2024 5th Edition D&D which we can quickly and easily onboard into our ongoing 5th Edition games. It doesn’t vastly change the mechanics of spellcasting from 2014 D&D. The new rule is just simpler, more elegant. It does have some consequences for Reaction spells and multiclassing. But again, the new rule makes these aspects of the game more intuitive, more easily explained, less prone to argumentation.
In the spirit of gradually onboarding 2024 D&D, I am going to take this rule into my ongoing games, right now. Will you?
