Every single spell inDungeons & Dragonshas a component requirement. Components are typically broken down into several different categories, and listed next to the other tags in the spell. If you’re playing a hardcore Dungeons & Dragons campaign, you’re able to’t cast a spell without the proper components.

Some Dungeon Masters might handwave this, but if you want to really follow the rules, you’ll have to verify, as a player, you have the proper components at your disposal. Here’s everything you need to know about how components work and how to use them in your Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

Tasha brewing a potion over a cauldron in Dungeons & Dragons.

What Are Components?

As mentioned,a spell’s components are the physical requirements necessary to cast a spell; a player must have these components or the spell fails.Three typesof componentscanbe required to cast a spell.

In the spell’s description,the various components are denoted by either a ‘V,’ ‘S,’ or ‘M,‘for verbal, somatic, or material, respectively.

A bard casts Vicious Mockery on a kobold in Dungeons & Dragons.

Verbal

The verbal components of a spell aremagic words, or incantations, necessary to cast the spell. To cast the spell,you must speak the incantation aloudin a normal speaking voice.

This means that,if your player is silenced magically, gagged, or unable to speakfor any other reason,you cannot cast the spell.

A cleric casts the Daylight spell in Dungeons & Dragons.

Spells with verbal componentscan be tricky when navigating a stealth encounter. Before casting a spell, check with your DM to ensure it won’t negate your Stealth check.

Somatic

The somatic components of a spell are thegestures or hand movementsassociated with casting a spell.You must use one of your handsto perform these movements.

If you are playing a character who does not have hands or limbs, talk to your DMabout other physical actions your character can do to complete the somatic components of a spell.

A wizard using a ball of scrying in Dungeons & Dragons.

Material

The material components of the spells are theparticular substances or objectsyou must use or consume to cast the spell. These are typicallyspecified in the parentheticals next to a spell’s tagor description. Components can include things like:

How To Use Components

Verbal and somatic components are merely there to provide flavor and funfor the spellcaster. However, verbal and somatic componentscan affect two few things:

Details

Stealth

If your character is trying to be sneaky, but is casting a spell with a verbal component, you might no longer be hidden.

Physical Activity

If you’re hanging off the side of a cliff, and want to cast the spell Fly on yourself, you will have to release one hand from the cliff to use the somatic components of a spell.

Material components are where things get interesting.If the material components listed do not have a costassociated with them,you can use a Component Pouch or a Spellcasting Focus insteadin place of the listed material components.

Image of Dungeons and Dragons Candlekeep Mysteries cover art.

Component Pouches are worth 25 GPand can be purchased in most settlements.Arcane focuses are more expensiveand vary in price, but can typically be found in magic shops or are gifted to your character at character creation.

However,if a material component has a cost associated with it, you must buy the componentspecifically with the aforementionedamount of money.

Spell descriptions will denote if casting the spell with the material component consumes the component,or if you may use it again.