Question about invisibility

[Melcar]

Here comes a might be stupid question.

We have here a two wizards opposing each other. Locked in a battle of magic. Wizard A casts greater invisibility. Now wizard B has particular keen eyesight, so rolls 40 on his spot check, so he can now, ”pin point the location of the invisible creature”. The question is now. Can the invisible wizard be targeted by a spell like magic missile which auto hits?


As always... thanks!

[Takewo]

Well, the description of the spell says that covering or concealing does not affect the spell unless they are complete. So it seems to me that in the given scenario it wouldn't work.

[Necroticplague]

Yes. You know where it is, and can target it. It still has full concealment (50% miss chance), though. However, this only applies to things with attack rolls, so auto-hits and AOEs work perfectly fine.

[Segev]

The "invisible" status condition grants total concealment, which specifically is called out in magic missile as making it unable to hit the target so totally concealed.

AoEs will work just fine, as will, in fact, targetted spells which require attack rolls (albeit with a 50% miss chance).

If the non-invisible wizard has glitterdust, this is a perfect time to use it.

[Keltest]

My understanding is that making a spot check against an invisible character basically means you know where they are by seeing the empty space that would otherwise be occupied by, say, grass or something. You don't actually see them to target them, but you can aim at where you "think" they are with effects that allow that.

[jiriku]

Your Spot check pinpoints the square occupied by the invisible creature by noting how it disturbs its environment. It does not provide line of sight, because there is nothing there to see. You've merely narrowed the invisible creature's location down to "somewhere in this 125 cubic feet of volume". Spells such as magic missile that require line of sight are right out. As mentioned, this is a great time for a spell like glitterdust, which will put a visible surface on the creature so that you know exactly where it is.

[atemu1234]

Your Spot check pinpoints the square occupied by the invisible creature by noting how it disturbs its environment. It does not provide line of sight, because there is nothing there to see. You've merely narrowed the invisible creature's location down to "somewhere in this 125 cubic feet of volume". Spells such as magic missile that require line of sight are right out. As mentioned, this is a great time for a spell like glitterdust, which will put a visible surface on the creature so that you know exactly where it is.

This makes sense.

[Melcar]

Thanks... Is this the same with all the other autohit spells?

It would seem that it makes sence, but D&D has so many exceptions, so I wonder...

[Venger]

Thanks... Is this the same with all the other autohit spells?

It would seem that it makes sence, but D&D has so many exceptions, so I wonder...

magic missile is the only one that springs to mind. what other ones are you talking about? like hail or stone or something?

magic missile specifically says it's trumped by total concealment, which is why it doesn't work.

[KillianHawkeye]

Technically, you can't use ANY targeted spell (those with a Target: line in their stat blocks) against a creature that you can't see. The only exception is if you're physically touching them.