A spell slot is D&D 5E’s mechanism through which a spell is cast. Consider a given spell slot as being sort of a barrel of a revolver — whenever you cast a spell, you “use up” a spell slot, and you get all of them back whenever you’re taking an extended rest. Each class gets a variety of spells slots to use per day.
Both 5e spells and spell slots have levels. When it comes time to cast a spell, you use up a spell slot that’s the same level because of the spell or higher.
However, there are a few reasons you might wanna use a spell slot of a better level than the spell itself.
maybe you’ve spent all of your spell slots of an equivalent level for the day, but you continue to really wanna cast that spell.
some spells become more powerful when utilized in a spell slot above their own level. consider it as “charging up” a spell by “firing it through” a higher-level slot.
Check also: Dnd Spells
Casting a Spell D&D 5E
Every class features a number of spell slots per day that supported their level. for instance, a 4th level Druid has four 1st level spell slots and two 2nd level spell slots. The more spell slots, the more spells you’ll cast before wanting to rest and recover your expended spell slots.
Some classes know all of their spells. They don’t have any concept of getting to find out new spells. a category like this is often the Cleric — a Cleric never must actively learn new spells. the whole pool of Cleric spells is out there for them to figure with.
On the opposite hand, other classes do get to expressively learn new spells. An example of this is often a Wizard — wizards have their spellbook, and that they can only work with spells that they know. Another example would be the Sorcerer — though they don’t have a spellbook, they need a limited number of spells that they know and thus can make use of. Classes like this learn new spells whenever they level up, plus they will sometimes learn new spells via in-game actions.
For those classes which expressively do learn new spells each level, the particular process is easy: simply consult the PHB and choose which new spells you would like to find out from your classes spell list.
Many classes got to prepare their Spells before they really cast them. this suggests choosing Spells from your known Spells and, after an extended rest, “placing the spells into your mind”, ready for casting.
A Spell must be cast during a Spell Slot that’s capable the Spell’s level or higher. Why cast a Spell during a Spell Slot above itself? Cus’ it always gets a sweet buff.
Some classes know a limited selection of their classes’ spell list. They learn new spells once they level up or via in-game actions. These classes cast any of the spells they know, whenever they need, via their Spell Slots.
Other classes know their entire class spell list. These classes (usually) need to prepare spells before time. They prepare a variety of spells in there at the top of an extended rest. they will then cast these prepared spells via their Spell Slots.