Anti-Antimagic: How to Cast in an Area Where Magic Won't Normally Function!

[Endarire]

Anti-Antimagic: How to Cast in an Area Where Magic Won't Normally Function!

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Credits & Version History

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Credits
Jesus.  Yes, THAT Jesus!: Father, thank you for encouraging me in this, and granting me enough time to have this succeed!

awaken DM golem: He reminded me that instantaneous Metacreativity powers can be manifest into an  antimagic field due to  transparency.
Lycanthromancer: He reminded me of the Tinfoil Hat/Cone Head trick.
Ramaloke: He pointed out the Initiate of Mystra fine print.
snakeman830: He reminded me of Shadow Jaunt and that instantaneous Conjurations cast outside an  antimagic field are unaffected.
SorO_Lost: He reminded me of using an Indigo Veil (Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil6) to deter a No Magic Zone

Version History
1.5 (February 10, 2013)
-Ported this guide to Min Max Boards before Brilliant Gameologists exploded/imploded/disppeared.

1.4 (December 10, 2010)
-Added a specific section on null psionics field.
-Added a section on deterring a No-Magic Zone.
-Added credit in each section for whoever reminded me or discovered a trick.

1.3 (November 24, 2010)
-Added Shadow Jaunt and its cousins Shadow Stride and Shadow Blink.  They're all under the "Shadow Jaunt" heading.

1.2 (November 21, 2010)
-Added a link to the Order of the Stick comic that made me think an antimagic field trumped a forcecage.

1.1 (November 19, 2010)
-Instantaneous Conjurations can't be cast in an antimagic field, but their effects can be cast into one.
-Formatting changes.

1.0 (November 16, 2010)
Initial release.  This project was bigger than I expected!

Intro: Casting in a No-Magic Zone

A Dead Magic Zone is meant to stop magic.  As a caster, I want to ignore the "Dead" part of that phrase and be able to at least escape the place where   I can't use magic normally.  If escaping the Dead Magic Zone were easy, I'd do that instead.  That isn't the problem.

Let's assume I'm already stuck in an antimagic field, a Dead Magic Zone, or some place   where magic normally doesn't function.  I want to be able to cast my spiffy spells.  Here's how!

Antimagic Field

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Credit for Discovery (Instantaneous Metacreativity Powers)
awaken DM golem

Effect
Antimagic field is known as a caster-stopper, but even it has a variety of exceptions.  The biggest exception is instantaneous  Conjurations.  (Due to Magic-Psionics Transparency,  instantaneous Metacreativity powers also work.)

Instantaneous Conjurations and Metacreativities
You can cast instantaneous Conjurations and Metacreativities into an antimagic field from outside the field.
Here's the deal:  An antimagic field normally prevents you from casting while inside.  If you're outside, you can safely cast instantaneous   Conjurations and Metacreativities that appear in or take you into an antimagic field.  Do you know how many of those there are, even in core?

Short answer: Lots!

Sample Instantaneous Conjurations

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-cure light wounds and other cure spells, including
-heal
-dimension door
-gate
-Orb spells (Spell Compendium 150-151)
-plane shift
-raise dead and other revival spells
-restoration and its lesser and greater versions
-teleport
-wall of stone

Other Instantaneous Effects
All instantaneous effects remain in an areas where magic won't function.  It's just part of their nature.  That  simulacrum?  Instantaneous.  Creatures you got via  planar binding and planar ally?  Instantaneous.  Golems you made?  Instantaneous.  Undead you animated or created?  Instantaneous.  A  gate with its interplanar transport abilities and the creatures it calls?  Instantaneous.  Seeing  a trend here?

Dimensional Anchor &  Dimensional Lock
Remember, dimensional anchor and  dimensional lock are suppressed in an antimagic field.  It's a niche  tactic, but you can warp safely into an antimagic field instead of being stuck wherever dimensional lock would put you.

Other Noteworthy Effects
Antimagic field makes 3 notable exceptions for spells that can remain in it.  Due to how antimagic field is worded, these spells must be  in effect before they enter the antimagic field!
-Wall of Force: Note how forcecage debatably applies!  (Influential Pic)
-Prismatic Sphere
-Prismatic Wall

Antimagic Field  Full Text

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Abjuration
Level: Clr 8, Magic 6, Protection 6, Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 10'
Area: 10' radius emanation, centered on you
Duration: 10 min/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: See Text

An invisible barrier surrounds you and moves with you. The space within this barrier is impervious to most magical effects, including spells, spell-like  abilities, and supernatural abilities. Likewise, it prevents the functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines.

An antimagic field suppresses any spell or magical effect used within, brought into, or cast into the area, but does not dispel it. Time spent within  an antimagic field counts against the suppressed spell’s duration.

Summoned creatures of any type and incorporeal undead wink out if they enter an antimagic field. They reappear in the same spot once the field goes  away. Time spent winked out counts normally against the duration of the conjuration that is maintaining the creature. If you cast antimagic field  in an area occupied by a summoned creature that has spell resistance, you must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against the creature’s spell  resistance to make it wink out. (The effects of instantaneous Conjurations are not affected by an antimagic field because the conjuration  itself is no longer in effect, only its result.)

A normal creature can enter the area, as can normal missiles. Furthermore, while a magic sword does not function magically within the area, it is still a  sword (and a masterwork sword at that). The spell has no effect on golems and other constructs that are imbued with magic during their creation process and  are thereafter self-supporting (unless they have been summoned, in which case they are treated like any other summoned creatures). Elementals, corporeal  undead, and outsiders are likewise unaffected unless summoned. These creatures’ spell-like or supernatural abilities, however, may be temporarily nullified  by the field. Dispel magic does not remove the field, though Mage's Disjunction might.

Two or more antimagic fields sharing any of the same space have no effect on each other. Certain spells, such as wall of force, prismatic  sphere, and prismatic wall, remain unaffected by antimagic field (see the individual spell descriptions). Artifacts and deities are  unaffected by mortal magic such as this.

Should a creature be larger than the area enclosed by the barrier, any part of it that lies outside the barrier is unaffected by the field.

Arcane Material Component: A pinch of powdered iron or iron filings.

Rules Compendium Addendum
An antimagic field does not block line of effect.

Initiate of Mystra Feat

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Credit for Discovery
Ramaloke

Requires
-Patron Deity: Mystra
AND one of these:
-Archivist3 (Heroes of Horror 82)
-(Cloistered)

Cleric3
-Favored Soul3 (Complete Divine 6)
-Rainbow Servant10 (Complete Divine 54)
-Anyone with 3 levels of a class that grants Cleric spellcasting.  3 racial HD may work if they provide Cleric casting.  Perhaps  polymorph any object into a planetar to get its Clerical casting and take Initiate of Mystra.  It probably won't fly in your games, and even if  polymorph grants casting, it's still debatably legal.

Initiate of Mystra Fine Print

Initiate of Mystra can be taken by any class that can cast off the cleric spell list as per this:

Any character of a class that must select a deity and that uses the cleric spell list for spellcasting can treat his level in  that class as if it were a cleric level for the purpose of qualifying for an initiate feat. For example, a favored soul (see Complete Divine) who had  chosen Bahamut as his deity and who had reached 3rd level could select the Initiate of Bahamut feat. The character would then gain the benefit of the feat  and would add the given spells to his favored soul spell list. Since the favored soul casts from a limited list of spells known, he still must add those  spells to his spells known list as normal to cast them.

So Favored Souls and Archivists can pull it off too.

Initiate of Mystra Full Text (Player's Guide to Faerun 81)

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You can attempt to cast spells even within a dead magic zone or an antimagic field. In a dead magic zone, you must make a successful caster level  check against a DC equal to 20 + the level of the spell you are trying to cast. In an antimagic field, you must make a successful caster level check against  a DC equal to 11 + the caster level of the antimagic field. If this check is successful, your spell functions normally.

In addition, you may add the following spells to your cleric spell list.

• Level
  
• 2nd Spell Shield
  
• 3rd Anyspell
  
• 5th Spell Phylactery
  
• 6th Anyspell, Greater
  
• 6th Spellmantle
  
• 7th Holy Star
  
• Special: The anyspell and greater anyspell spells also appear on the Spell domain list. With this feat, you can cast them as regular Cleric  spells, not just domain spells.

Invoke Magic (Sor/Wiz9, Lords of Madness 212)

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Effect
By RAW, you can debatably cast this in areas where magic won't function.  Since the point of this spell is to let you cast something in an area where  magic won't work, I assume you can cast invoke magic anywhere.

If you've been subjected to an antimagic field, use dimension door, teleport, or plane shift to get out.   Alternatively, you can try to block the field's line of effect to you via wall of force, wall of stone, or stone shape.  As prudent,  apply Sanctum Spell (Complete Arcane 82).

Invoke Magic Full Text

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Evocation
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 9
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You cause a flicker of magic to momentarily exist in a place where magic cannot normally function, such as within the area of an antimagic field, a dead  magic area, or a null-magic plane.

This allows you the ability to cast a single spell of 4th level or lower, which then ends the spell’s effect.  Casting invoke magic is a swift action,  like casting a quickened spell. You can perform only one swift action each round.

Normally, you cast invoke magic and then immediately follow it by casting another spell as a standard action.

Material Component: A diamond worth at least 1,000 gp.

Iron Heart Surge (Iron Heart3, Tome of  Battle 68)

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Requires
-Initiator Level 5
-One Iron Heart maneuver

Available To
-Eternal Blade1 (Tome of Battle 109)
-Martial Study feat takers (Tome of Battle 31) if they have at least initiator level 5.  Anyone with at least 10 HD qualifies.
-Warblade5 (Tome of Battle 20)
-Anyone with Iron Heart access and initiator level 5.

Effect
Depending on the GM's interpretation, this either removes the antimagic field (Whoa!) or negates its effects on me (more reasonable).

Iron Heart Surge Full Text

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Iron Heart
Level: Warblade 3
Prerequisite: One Iron Heart maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: See text

By drawing on your mental strength and physical fortitude, you break free of a debilitating state that might otherwise defeat you.
Your fighting spirit, dedication, and training allow you to overcome almost anything to defeat your enemies. When you use this maneuver, select one spell, effect, or other condition currently affecting you and with a duration of 1 or more rounds. That effect ends immediately. You also surge with confidence  and vengeance against your enemies, gaining a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls until the end of your next turn

Null Psionics Field

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Effect
Null psionics field works almost exactly like antimagic field except it's  psionic.  Exceptions are noted here.

Instantaneous Conjuration (Creation) and Metacreativity (Creation Effects
You can cast or manifest these instantaneous effects into a null psionics field from outside the field.
Most intantaneous Conjurations also work in a null psionics field.

Sample Instantaneous Metacreativity (Creation) Powers

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These are all the official powers I found, aside from greater psionic fabricate.  Metacreativity is a small discipline!
-amethyst burst (Dragon Magic 75)
-crystal shard
-crystalstorm (Complete Psionic 81)
-genesis, psionic
-fabricate, psionic
-hail of crystals
-quintessence
-swarm of crystals
-true creation, psionic

Shadow Jaunt (Shadow Hand2, Tome of  Battle 79)

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Credit for Reminding Me
snakeman830

Requires
-Initiator Level 3

Available To
-Ruby Knight Vindicator1 (Tome of Battle 122)
-Shadow Sun Ninja1 (Tome of Battle 126)
-Swordsage3 (Tome of Battle 16)
-Martial Study feat takers (Tome of Battle 31) if they have at least initiator level 3.  Anyone with at least 6 HD qualifies.
-Anyone with Shadow Hand access and initiator level 3.

Effect
Teleport up to 50' within line of sight and line of effect as a standard action.  This is an Extraordinary (Ex) ability.  Really.

Note
There are 2 other maneuvers- Shadow Stride (L5) and Shadow Blink (L7)- which do the same thing, but are used as a move action and a swift action  respectively.  Neither has a maneuver prerequisite

Shadow Jaunt Full Text

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Shadow Hand
Level: Swordsage 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: 50'
Target: You
A cloud of shadow energy engulfs you, spins into a tiny mote, and disappears. A moment later, this shadowy cloud appears across the battlefield and expels  you from it.

As part of this maneuver, you disappear in a cloud of darkness and teleport up to 50 feet away. You must have line of sight and line of effect to your  destination.  If you attempt to use this maneuver to move into an occupied space, you do not move, and the maneuver is expended but has no effect.

Intro: Deterring a No-Magic Zone

Sometimes, you can prepare, and set up a defense so the No-Magic Zone doesn't affect you.  If this preparation fails, you're stuck relying on tactics in the  first section.

In this section, I assume you start in an area where magic functions normally, but eventually move into a No Magic Zone.

Indigo Veil - Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil6 (Complete Arcane 46)

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Credit for Reminding Me
SorO_Lost

Requires
-Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil6.  Being able to cast your spells and SLAs out while not being affected by others' spells and SLAs requires a lenient DM.

Effect
Surround yourself or an area with the Indigo Veil   This blocks an antimagic field if cast as a spell or a spell-like ability.  It does not  affect supernatural abilities!

Debatably, the Indigo Veil lets you cast your spells and spell-like abilities out, but there's a greater case for not.  Regardless, you can still polymorph or shapechange or buff yourself into something brutal and have a greater magic immunity than most golems!

Oh yes, your foes and allies are stuck without magic.  So there.

Indigo Veil Full Text

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Veils: When an Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil creates a warding, she can choose to imbue the warding with any one veil she knows how to create.  These  veils duplicate the layers of a prismatic wall and are described below.  An Initiate's  caster level for these veils is equal to her arcane spellcaster level.

Indigo Veil: A 6th-level initiate can create the mighty indigo veil. This veil prevents the passage of all spells or spell-like abilities. Any  creature crossing an indigo veil must succeed on a Will save or become confused, as if by an insanity spell. A daylight spell negates and is negated by an indigo veil. A  warding with this veil is the equivalent of a 7th-level spell.

Tinfoil Hat / Cone Head - Shrink Item on a Durable Hat

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Credit for Reminding Me
Lycanthromancer

Effect

Yet another use for my Tinfoil Hat Trick.

Take a metal (or wood, or plastic, or stone, or whatever) cone/dome/box that's big enough for you to stand inside of comfortably. Cast shrink item on  it. Now wear it as a hat.

When it's subjected to an antimagic field, the shrink item effect is suppressed, thereby returning the 'hat' to its normal size, which blocks   the emanation effect of the AMF. This allows you to cast freely.  (See dimension door, teleport, plane shift, time stop, or  another means of escape.  Alternatively, activate your Indigo Veil described above.)

Shrink Item Full Text

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Transmutation
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One touched object of up to 2 cubic feet/level
Duration: One day/level, see text
You are able to shrink one nonmagical item (if it is within the size limit) to 1/16 of its normal size in each dimension (to about 1/4,000 the original  volume and mass). This change effectively reduces the object’s size by four categories. Optionally, you can also change its now shrunken composition to a  clothlike one. Objects changed by a shrink item spell can be returned to normal composition and size merely by tossing them onto any solid surface or  by a word of command from the original caster. Even a burning fire and its fuel can be shrunk by this spell. Restoring the shrunken object to its normal size  and composition ends the spell.

Shrink item can be made permanent with a permanency spell, in which case the  affected object can be shrunk and expanded an indefinite number of times, but only by the original caster.