Spellcraft usage

[Baskineli]

Can a wizard use spellcraft to try identify a spell being cast by another spellcaster? Does it require a standard action or is it a free/swift action?

What are other spellcraft usages during a combat?

[Baron Malkar]

Using spellcraft for identifying spells for counterspelling or no is a free action. I dont know any other combat uses for it.

[Chronicled]

Yes, he can.

Spellcraft (Int; Trained Only)
Use this skill to identify spells as they are cast or spells already in place.

Check
You can identify spells and magic effects. The DCs for Spellcraft checks relating to various tasks are summarized on the table below.

Spellcraft DC | Task
13 | When using read magic, identify a glyph of warding. No action required.
15 + spell level }| Identify a spell being cast. (You must see or hear the spell’s verbal or somatic components.) No action required. No retry.
15 + spell level | Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll (wizard only). No retry for that spell until you gain at least 1 rank in Spellcraft (even if you find another source to try to learn the spell from). Requires 8 hours.
15 + spell level | Prepare a spell from a borrowed spellbook (wizard only). One try per day. No extra time required.
15 + spell level | When casting detect magic, determine the school of magic involved in the aura of a single item or creature you can see. (If the aura is not a spell effect, the DC is 15 + one-half caster level.) No action required.
19 | When using read magic, identify a symbol. No action required.
20 + spell level | Identify a spell that’s already in place and in effect. You must be able to see or detect the effects of the spell. No action required. No retry.
20 + spell level | Identify materials created or shaped by magic, such as noting that an iron wall is the result of a wall of iron spell. No action required. No retry.
20 + spell level | Decipher a written spell (such as a scroll) without using read magic. One try per day. Requires a full-round action.
25 + spell level | After rolling a saving throw against a spell targeted on you, determine what that spell was. No action required. No retry.
25 | Identify a potion. Requires 1 minute. No retry.
20 | Draw a diagram to allow dimensional anchor to be cast on a magic circle spell. Requires 10 minutes. No retry. This check is made secretly so you do not know the result.
30 or higher | Understand a strange or unique magical effect, such as the effects of a magic stream. Time required varies. No retry.

See also: epic usages of Spellcraft.

Action
Varies, as noted above.

Try Again
See above.

Special
If you are a specialist wizard, you get a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks when dealing with a spell or effect from your specialty school. You take a -5 penalty when dealing with a spell or effect from a prohibited school (and some tasks, such as learning a prohibited spell, are just impossible).

If you have the Magical Aptitude feat, you get a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks.

Synergy
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (arcana), you get a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks.
If you have 5 or more ranks in Use Magic Device, you get a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks to decipher spells on scrolls.
If you have 5 or more ranks in Spellcraft, you get a +2 bonus on Use Magic Device checks related to scrolls.
Additionally, certain spells allow you to gain information about magic, provided that you make a successful Spellcraft check as detailed in the spell description.

[bedablachem]

I must be blind, but the closest I found to it is this description:

25 + spell level | After rolling a saving throw against a spell targeted on you, determine what that spell was. No action required. No retry.

Which poses two limitations:
1. The spell must be targeted on you.
2. You can only identify the spell after you rolled the saving throw (does that mean that spells with no saves are unidentifiable in this method?)

I remember reading or at least hearing that you can identify any spell you witness, but I can't find it anywhere in the books...

[Gaiwecoor]

I must be blind, but the closest I found to it is this description:

I think the relevant part was here:

15 + spell level | Identify a spell being cast. (You must see or hear the spell’s verbal or somatic components.) No action required. No retry.

If you can see and hear the spell being cast, you can use Spellcraft to identify it. Otherwise... I have no idea what you'd use it for in combat.

[Chronos]

20 + spell level | Identify a spell that’s already in place and in effect. You must be able to see or detect the effects of the spell. No action required. No retry.

This one might also be useful in combat, if one of your allies is hit with some sort of debuff spell, so you know what to do to restore em.

[Crimson Avenger]

As a variant (house) you can add +5 to the DC if they cannot see (but can hear the caster), or they cannot hear (but can see the caster).

[bedablachem]

I think the relevant part was here:



If you can see and hear the spell being cast, you can use Spellcraft to identify it. Otherwise... I have no idea what you'd use it for in combat.

Ah yes, I knew I'd feel like an idiot once it'll be explained :P

Thanks ;)