Spell Index

Darkness

A shroud of pure darkness blankets the area, plunging creatures without specialized vision into total blackness and making them especially vulnerable to critical hits.

Evocation
Action: Standard
Components: V,S,M
Duration: See text
Spell Lists: Alchemy,Arcane,Divine,Nature,Psychic
Levels: 1,3,5,7,9,10
Cast Range: medium

Darkness creates areas of impenetrable gloom to most forms of normal sight. Creatures lacking darkvision (or a similar effect) see absolutely nothing within this zone and incur severe combat penalties. Attacks against a blinded target are more prone to become critical hits, and the target may suffer a penalty to attack and damage rolls or a miss chance on all attacks, as decided by the GM.

Fighting Blind

• Characters in total darkness rely on sound, smell, and experience. The GM determines how effectively they can strike, possibly applying penalties (attack roll penalties, damage penalties, miss chances, etc.) based on the situation and the character’s expertise.

Countering Darkness

1. Dispel Magic
   • An Abjuration spell (e.g., Dispel Magic) can dissipate Darkness on a successful dispel check.
2. Light Spell
   • A sufficiently powerful Light spell can counter Darkness. If the Dispel is used on one area, it dispels all others too.
   • The Light spell may require a caster level check (with a +10% bonus) to overcome Darkness.
3. Darkvision
   • Creatures with darkvision (innate or via a spell) can partially penetrate the darkness.
   • However, darkvision typically has a limited range (e.g., 60 ft, 120 ft, etc.). Beyond that range, the darkness remains total, providing ranged attackers with an advantage.

Scaling

The Darkness spell is available at multiple levels, each increasing its area of effect and duration:

• At level 10, the Darkness spell can cover an entire planet.

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