Mending: repair the break without restoring lost magic
Mending repairs one qualifying break or tear in a touched object. Treat the physical repair and the object’s magical function as different questions.
Before casting
| Casting detail | SRD 5.2.1 requirement |
|---|---|
| Casting time | 1 minute |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S, M (two lodestones) |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
Use it at the table
- Identify the single break or tear being repaired and confirm it is no larger than one foot in any dimension.
- Touch the object and allow the one-minute casting with its listed components.
- The physical damage is repaired without a trace, but the spell cannot restore magic to a magic item.
Make the call
A damaged magic item has a small qualifying physical break and has lost its magic. Does repairing the break with Mending automatically restore its magical power?
The ruling
No; the spell can repair it physically but cannot restore magic.
The final sentence expressly separates physical repair from restoration of magic. If the break meets the spell’s size and touch requirements, Mending can repair that break. The lost magical function needs whatever other solution is applicable; it is not regained merely because the join no longer shows damage.
Watch for this mistake
A single casting repairs a single break or tear, not unlimited damage across a large object. Do not overlook the one-minute casting time when the scene has an immediate deadline.
Ask the table
Which specific break is being repaired, and is the desired result physical integrity or magical function?
The source spell
SRD 5.2.1, page 148. Read the official PDF.
Transmutation Cantrip (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard) Casting Time: 1 minute Range: Touch Components: V, S, M (two lodestones) Duration: Instantaneous This spell repairs a single break or tear in an object you touch, such as a broken chain link, two halves of a broken key, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin. As long as the break or tear is no larger than 1 foot in any dimension, you mend it, leaving no trace of the former damage. This spell can physically repair a magic item, but it can’t restore magic to such an object.
Source and reuse
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
The explanation, example and table prompt are Table Ready adaptations; source text has been reflowed. This guide and its printable card are available under the same CC BY 4.0 license. Independent reference; no official affiliation. These rules are optional for our system-neutral adventures.