Spell components are an often forgotten part of spellcasting inDungeons & Dragons. While most spells have either verbal or somatic components (requiring you to speak or gesture with your hands to cast them), some spells have material components as well.
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While the majority of material components can be ignored through the use of a spellcasting focus, components with a gold cost attached must be supplied in order for a spell to be cast. This might not seem like a big problem, however, some of these gold costs can be rather outrageous. Let’s take a look.
10Resurrection / Reincarnate - 1,000 GP
Starting off the list with what will likely be your first big material component gold expenditure in a higher-level game, Resurrection and Reincarnate are both spells you’re able to use to bring a character back to life for the notable cost of 1,000 gold pieces. These spells consume the gold cost as well, meaning you’ll have to buy new materials every time you cast them.
On top of the gold cost, these spells also require that you have some portion of the creature’s body at hand. For the 7th-level spell Resurrection, you’ll need the entire body, but it’s okay if it’s missing any of its parts.
On the other hand, the 5th-level spell Reincarnate only requires that you have a piece of a dead humanoid. However, it brings the soul of whoever you’re restoring to life back into an entirely new body that is likely a different species than the original.
9Force Cage - 1,500 GP
This 7th-level evocation spell is notorious for shutting downhigh-level encountersthanks to the fact that it has no saving throw. to cast it though, you’ll first need to purchase ruby dust worth 1,500 gold pieces. Forcecage creates a prison of magical force that traps a creature for up to one hour.
The prison can be up to 20 feet on a side if it’s made in the shape of a cage, so it’s big enough to hold even gargantuan-sized creatures. That means you can cage creatures like naughty ancient dragons with this spell.
However, don’t be surprised if your DM (Dungeon Master) has given their boss monster a way to break through Force Cage. Fights aren’t very climactic or interesting when the party is simply slinging ranged attacks at a caged opponent.
8Contingency - 1,500 GP
Funnily enough, before you cast this 6th-level evocation spell you’ll need to purchase an ivory statuette likeness of your character embellished with gems that’s worth at least 1,500 gold pieces. Contingency is a Wizard-only spell that allows you to cast another spell and delay its effect until a certain circumstance is met.
However, the spell must be of 5th level or lower, have a casting time of 1 action, and be able to target you. Common contingencies include Dispel Magic when you fail a saving throw against a magical effect, Polymorph when your hit points are reduced to a certain number, or Greater Invisibility when you’re hit by an enemy attack.
7Planar Binding - 1,000 GP
This 5th-level abjuration spell may cost less than Forcecage and Contingency on the first casting, but the fact that it consumes the material component means that you’ll need to spend 1,000 more gold on a new jewel every time you cast it. In the long run, it ends up being a more expensive spell.
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The spell binds a celestial, elemental, fey, or fiend to your service for anywhere between 24 hours and a year and a day depending on the level of the spell slot you use to cast it. It does take an hour to cast though, so you’ll first need to trap the creature in question inside of a Magic Circle or with another imprisoning device.
Be wary ofbinding malicious creatures. While the bound servant has to follow the letter of your instructions, it can twist the spirit of your command to its own ends.
6Simulacrum - 1,500 GP
This 7th-level illusion spell is yet another Wizard-only special. The material cost of this spell stems from 1,500 gold pieces worth of ruby dust. In addition to that though, you’ll also need a hefty amount of snow or ice as well as a piece of the creature’s body that you’re trying to duplicate.
Simulacrum creates a copy of a humanoid or beast that you touch, however, it takes 12 whole hours to cast. In other words, you’ll likely need a willing creature to cast this spell unless your target is completely and utterly immobilized.
The copy has half the hit points of its original creature and follows all spoken commands. Once reduced to zero hit points, the copy immediately reverts to a pile of snow.
5Clone - 3,000 GP
Clone is an 8th-level necromancy spell that’s also available only to Wizards. We’re seeing a theme here.
It requires multiple material components with costs as well as 1 cubic inch of flesh of the creature set to be cloned. Enjoy gathering that. As far as the other components, you’ll need a diamond worth at least 1,000 gold pieces and a container worth at least 2,000 gold pieces.
While the spell only takes an hour to cast, it takes 120 days for the clone of the creature you create to mature and grow to full size. Once the clone has matured, it serves as a home for the soul of the creature who was cloned should its current body meet an untimely end.
In other words,this is a Resurrectionspell that you will need to cast well before you die.
4Gate - 5,000 GP
This is the first 9th-level spell on this list and requires that you have a diamond worth at least 5,000 gold pieces on your person in order to cast it. Gate is a conjuration spell that requires concentration and creates a temporary portal between two precise locations on different planes.
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On top of that, you may speak the name of a creature upon casting the spell. Notably, the name cannot be a pseudonym or title.
Only true names will do. If you do, the creature whose name was spoken is intercepted by the portal on the other side of your Gate spell and immediately drawn through it towards you.
Now that’s what we call an effective method of teleportation.
3Sequester - 5,000 GP
Sequester may only be a 7th-level transmutation spell, but it still has one of the highest gold costs in the game. You’ll need powdered diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires worth 5,000 gold pieces to cast this one.
There’s good reason for this high of a cost though as Sequester allows you to make something or someone who is willing pretty much cease to exist. The target becomes invisible and can’t be perceived through divination or scrying means while the spell remains intact.
The spell also has an unlimited duration, however, you’re able to set a condition (such as a passphrase) to end it early.
2Time Ravage - 5,000 GP
Speaking of making people cease to exist, Time Ravage is a 9th-level necromancy spell that will accomplish this for you in combat scenarios.
First, you’ll need to acquire an hourglass filled with diamond dust worth 5,000 gold pieces though. This spell subjects one creature to the effects of rapid aging.
The target must make a Consitution saving throw, taking 10d12 necrotic damage on a failed save or half on a success.
In addition to the damage, a target who fails the save also ages to the point where they only have 30 days left to live. While in this state, the target has a disadvantage on all rolls and its speed is halved.
To make matters worse, the only way to cure this condition is through a Wish spell or by casting Greater Restoration using a 9th-level spell slot.
1True Resurrection - 25,000 GP
Finally, this 9th-level necromancy spell requires a sprinkle of holy water and diamond dust worth at least 25,000 gold pieces. While that might seem like a ridiculous cost, True Resurrection can restore any creature who died in the last 200 years to life as long as you know the creature’s name.
Besides, true friendship is worth any cost, right?
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