How to Use the Spell Silvery Barbs in DnD 5th Edition

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Learn all about one of D&D's most controversial spells

Co-authored by Jess Hamlet and Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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Description & Attributes

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Benefits & Uses

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Drawbacks

Silvery barbs is a level 1 enchantment that comes from the Magic: The Gathering sourcebook, Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos. Although some believe this spell is overpowered, causing some DMs to ban it altogether, others think this spell is beneficial for players to use. Keep reading to learn everything about this spell, including the benefits and drawbacks of including it in your own campaign.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Silvery Barbs Spell

Casting silvery barbs forces an enemy to reroll an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check and gives an ally advantage on their next d20 roll. This can be especially useful to save another player from a critical hit or death-saving throw. However, it might be less effective than other spells like shield.

Section 1 of 3:

Silvery Barbs Spell Description and Attributes

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Silvery barbs allows you to magically distract another creature, using a reaction to make them reroll their d20 and use the lower number between the two. You can then choose a different creature you see in range (like an ally or yourself) and give them advantage on the next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check they make in 1 minute.^{[1]
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- Casting time: 1 reaction, taken when a creature you see within 60 feet (0.018 km) succeeds an attack roll, ability check, or a saving throw
- Range: 60 feet (0.018 km)
- Components: Verbal
- Duration: Instantaneous
- Who can cast this: Bards, Sorcerers, Wizards, and feats or magical items that give you access to a level 1 enchantment spell of your choice

Section 2 of 3:

Benefits and Uses for Silvery Barbs in Your Campaign

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Save another player from a critical hit by casting silvery barbs. Critical hits can do a ton of damage because they allow the enemy to roll extra dice for their attack. Silvery barbs can be a strong spell to have on hand because it forces the enemy to reroll their attack, potentially saving another party member from colossal damage.^{[2]
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- If the enemy casts counterspell and has to make an ability check to counter a level-4 or higher spell, you can also cast silvery barbs to make them reroll that check.^{[3]
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- An order domain cleric with access to silvery barbs and the feature Voice of Authority can also allow the ally they target to react with a weapon attack against an enemy.^{[4]
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Use silvery barbs to succeed a death-saving throw. Silvery barbs allows you to give another player advantage on their next saving throw, which includes death saving throws.^{[5]
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Research source} This means you can cast it in an unconscious player after you cast it on an enemy, increasing their chances of rolling a 10 or higher to succeed the saving throw.^{[6]
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- On the third death saving throw failure, your character dies permanently, so any help you can get from a spell like this one might be worth the spell slot.
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Cast silvery barbs when trying to beat non-players in skill challenges. Aside from the combat benefits of silvery barbs, this spell can also help your players out in roleplay scenarios where you have to beat another character in a game of stealth or skill. This can help make sure that your ability check is higher than the other character’s.^{[7]
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- For example, you might cast this spell when arm wrestling another person in a bar, competing in a race, or engaging in a pie-eating contest.

Section 3 of 3:

Drawbacks of Silvery Barbs

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The biggest downside of silvery barbs is that it’s not guaranteed that the target of your spell fails a roll they already succeeded or that the player you choose succeeds on a roll they could have failed on.^{[8]
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The spell shield may be more effective at protecting you from attacks. Shield is a level 1 reaction spell that creates an invisible barrier around you and increases your armor class by 5.^{[9]
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Research source} Unlike silvery barbs, which ends right after you cast it, shield remains active, protecting you against all attacks until the start of your next turn.^{[10]
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- When you cast shield in reaction to the spell magic missile, you take no damage from it. Meanwhile, silvery barbs doesn’t negate the damage of other spells.