Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Coolossus2123 Aug 17, 2015 2:47:04	There's a thread going on similar to this in the "Player Help" section, but I've also been wondering a few things about  it for awhile so I might as well ask here, and get some more opinions. So how exactly do spells granted by race work?  Are they able to be cast using a spell slot?    My intial thoughts, which were reinforced by someone coming to a similar conclusion,  are that they are spells that are able to be cast with spell slots like normal, but also can be cast for free using the the spellcasting ability listed, and whatever restrictions apply. For example, a tiefling has "Infernal Legacy" which states "You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd levei, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell once per day as a 2nd-levei spell. Once you reach 5th levei, you can also cast the darkness spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.".   Does this mean that a tiefling character adds hellish rebuke to their spell sheet and can cast it once per day as a 2nd -level spell, and any time they want if they use a spell slot? How about darkness, are they allowed to cast darkness once per day once they reach 5th level, or whenever they want if they instead use a spell slot? Perhaps it's a combination of the two where they are able to use spell slots for the purpose of improving the spells to higher levels, but must still adhere to the "once per (insert period of time)" part, if any. Is there anything in the rules that mentions any of this? The closest thing I found was on pg. 202 of the PHB where it says "Some characters and monsters have special abilities that let them cast spells without using spell slots.". On the flipside, a few people were saying that they are independent of your spell slot usage, meaning that they can't be used with your spell slots for the benefit of casting them at higher level, and one must pick the spell using their class if they want to do that. If it helps out, here is the link to the other thread: http://community.wizards.com/forum/player-help/threads/4246301   If I'm missing anything additional that I should know on this matter, please let me know! But on a slightly different note, are cantrips able to be cast with spell slots as they are technically a 0-level spell, or is there no point if they could since they automatically scale with character level?
#2 sim-h Aug 17, 2015 5:45:30	I interpret it that the racial spellcasting abilities are nothing to do with spell slots, and are entirely separate. You can't cast a racial spell using a 'higher slot' even if you are a spellcaster.   As for cantrips - they do not and have never had anything to do with spell slots either, they are 'at will'.
#3 Mad_Jack Aug 17, 2015 6:39:31	Yeah, I haven't seen anything to suggest that racial spells interact with any way with a spellcaster's spell slots. Racial spells are completely separate from a spellcaster's spell slots or spells known. In fact, for races that gain spells that can normally be cast at higher levels for a greater effect, the racial descrition usually specifically states the level at which it is cast.   A character who's race and class spell list both allow him to cast a particular spell would have that spell as a regular spell available through his class (assuming he chose that spell, if his class requires him to prepare spells or has a limit of spells known), and also then have a completely separate free 1/day casting of it at a specified level from their race.
#4 Yunru Aug 17, 2015 6:39:18	If it says "you know", then you can cast it with spell slots. If it just says "you can cast", then you can't.
#5 Coolossus2123 Aug 17, 2015 16:48:31	Perhaps it does make more sense to interpret it this way, thanks for the repsonses!
#6 jaelis Aug 17, 2015 17:37:02	Yunru wrote:
#7 Tempest_Stormwind Aug 18, 2015 11:31:29	Yunru wrote: