Maximum caster level

Many spells are subject to a maximum caster level (MCL). The part of the spell that scales by caster level will no longer scale when the maximum caster level is reached or exceeded, whether through the character's caster level exceeding the MCL or caster level increasing effects pushing the caster level of the spell past the MCL.

MCL is displayed in the caster level line of the spell description.

Caster level, Maximum caster level, and Spell level are often easily mistaken for one another. Below are the differences between the three.

• Caster level determines the power of a spell. Caster level is what the damage dice of a spell is multiplied by, how long a spell lasts, and is added to your Spell Penetration bonuses to bypass Spell Penetration.
• Maximum caster level determines the limits of a spell. If a spell's Caster level is higher than its Maximum caster level, that spell's power is lowered, discarding all damage dice granted by caster levels above the maximum. A spell above Maximum caster level still receives Caster level bonuses to Spell Penetration and duration.
• Spell level determines the complexity of a spell. A spell's DC is increased by 1 per Spell level. Heighten can be used to raise a spell's DC up to as if it were the same as the highest Spell level spell you could cast from that class.

Effects that increase maximum caster level

Effects which grant 'No MCL' to an effect actually raise the MCL of the effect to 101, then display it as 'no maximum caster level'.

Class abilities

Alchemist

• Advanced Alchemical Studies - Pyrite / Verudite / Orchidium / +1 MCL for matching colors
• Apothecary T5: No MCL for Gildleaf spells

Artificer

• Arcanotechnician Core 5: +2 CL and MCL for electric spells
• Renegade Mastermaker Core 5: +6 for curative admixture spells
• Artificer Renegade Mastermaker tier 5 ability Mastermaker: No MCL for Repair spells

Bard

• Stormsinger Core 5 and 6: +1 and +1 for Sonic and Electric spells

Cleric

• Radiant Servant enhancements: +3 healing spells*
• Radiant Savant: Cure Focus: No MCL for Cure spells
• Divine Disciple core 5 and capstone: +1 and +1 for Negative OR Light/Alignment spells
• Divine Disciple: Spell Critical Damage (Acceptance): +2 MCL for Fire, Cold, Acid, Electric, & Force damage spells

Druid

• Blightcaster's Hive and Thorn forms grants +1 (ML4) or +3 (ML13) to Poison spells and Acid or Thorn spells.
• Druid Seasons' Herald core ability Wellspring: +1 MCL for spells appropriate to your season
• Druid Seasons' Herald core ability Hierophant: +1 MCL to in both seasons

Favored Soul

• FvS Angel of Vengeance tier 5 ability Zealous Faith: +1/2/3 to MCL of Fire, Force, Light, and Physical damage spells

Monk

• Dragon Disciple Core 5: +5 MCL with Lesser Draconic Burst
• Dragon Disciple Core 6: +10 MCL with Lesser Draconic Burst and Draconic Burst (Total +15 and +10)

Sorcerer

• Sorcerer Air / Earth / Fire / Water Savant core abilities: +1 MCL to element type in cores 5 and 6, for a total of +2; plus an additional +1 MCL when in elemental form
• Wild Mage: +2 from cores, +2 if you embrace wild magic

Wizard

• Archmage core 4 & 5: +1 and +1 to all spells

Race abilities

Dragonborn

• Draconic Knowledge: +2 for spells of selected element

Dwarf

• Iron Stomach: +1 to Admixture spells and potions

Epic abilities

• Epic Knowledge: +1 MCL with all spells, granted automatically to all characters at levels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30
• Legendary Knowledge: same as epic but for legendary levels (32, 34, 36, 38, and 40).
• Master of... epic feats: +10 to MCL of selected spells

Miscellaneous

• A few spells are (probably incorrectly) not affected by MCL increasing effects - notably Eladar's Electric Surge and Niac's Biting Cold, forever stuck at MCL 20.
• The duration of spells is usually not limited by a maximum caster level.
• Some damage absorption spells have a maximum caster level (Protection from Energy / Elements), and some do not (Stoneskin).
• Certain spells add the caster level to a roll, which is different than a standard save DC. Some have a maximum caster level (Dispel Magic, Greater Dispel Magic) and some do not (Knock, Mordenkainen's Disjunction).
• Epic strikes have a base maximum caster level of 20. As with all spells, this can be raised higher with bonuses.

Sorcerer/Wizard spells with maximum caster level

Only spells that are limited in some part to a maximum caster level (most commonly spell damage) are listed, unless the absence of a MCL is notable.

Spell	Spell Level	Max Cast Level	Damage Type	Notes
Acid Spray	1	5	Acid
Burning Hands	1	5	Fire
Chill Touch	1	5	Negative
Disrupt Undead	1	?	Positive	Needs testing, probably no cap
Magic Missile	1	9	Force	Number of missiles, not affected by MCL increases
Niac's Cold Ray	1	5	Cold
Ray of Enfeeblement	1	10	n/a
Repair Light Damage	1	5	Repair
Shocking Grasp	1	5	Electric
Sonic Blast (spell)	1	10	Sonic
Electric Loop	2	10	Electric
False Life	2	10	n/a
Melf's Acid Arrow	2	5	Acid
Repair Moderate Damage	2	10	Repair
Scorch	2	10	Fire
Scorching Ray	2	11	Fire	Number of rays, not affected by MCL increases
Snowball Swarm	2	10	Cold
Acid Blast	3	10	Acid
Chain Missiles	3	19	Force	Number of missiles, not affected by MCL increases
Dispel Magic	3	10	n/a	Not affected by MCL increases?
Fireball	3	10	Fire
Frost Lance	3	11	Cold	Number of rays, not affected by MCL increases
Lightning Bolt	3	10	Electric
Protection from Energy	3	10	n/a
Repair Serious Damage	3	15	Repair
Acid Rain	4	15	Acid
Burning Blood	4	20	Acid, Fire
Death Aura	4	20	Negative
Fire Shield	4	15	Cold, Fire
Fire Trap	4	20	Fire
Force Missiles	4	12	Force	Number of missiles, not affected by MCL increases
Ice Storm	4	15	Cold
Negative Energy Burst	4	10	Negative
Repair Critical Damage	4	20	Repair
Wall of Fire	4	15	Fire
Ball Lightning	5	15	Electric
Cloudkill	5	20	Acid
Cone of Cold	5	15	Cold
Cyclonic Blast	5	20	Untyped
Eladar's Electric Surge	5	20	Electric	Not affected by MCL increases
Niac's Biting Cold	5	20	Cold	Not affected by MCL increases
Prismatic Ray	5	?	Acid, Electric, Fire	No maximum?
Protection from Elements	5	10	n/a
Repair Light Damage, Mass	5	25	Repair
Chain Lightning	6	20	Electric
Disintegrate	6	20	Untyped
Greater Dispel Magic	6	20	n/a	Not affected by MCL increases?
Necrotic Ray	6	?	Negative	Needs testing, supposedly no cap
Otiluke's Freezing Sphere	6	20	Cold
Reconstruct	6	15	Repair
Repair Moderate Damage, Mass	6	30	Repair
Banishment	7	?	Untyped	Needs testing
Delayed Blast Fireball	7	20	Fire
Finger of Death	7	25	Negative
Prismatic Spray	7	?	Acid, Electric, Fire	No maximum?
Protection from Elements, Mass	7	10	n/a
Repair Serious Damage, Mass	7	35	Repair
Black Dragon Bolt	8	25	Acid
Horrid Wilting	8	20	Untyped
Incendiary Cloud	8	?	Fire	Needs testing, supposedly no cap
Polar Ray	8	25	Cold
Repair Critical Damage, Mass	8	40	Repair
Sunburst	8	25	Light

Cleric/Favored Soul spells with maximum caster level

Only spells that are limited in some part to a maximum caster level (most commonly spell damage) are listed, unless the absence of a MCL is notable.

Only spells not on the Sorcerer/Wizard list are listed, as spells shared with the Sorcerer/Wizard count as "Arcane" when cast by Clerics/Favored Souls, notably for effects like Arcane Augmentation.

Spell	Spell Level	Max Cast Level	Damage Type	Notes
Cure Light Wounds	1	5	Positive
Divine Favor	1	9	n/a
Inflict Light Wounds	1	5	Negative
Nimbus of Light	1	?	Light	Needs testing
Aid	2	10	n/a
Close Wounds	2	5	Positive
Cure Moderate Wounds	2	10	Positive
Deific Vengeance	2	10	Good
Inflict Moderate Wounds	2	10	Negative
Aid, Mass	3	15	n/a
Cure Serious Wounds	3	15	Positive
Glyph of Warding	3	10	Untyped
Inflict Serious Wounds	3	15	Negative
Searing Light	3	10	Light
Chaos Hammer	4	10	Chaotic
Cure Critical Wounds	4	20	Positive
Divine Power	4	?	n/a	Needs testing
Holy Smite	4	10	Good
Inflict Critical Wounds	4	20	Negative
Order's Wrath	4	10	Law
Panacea	4	20	Positive
Unholy Blight	4	10	Evil
Cure Light Wounds, Mass	5	25	Positive
Divine Punishment	5	20	Light
Flame Strike	5	15	Fire, Alignment
Inflict Light Wounds, Mass	5	25	Negative
Blade Barrier	6	15	Slash
Cometfall	6	20	Bludgeon
Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass	6	30	Positive
Greater Glyph of Warding	6	20	Untyped
Harm	6	15	Negative
Heal	6	15	Positive
Heroes' Feast	6	20	n/a
Inflict Moderate Wounds, Mass	6	30	Negative
Cure Serious Wounds, Mass	7	35	Positive
Destruction	7	?	Bane (Untyped)	No maximum?
Inflict Serious Wounds, Mass	7	35	Negative
Cure Critical Wounds, Mass	8	40	Positive
Fire Storm	8	?	Fire	Needs testing
Inflict Critical Wounds, Mass	8	40	Negative
Heal, Mass	9	25	Positive