Caster level

Your caster level (CL) is the level in your casting class, thus it may be different from your character level in the case of a multiclass character.

• Many spells have greater effect depending on the caster level. Often, spell damage increases (e.g., +1d6 per caster level) or spell duration (e.g., +1 minute per caster level).
• Most spells have a maximum caster level (MCL), i.e., when your caster level increases beyond the spell maximum, the spell effect does not increase anymore (e.g., Cure Light Wounds reaches its maximum effect at CL 5).
• Caster level is an important factor in your Spell Penetration roll to defeat enemy Spell Resistance.

Note that in PnP, a Paladin or Ranger has a caster level equal to class level divided by two (but zero until level four, since they cannot cast spells before that). DDO does not follow that reasoning, so Paladins and Rangers start at caster level 4 immediately once they gain any spells. (i.e. when they reach level 4 in that class.)

The caster level of spell-like abilities granted by race, feats, or epic destinies is usually equal to your character level. These SLAs can still benefit from effects that increase CL.

Effects that increase caster level of spells and SLAs

Stacking: character abilities generally stack with everything. For items and Song of Arcane Might, stacking is bugged; usually, only one effect applies, often not the strongest.

Item enchantments

• Enchanting Death: Enchantment and Necromancy spells
• Illusory Death: Illusion and Necromancy spells
• Sea Attunement, Sky Attunement: +1 for cold / fire spells
• Spell Augmentation: increases caster level by up to 3 depending on tier; split into two types:
  • Arcane Augmentation: increases arcane caster level
  • Divine Augmentation: increases divine caster level
• Elemental Spiral on Spiral, the Voice of the Elements
• Greater Water Elemental Form on Reflection of Wave

Sentient Filigree

• Coalesced Magic (4 pieces): +1 with arcane spells
• Embraced by Light (5 pieces): +2 with healing spells
• Soulweaver (3 pieces): +1 with positive spells

Class / race abilities

• Song of Arcane Might: +1
• Sorcerer Savant prestige enhancements: +1 per core ability to spells of an element
• Angel of Vengeance enhancements - each core ability: +1 Caster Level and +2 Maximum Caster Level with Nimbus of Light, Searing Light, Sun Bolt, Cometfall, Divine Punishment, Flame Strike, and Fire Storm.
• Intense Faith: +3 to Fire, Force, Light, and Physical damage spells
• Draconic Knowledge: +1 to spells of selected element
• Season's Herald enhancements
• Divine Disciple enhancements: capstone
• Radiant Servant enhancements: healing spells
• Runic Efficacy: +2 for electric spells
• Power of the Storm: -2 penalty to earth spells
• Wild Mage's Mixed Magics enhancement (t4) makes your caster level with spells equal to your character level.
• Wild Mages have multiple enhancements that increase your CL and MCL with all spells (and extra for Chaotic spells)

Epic abilities

• Epic Knowledge
• Legendary Knowledge

Items that produce spell effect

The caster level of items (scrolls, wands, clickies) is usually the minimum level necessary to cast the spell.

A handful of effects exist that increase the caster level:

• Arcanotechnician capstone
• Artificer Dilettante
• Artificer Knowledge
• Clickies on quarterstaves use the caster level of the character, if it's higher than clicky's caster level.

See also

• FvS tests (2018): DDO Forums, DDO Forums