How Many Spells Can I Prepare in 5e?

You can prepare exactly the number in the Prepared Spells column of your class table: 4 for a level 1 Bard, Cleric, Druid or Wizard, 2 for a level 1 Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer or Warlock. In SRD 5.2.1 no ability modifier is added; the 2014 rules used your level plus your modifier, which is why older guides give other numbers. Every class now prepares, and the difference is when you can change the list: Clerics, Druids and Wizards swap any number after a Long Rest; Paladins and Rangers swap one; Bards, Sorcerers and Warlocks swap one when they gain a level. Below: the rules quoted, the numbers by level, and the spells that don't count.

The rule

Before you can cast a spell, you must have the spell prepared in your mind or have access to the spell from a magic item, such as a Spell Scroll.

Each class sets its count the same way. The Cleric's version:

The number of spells on your list increases as you gain Cleric levels, as shown in the Prepared Spells column of the Cleric Features table. Whenever that number increases, choose additional spells from the Cleric spell list until the number of spells on your list matches the number on the table. The chosen spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Two things follow.

• Any mix of levels. "If you're a level 3 Cleric, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of levels 1 and 2 in any combination." Six level 1 spells is legal.
• Cantrips are separate. They have their own Cantrips column and don't use up a prepared spell.

The numbers by level

Full casters are the Bard, Cleric, Druid and Sorcerer; half casters the Paladin and Ranger.

The Sorcerer starts at 2, jumps to 4 at level 2, then matches the other full casters from level 3. The Wizard pulls ahead from level 14 (18 against 17) and ends three spells up at 20. A level 20 Bard, Cleric, Druid or Sorcerer prepares 22 spells and has 22 spell slots: one spell per slot. How Spell Slots Work covers the slots.

When you can change the list

A Cleric can wake up with a different list every morning. A Sorcerer who picked Sleep at level 1 keeps it until level 2, and then can trade only one spell. For the level-up classes, the choice at creation is a commitment; for the Long Rest classes, it is a plan for tomorrow.

The Wizard gets one more door at level 5:

Memorize Spell. Whenever you finish a Short Rest, you can study your spellbook and replace one of the level 1+ Wizard spells you have prepared for your Spellcasting feature with another level 1+ spell from the book.

A Wizard's list is also limited to the spellbook: the Wizard chooses "from your spellbook", not from the whole Wizard list. A Cleric or Druid picks from the class's entire list.

Spells that don't count

If you also have a list of prepared spells that you can change, a spell that you always have prepared doesn't count against the number of spells on that list.

Subclasses hand these out. A Life Domain Cleric always has Aid, Bless, Cure Wounds and Lesser Restoration from level 3, then two more spells each at 5, 7 and 9:

So the Life Cleric at level 9 has 24 spells ready, not 14, and none of the healing staples take a slot on the list. Don't spend prepared picks on spells your subclass already gives you.

Multiclassing

You determine what spells you can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a level 4 Ranger / level 3 Sorcerer, for example, you can prepare five level 1 Ranger spells, and you can prepare six Sorcerer spells of level 1 or 2 (as well as four Sorcerer cantrips).

Each spell stays tied to the class that prepared it and uses that class's spellcasting ability. Multiclassing covers how the slots combine.

Rituals need preparing too

To cast a spell as a Ritual, a spellcaster must have it prepared.

The Wizard is the exception: Ritual Adept lets a Wizard cast any Ritual spell in the spellbook without preparing it. Ritual Casting covers the ten extra minutes.

Every number above comes from the class tables in SRD 5.2.1.

This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 ("SRD 5.2.1") by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.