Divination spells in Pathfinder are a type of magic that allows the caster to gain insights into the future, past, or present. These spells are often used for gathering information, uncovering secrets, and predicting possible events. There are several different types of divination spells, each with their own unique abilities and effects. Some spells, such as "Augury" and "Divination," allow the caster to ask specific questions and receive answers from a higher power. These spells are often used to make important decisions or gain guidance in uncertain situations. Other divination spells, like "Detect Magic" and "Detect Poison," allow the caster to perceive hidden or invisible entities.

How many divination spells are scrying?

I saw in the Pathfinder core rule book that there are specific spells called Scrying Spells, which allow the character to observe something as if they were there. However, there are just three of such spells in the core rules (Clairvoyance and Regular/Greater Scrying). Are there more scrying spells, or was this an edit so they didn't need to add lengthy descriptions to these spells?

Other divination spells, like "Detect Magic" and "Detect Poison," allow the caster to perceive hidden or invisible entities. These spells can be useful for uncovering magical traps, identifying magical items, or detecting dangerous substances. Some divination spells, such as "Scrying" and "Commune," enable the caster to perceive or communicate with distant locations or beings.

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Note: The difference between a normal divination spell and a divination spell of the scrying subschool is the divination spell's creation of an effect that's a magical scrying sensor, the presence of which can be noticed with a successful Perception skill check (DC 20 + spell level) and through which the caster can use its own senses. Thus if a spell does not have as its effect a magical sensor, the spell really shouldn't be part of the scrying subschool. Of course, some spells are anyway.

There are currently under 20 spells of the scrying subschool

In the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook only four spells are in the scrying subschool: the 3rd-level Sor/Wiz spell clairaudience/clairvoyance, the 4th-level Sor/Wiz spells arcane eye and scrying, and the 7th-level Sor/Wiz spell greater scrying, but the crystal ball and magic mirror are so iconic—and the scrying spell such an important weapon in a GM's arsenal—that to devote extra attention in the core rules to the concept of peeping on folks when they likely don't want to be peeped on isn't unwarranted.

The list of later scrying spells that actually have as their effect the creation of a magical sensor includes the 3rd-level Sor/Wiz spell gilded whispers; the 3rd-level Sor/Wiz spell mirror sight; the 3rd-level Clr spell riversight; the 4th-level Clr spell traveling dream (noteworthy in that it creates a scrying sensor the size and shape of the caster's body that's automatically visible but only to animals and children); the 5th-level druid spell jungle mind (which uses a picked preexisting animal as the spell's scrying sensor, which is a little weird); and the 5th-level Sor/Wiz spell symbol of scrying (the symbol—like the effect created by the spell symbol of death—apparently also being the sensor, but this could've been clearer).

Although they're officially part of (enrolled in?) the scrying subschool, some spells that don't have as an effect a magical sensor are tossed into the subschool, too. These include the following:

• The 2nd-level Sor/Wiz spell track ship which creates as its effect a magical icon on a map that's in the caster's presence.
• The 3rd-level Brd spell witness which creates no effect.
• The 3rd-level Sor/Wiz spell spherescry which allows the caster to perceive through onyx spheres, yet the spell "produces no indication of its activity on the target [onyx spheres] and cannot be discovered by normal methods of magical detection." The spell creates no effect.
• The 4th-level Sor/Wiz spell share senses which creates no effect, simply allowing the caster to experience its familiar's senses.
• The 5th-level psychic spell remote viewing which creates no effect and really doesn't follow any of the scrying subschool rules at all.

Precedent was set for there to be spells that acquire information at a distance yet not be of the scrying subschool in the D&D 3.5 core rules (on which Pathfinder is based) by spells like prying eyes et al. (also in Pathfinder) and discern location (also in Pathfinder), but Pathfinder seems to be gradually broadening the scrying subschool.

However, a Pathfinder-only spell that gets this exactly right is the 4th-level Sor/Wiz spell questing stone which is a divination spell based on the spell arcane eye but that uses as its sensor an ioun stone, excluding questing stone from the scrying subschool.

SRD:Divination School

Divination spells enable you to learn secrets long forgotten, to predict the future, to find hidden things, and to foil deceptive spells.

Many divination spells have cone-shaped areas. These move with you and extend in the direction you look. The cone defines the area that you can sweep each round. If you study the same area for multiple rounds, you can often gain additional information, as noted in the descriptive text for the spell.

Divination Spells

A

B

C

• Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
• Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
• Clairvoyance
• Commune
• Commune
• Commune
• Commune with Nature
• Commune with Nature
• Commune with Nature
• Comprehend Languages
• Comprehend Languages
• Comprehend Languages
• Contact (Epic Spell Seed)
• Contact Other Plane
• Contact Other Plane
• Contact Other Plane

D

• Detect Animals or Plants
• Detect Animals or Plants
• Detect Chaos
• Detect Chaos
• Detect Evil
• Detect Evil
• Detect Evil and Good
• Detect Good
• Detect Good
• Detect Law
• Detect Law
• Detect Magic
• Detect Magic
• Detect Poison
• Detect Poison
• Detect Poison and Disease
• Detect Scrying
• Detect Scrying
• Detect Secret Doors
• Detect Secret Doors
• Detect Snares and Pits
• Detect Snares and Pits
• Detect Thoughts
• Detect Thoughts
• Detect Thoughts
• Detect Undead
• Detect Undead
• Discern Lies
• Discern Lies
• Discern Location
• Discern Location
• Divination
• Divination
• Divination

F

G

• Greater Arcane Sight
• Greater Prying Eyes
• Greater Scrying
• Greater Status
• Guidance
• Guidance
• Guidance

Using Divination Spells for Droskar's Guiding Ring

This gold ring is misshapen and uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time; inscribed on it is a crude symbol of a fire burning under an arch. Once per day, the wearer may use charm person. If Droskar is the wearer’s patron deity, any time the wearer crafts a magic item, she may choose to pay half of the item’s construction cost instead of the full cost. The wearer spends time working on the item normally, but at the time of completion there is a 50% chance that the item turns out nonmagical and worthless. For example, if creating a magic bracer that normally costs 1,000 gp to craft, the wearer may craft it for only 500 gp, but there is a 50% chance the wearer’s shortcuts and cheap materials result in a valueless, nonfunctional item.

Similar to augury but more powerful, a divination spell can provide you with a useful piece of advice in reply to a question concerning a specific goal, event, or activity that is to occur within 1 week. The advice granted by the spell can be as simple as a short phrase, or it might take the form of a cryptic rhyme or omen. If your party doesn't act on the information, the conditions may change so that the information is no longer useful. The base chance for a correct divination is 70% + 1% per caster level, to a maximum of 90%. If the die roll fails, you know the spell failed, unless specific magic yielding false information is at work. As with augury, multiple divinations about the same topic by the same caster use the same dice result as the first divination spell and yield the same answer each time.

• Weal (if the action will probably bring good results).
• Woe (for bad results).
• Weal and woe (for both).
• Nothing (for actions that don't have especially good or bad results).

Could one use Augury or Divination to predict the result of Droskar's Guiding Ring, allowing an almost 100% success rate with it?*

*Especially if you use something like Messenger of Fate to get a 100 percent success rate with your divination spells.

\$\begingroup\$ Doesn't affect the question as a whole, but you cannot benfit from the crafting portion of Droskar's Guiding Ring and Messenger of Fate at the same time. Whether or not another creature (with MoF) can Augury your crafting actions is up to GM interpretation. \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ @Ifusaso technically, you can. You don't have to be the target of a divination, you can ask things about somebody else. Augury would probably be a bad idea, how there are other spells in that school. \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ Was going off the line in Augury "good or bad results for you in the immediate future." \$\endgroup\$

\$\begingroup\$ The chance of divination working is 70%+1% per caster level. Even with a +1 from Messenger of Fate, given a max level of 20. where are you getting the other caster levels to get to 100%? \$\endgroup\$

These spells are often used for reconnaissance, espionage, or contacting divine entities for guidance. Divination spells are typically available to spellcasters who have access to the Divination spell school, such as clerics, wizards, and oracles. However, other classes, such as bards and witches, may also have access to certain divination spells. In addition to their practical uses, divination spells can also be used for role-playing purposes. Characters who specialize in divination magic may be seen as wise or knowledgeable, and their abilities can add depth to their role in the game. Overall, divination spells in Pathfinder provide a wide range of abilities and opportunities for characters to gather information, gain insights, and navigate the complexities of the game world..

Reviews for "The Art of Fortune Telling: Divination Spells in Pathfinder"

1. John - 1/5

I found the divination spells in Pathfinder to be highly disappointing. Not only did they lack the power and usefulness of other spell schools, but their mechanics were also confusing and poorly explained. Many times, I found myself wasting valuable spell slots on spells that provided minimal information or completely missed the mark. Additionally, the limited range and duration of these spells made them even less appealing. Overall, I wouldn't recommend investing in divination spells in Pathfinder as they simply don't live up to their potential.

2. Emily - 2/5

As someone who enjoys playing spellcasters, I was excited to explore the world of divination spells in Pathfinder. However, my enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment. While some of the spells provided interesting insights and potential plot hooks, the majority of them felt lackluster and underwhelming. The information provided was often vague and inconsequential, leaving me questioning the point of even using these spells. The limited range and duration further compounded the issue, making them practically useless in many situations. If you're looking for impactful and game-changing spells, I'd recommend looking elsewhere as divination spells in Pathfinder are simply not worth it.

3. Samantha - 3/5

I have mixed feelings about divination spells in Pathfinder. While I appreciate their potential for gathering information and obtaining insights, I found the execution to be less than impressive. The spells often lacked the necessary clarity and precision, leading to confusion and ambiguity. Furthermore, the limited range and duration made it difficult to fully utilize these spells in practical situations. However, I must acknowledge that in certain specific scenarios, divination spells can still serve a purpose. If used sparingly and with careful planning, they can provide valuable hints and clues. But overall, I believe Pathfinder could have done better in designing more impactful and useful divination spells.

4. Michael - 2/5

Divination spells in Pathfinder left much to be desired. Their reliance on chance and randomness made them unpredictable and unreliable. The information they provided was often cryptic and open to interpretation, rendering them practically useless in many situations. Additionally, the short duration and limited number of uses per day further diminished their value. I believe divination spells should have been designed to provide concrete and actionable insights, rather than leaving everything to chance. As a result, I found myself rarely using these spells, opting for more practical and straightforward options instead.

Unleash the Mystic: Divination Spells in Pathfinder Explained