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Pathfinder Unchained / Simple Monster Creation

Step 6: Spells

Source Pathfinder Unchained pg. 218
This step is only for monsters that use the spellcaster array. For monsters that know only a few spells (rather than being focused primarily on spellcasting), choose an array other than spellcaster and give the monster the secondary spellcasting universal option in Step 7.

The spell choices for a spellcaster monster are intentionally limited compared to those of a full NPC, since a monster created using the simple monster creation system is designed to have enough spells to last though a single battle or session. If a monster created this way ends up appearing in multiple sessions, you can swap out the spells each time, assuming that doing so fits the nature and theme of the monster.

The spells you choose for the monster during this step represent its total spellcasting arsenal for an encounter. If you want to treat some of the spells as being cast from scrolls, wands, or staves, implement them as such during play. Regardless of the source, additional spells still count against the total number the monster can cast.

You’ll also notice that some types of spells don’t appear on these lists—especially spells that solely increase statistics, such as bull’s strength, false life, and mage armor. That’s because such spells are often cast before combat, and the simple monster creation system assumes the effects of those spells are already in the monster’s base numbers.

Spell DCs: To determine the DC of a spell cast by a monster, add the spell’s level to the number listed in the spell DC column of the monster’s array. Use the spell’s cleric or sorcerer/wizard level if multiple classes can cast it. If neither of those classes has the spell, use the highest spell level listed in the spell’s description.

Choosing Spells

Source Pathfinder Unchained pg. 218
The easiest way to choose spells for a monster is to select a spell list from among those on the following pages that best matches its theme, using the options in this chapter. A fey with powerful spell-like abilities might choose the enchantment, fey, nature, or trickery spell list. A wizard dedicated to flame might choose the fire spell list, a dedicated transmuter would likely pick the transmutation list, and a generalist might take the arcane or magic list.

When you choose a spell list, the monster gains the following sets of spells according to its CR band—the spellcasting range its CR falls into.

The primary spells of its CR band, usable once per day. These are the monster’s highest-level spells.
Both the primary and secondary spells of the CR band one step lower than its own CR band, usable three times per day. These account for the monster’s less potent spells.
The primary spells of the CR band two steps below its own, usable at will. These are the monster’s lowest-level spells.

This setup produces a spellcaster with a small number of powerful spells that it can use rarely, a larger number of weaker but still useful spells that it can use often, and spells so weak that it hardly ever uses them in battle but can use them frequently.

Note that a CR 0–3 monster doesn’t gain any at-will spells or any spells usable three times per day, and a CR 4–7 monster doesn’t gain any at-will spells.

Write down the spells and the number of times they can be used. For the sample monsters later in this chapter, the spells are separated into attack spells, defensive spells, and utility spells, but this step is optional.

When you pick a spell list, the monster automatically gains the benefit listed at the bottom of that spell list. If you choose to create your own spell list, choose the benefit that matches your monster best, or create your own benefit for that monster instead.

For example, a CR 9 monster using the aberrant spell list would gain feeblemind and spell resistance once per day each (from the 8–11 CR band); beast shape I, major image, acid arrow, and see invisibility three times per day each (from the 4–7 CR band); and cause fear and long arm usable at will (from the 0–3 CR band). It would also gain the spell list’s benefit: the fortification universal monster rule.

In-Depth Spell Choice

These lists are arranged to facilitate maximum speed in choosing spells, but you can choose spells individually, give the monster secondary spells in place of primary spells (which is why the CR 16+ band lists secondary spells), or mix and match at your discretion. To keep your monster balanced, don’t deviate too far from the number of spells listed for its power level, though you can decrease or increase the number of spells within reason.

If you want to pick spells one by one, use the following spell levels for each CR band.

CR Band	Spell Level
0-3	0 or 1st
4-7	2nd or 3rd
8-11	4th or 5th
12-15	6th or 7th
16+	8th or 9th

Spell Lists

Source Pathfinder Unchained pg. 218
The following lists are themed to different uses of magic, and also correspond to bloodlines, domains, and other prominent spell themes. For a monster with a class graft, use the graft's suggested spell lists to help you choose the monster's spells.

Aberrant Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Cause fear, long arm	Daze, silent image
4-7	Beast shape I, major image	Acid arrow, see invisibility
8-11	Feeblemind, spell resistance	Beast shape II, black tentacles
12-15	Plane shift, project image	Beast shape IV, veil
16+	Foresight, shapechange	Mind blank, polymorph any object

Benefit: The monster gains the benefit of the fortification universal monster rule (Bestiary 4 294).

Abjuration Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Endure elements, protection from chaos/evil/good/law	Alarm, hold portal
4-7	Nondetection, protection from energy	Dispel magic, resist energy
8-11	Dismissal, stoneskin	Dimensional anchor, lesser globe of invulnerability
12-15	Antimagic field, banishment	Globe of invulnerability, greater dispel magic
16+	Mage's disjunction, prismatic sphere	Prismatic wall, protection from spells

Benefit: Choose one energy type. The monster gains resistance 5 to that type of damage. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, increase the resistance to 20.

Abyssal Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, summon monster I	Cause fear, protection from good or law
4-7	Rage, summon monster III	Alter self, scare
8-11	Dismissal, summon monster V	Chaos hammer, dimension door
12-15	Summon monster VI, word of chaos	Greater dispel magic, greater teleport
16+	Energy drain, summon monster IX	Cloak of chaos, unholy aura

Benefit: Increase the monster's Strength modifier by 1. At CR 13, increase it by 2 instead. At CR 17, increase it by 3 instead.

Acid Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Corrosive touch, obscuring mist	acid splash, cause fear
4-7	Empowered corossive touch, protection from energy (acid only)	acid arrow, resist energy (acid only)
8-11	Acidic spray, corrosive consumption	rusting grasp, transmute rock to mud
12-15	Widened acid fog, caustic eruption	Quickened acid arrow, acid fog
16+	Empowered caustic eruption, form of the dragon III (black only)	Maximized acidic spray, storm of vengeance

Benefit: The monster gains acid resistance 5. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, the monster gains acid immunity.

Air Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Jump, obscuring mist	Feather fall, open/close
4-7	Gaseous form, wind wall	Fly, gust of wind
8-11	Control wind, overland flight	Air walk, extended wind wall
12-15	Control weather, elemental body IV (air only)	Chain lightning, reverse gravity
16+	Elemental swarm (air only), winds of vengeance	Empowered chain lightning, whirlwind

Benefit: Increase the monster's movement speed by 10 feet.

Alchemy Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Expeditious retreat, true strike	Ant haul, jump
4-7	Displacement, fly	Invisibility, vomit swarm
8-11	Magic jar, overland flight	Dragon's breath, stoneskin
12-15	Eyebite, twin form	Heal, true seeing
16+	Fiery body, shapechange	Clone, simulacrum

Benefit: The monster gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against disease and poison

Animal Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Hold animal, summon nature's ally I	Charm animal, hide from animals
4-7	Dominate animal, greater magic fang	Beast shape I (animals only), speak with animals
8-11	Animal growth, insect plague	Giant vermin, locate creature
12-15	Antilife shell, summon nature's ally VII	Beast shape IV (animal only), mass cure light wounds
16+	Quickened insect plague, shapechange	Animal shapes, summon nature's ally VII (animals only)

Benefit: Animal allies within 20 feet of the monster gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls.

Arcane Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Expeditious retreat, magic missile	Light, prestidigitation
4-7	Dispel magic, levitate	Invisibility, scorching ray
8-11	Empowered lightning bolt, overland flight	Dimension door, lesser globe of invulnerability
12-15	Quickened dispel magic, greater teleport	Maximized fireball, true seeing
16+	Power word kill, quickened wall of force	Maximized cone of cold, power word stun

Benefit: Increase the saving throw DCs of any of the monster's spells to which a metamagic feat has been applied by 1.

Artifice Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Animate rope, magic stone	floating disk, mending
4-7	Stone shape, tiny hut	Make whole, wood shape
8-11	Major creation, wall of stone	Fabricate, minor creation
12-15	Limited wish, wall of iron	Animate objects, flesh to stone
16+	Crushing hand, prismatic sphere	Iron body, polymorph any object

Benefit: When the monster casts a spell from this list, it gains a deflection bonus to AC equal to the spell's level for 1 round.

Battle Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bless, expeditious retreat	Bleed, flare
4-7	Fly, haste	Invisibility, protection from arrows
8-11	Interposing hand, teleport	Dimension door, greater invisibility
12-15	Giant form I, transformation	Greater teleport, true seeing
16+	Mass hold monster, time stop	Mislead, power word stun

Benefit: Increase the monster's attack bonus for all attacks by 1.

Celestial Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bless, divine favor	Guidance, light
4-7	Magic circle against evil, prayer	Cure moderate wounds, resist energy
8-11	Flame strike, greater command	Blessing of fervor, holy smite
12-15	Banishment, holy word	Empowered flame strike, greater dispel magic
16+	Quickened flame strike, gate	Holy aura, sunburst

Benefit: The monster gains resistance 5 to acid and cold. At CR 12, these resistances increase to 10.

Chaos Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Lesser confusion, protection from law	Daze, entropic shield
4-7	Magic circle against law, rage	Alter self, daze monster
8-11	Dispel law, mind fog	Chaos hammer, confusion
12-15	Insanity, word of chaos	Animate objects, repulsion
16+	Prismatic sphere, summon monster IX (chaotic only)	Cloak of chaos, scintillating pattern

Benefit: The monster's attacks count as chaotic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Charm Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Charm person, hypnotism	Daze, message
4-7	Hold person, suggestion	Calm emotions, daze monster
8-11	Charm monster, dominate person	Confusion, lesser geas
12-15	Insanity, mass hold person	Geas/quest, mass suggestion
16+	Dominate monster, mass hold monster	Demand, mass charm monster

Benefit: The monster gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against charm effects.

Cold Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Frostbite, obscuring mist	Endure elements, ray of frost
4-7	Protection from energy, sleet storm	Chill metal, resist energy
8-11	Cone of cold, enlarged ice storm	Ice storm, wall of ice
12-15	Control weather, form of the dragon II (white only)	Empowered cone of cold, freezing sphere
16+	Quickened cone of cold, form of the dragon III (white only)td>	Polar ray, simulacrum

Benefit: The monster gains cold resistance 5. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, the monster gains cold immunity.

Community Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bless, sanctuary	Cure light wounds, virtue
4-7	Dispel magic, prayer	Aid, shield other
8-11	Telepathic bond, wall of stone	Cure critical wounds, status
12-15	Heal, repulsion	Banishment, blade barrier
16+	Foresight, miracle	Dimensional lock, mass cure critical wounds

Benefit: The monster gains Diplomacy as an additional master skill.

Conjuration Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Grease, summon monster I	Acid splash, guidance
4-7	Stinking cloud, summon monster III	Acid arrow, summon monster II
8-11	Summon monster V, teleport	Dimension door, summon monster IV
12-15	Greater teleport, summon monster VII	Acid fog, summon monster VI
16+	Gate, summon monster IX	Incendiary cloud, summon monster VIII

Benefit: The monster doubles the duration of all conjuration (summoning) spells it casts.

Darkness Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Cause fear, obscuring mist	Daze, silent image
4-7	Deeper darkness, displacement	Blindness/deafness (only to cause blindness), darkness
8-11	Shadow evocation, summon monster V (1d3 shadows)	Black tentacles, shadow conjuration
12-15	Greater shadow conjuration, power word blind	Quickened darkness, shadow walk
16+	Energy drain, shades	Greater shadow evocation, maximized shadow evocation

Benefit: The monster's spells with the darkness descriptor count as 1 spell level higher.

Death Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Chill touch, ray of enfeeblement	Bleed, touch of fatigue
4-7	Stricken heart, vampiric touch	Death knell, ghoul touch
8-11	Slay living, waves of fatigue	Death ward, enervation
12-15	Destruction, finger of death	Circle of death, undeath to death
16+	Energy drain, wail of the banshee	Horrid wilting, symbol of death

Benefit: Increase the saving throw DC of any death spell the monster casts by 1.

Destined Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Alarm, protection from chaos/evil/good/law	Expeditious retreat, true strike
4-7	Displacement, protection from energy	Blur, good hope
8-11	Break enchantment, debilitating portent	Divination, freedom of movement
12-15	Quickened displacement, jolting portent	Mislead, spell turning
16+	Foresight, quickened freedom of movement	Mind blank, moment of prescience

Benefit: Increase all the monster's saving throw bonuses by 1.

Destruction Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, true strike	Acid splash, ray of frost
4-7	Fireball, rage	acid arrow, shatter
8-11	Maximized acid arrow, shout	Ice storm, inflict critical wounds
12-15	Disintegrate, quickened lightning bolt	Maximized fireball, harm
16+	Empowered disintegrate, implosion	Earthquake, fire storm

Benefit: Increase the saving throw DCs of any spells the monster casts that deal damage by 1.

Divination Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Anticipate peril, unprepared combatant	Guidance, true strike
4-7	Clairaudience/clairvoyance, see invisibility	Arcane sight, detect thoughts
8-11	Scrying, telepathic bond	Discern lies, locate creature
12-15	Greater arcane sight, greater scrying	Find the path, true seeing
16+	Foresight, prediction of failure	Discern location, moment of presience

Benefit: The monster cannot be surprised while it is conscious and able to take actions.

Draconic Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, cause fear	Jump, true strike
4-7	Fly, haste	Draconic reservoir, scare
8-11	Overland flight, spell resistance	Dragon's breath, fear
12-15	Form of the dragon II, spell turning	Form of the dragon I, symbol of fear
16+	Form of the dragon III, wish	Foresight, power word stun

Benefit: The monster's AC and flat-footed AC increase by 2. In addition, the monster gains resistance 5 to your choice of acid, cold, electricity, or fire.

Earth Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Expeditious excavation, magic stone	Acid splash, resistance
4-7	Meld into stone, stone shape	Acid arrow, soften earth and stone
8-11	Transmute mud to rock, transmute rock to mud	Spike stones, wall of stone
12-15	Elemental body IV (earth only), wall of iron	Major creation, move earth
16+	Elemental swarm (earth only), imprisonment	Earthquake, iron body

Benefit: The monster gains acid resistance 5. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, the monster gains acid immunity.

Electricity Spell List

Benefit: The monster gains electricity resistance 5. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, the monster gains electricity immunity.

Elemental Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, produce flame	Ray of frost, resistance
4-7	Fireball, lightning bolt	Scorching ray, sleet storm
8-11	Control winds, elemental body II	Elemental body I, ice storm
12-15	Elemental body IV, fire storm	Elemental body III, freezing sphere
16+	Elemental swarm, meteor swarm	Empowered chain lightning, summon monster VIII(elementals only)

Benefit: The monster gains one of the following: a fly speed of 60 feet with average maneuverability, a burrow speed of 30 feet, a 30-foot increase to its base speed, or a swim speed of 60 feet.

Enchantment Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Charm person, sleep	Daze, hypnotism
4-7	Hideous laughter, hold person	Suggestion, touch of idiocy
8-11	Dominate person, feeblemind	Charm monster, confusion
12-15	Insanity, mass suggestion	Mass hold person, power word blind
16+	Irresistible dance, power word kill	Binding, power word stun

Benefit: The monster gains either Bluff or Diplomacy as an additional master skill.

Evil Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bane, inflict light wounds	Bleed, protection from good
4-7	Bestow curse, magic circle against good	Darkness, ghoul touch
8-11	Dispel good, slay living	Inflict critical wounds, unholy blight
12-15	Blasphemy, destruction	Harm, mass inflict moderate wounds
16+	Power word kill, summon monster IX (evil only)	Power word stun, unholy aura

Benefit: The monster's attacks count as evil for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Evocation Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, magic missile	Light, ray of frost
4-7	Fireball, lightning bolt	Scorching ray, shatter
8-11	Cone of cold, empowered fireball	Ice storm, wall of fire
12-15	Delayed blast fireball, quickened fireball	Chain lightning, maximized lightning bolt
16+	Quickened ice storm, meteor swarm	Polar ray, sunburst

Benefit: The monster adds 1/2 its CR to the damage dealt with evocation spells it casts.

Fey Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Charm person, entangle	Dancing lights, faerie fire
4-7	Deep slumber, suggestion	Glitterdust, hideous laughter
8-11	Baleful polymorph, tree stride	Dimension door, poison
12-15	Insanity, phase door	Mislead, transport via plants
16+	Shambler, shapechange	Irresistible dance, scintillating pattern

Benefit: Increase the saving throw DCs of any compulsion spell the monster casts by 2.

Fire Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, heat metal	Flare, produce flame
4-7	Empowered burning hands, fireball	Flame blade, flaming sphere
8-11	Empowered fireball, flame strike	Fire shield, wall of fire
12-15	Elemental body IV (fire only), quickened fireball	Fire seeds, fire storm
16+	Elemental swarm (fire only), meteor swarm	Empowered fire storm, incendiary cloud

Benefit: The monster gains fire resistance 5. At CR 12, increase the resistance to 10. At CR 16, the monster gains fire immunity.

Glory Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bless, sanctuary	Guidance, resistance
4-7	Daylight, searing light	Aid, bless weapon
8-11	Dispel evil, flame strike	Dismissal, holy smite
12-15	Holy sword, holy ward	Blade barrier, undeath to death
16+	Gate, overwhelming presence	Earthquake, holy aura

Benefit: The monster gains a +4 bonus on saves against fear.

Good Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Bless, protection from evil	Guidance, virtue
4-7	Magic circle against evil, prayer	Cure moderate wounds, hold person
8-11	Dispel evil, plane shift	Cure critical wounds, holy smite
12-15	Holy ward, summon monster VII*	Blade barrier, heal
16+	Storm of vengeance, summon monster IX*	Holy aura, summon monster VIII*

* Can summon good creatures only.
Benefit: The monster's attacks count as good for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Healing Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	cure light wounds, sanctuary	Stabilize, virtue
4-7	cure serious wounds, remove disease	Cure moderate wounds, shield other
8-11	breath of life, mass cure light wounds	Cure critical wounds, neutralize poison
12-15	Mass cure serious wounds, regenerate	Heal, mass cure moderate wounds
16+	Quickened breath of life, mass heal	quickened cure critical wounds, mass cure critical wounds

Benefit: The monster gains Diplomacy or Heal as an additional master skill.

Illusion Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Color spray, silent image	Disguise self, ghost sound
4-7	Displacement, major image	Invisibility, minor image
8-11	Mirage arcana, persistent image	Greater invisibility, phantasmal killer
12-15	Quickened displacement, mass invisibility	Shadow walk, veil
16+	Shades, weird	Greater shadow evocation, scintillating pattern

Benefit: Increase the saving throw DCs of any illusion spells the monster casts by 1.

Infernal Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Burning hands, protection from good	Charm person, flare
4-7	Fireball, suggestion	Daze monster, scorching ray
8-11	Dominate person, empowered fireball	Charm monster, wall of fire
12-15	Blasphemy, greater teleport	Quickened fireball, mass suggestion
16+	Dominate monster, meteor swarm	Empowered maximized fireball, power word stun

Benefit: The monster gains fire resistance 5 and a +2 bonus on saving throws against poison. At CR 9, the fire resistance increases to 10 and the bonus on saving throws against poison increases to +4.

Knowledge Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Anticipate peril, true strike	Alarm, comprehend languages
4-7	Arcane sight, clairaudience/clairvoyance	Detect thoughts, locate object
8-11	Commune, true seeing	Divination, locate creature
12-15	Contact other plane, vision	Find the path, legend lore
16+	Foresight, prediction of failure	Discern location, moment of prescience

Benefit: The monster gains two Knowledge skills of your choice as additional master skills.

Law Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Command, protection from chaos	Cause fear, stabilize
4-7	Dispel magic, magic circle against chaos	Calm emotions, enthrall
8-11	Dispel chaos, greater command	Dimensional anchor, order's wrath
12-15	Dictum, power word blind	Banishment, hold monster
16+	Power word kill, summon monster IX (law only)	Shield of law, power word stun

Benefit: The monster's attacks count as lawful for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Liberation Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Expeditious retreat, remove fear	Feather fall, open/close
4-7	Fly, remove curse	Knock, remove paralysis
8-11	Break enchantment, overland flight	Freedom of movement, extended haste
12-15	Ethereal jaunt, refuge	Quickened fly, greater dispel magic
16+	Freedom, wish	Quickened freedom of movement, mind blank

Benefit: The monster gains Escape Artist as an additional master skill.

Luck Spell List

CR Band	Primary Spells	Secondary Spells
0-3	Entropic shield, true strike	Daze, feather fall
4-7	Dispel magic, prayer	Aid, protection from energy
8-11	Bestow curse, break enchantment	Freedom of movement, serenity
12-15	Quickened dispel magic, spell turning	Dismissal, mislead
16+	Foresight, miracle	Antimagic field, moment of prescience