Scrying ( spell ) Scrying was both an arcane and divine magic spell that allowed the caster to view a subject at great distance and possibly across the planes of existence . The effect was very similar to using a " crystal ball " but with differences in scope , duration , and components . Newer versions of this spell allowed the caster to hear as well as see the subject . This spell has been known by many names throughout history . It was originally invented by the archwizard Anglin of Seventon in −1939 DR and called Anglin ' s mirror because it changed an ordinary mirror into a scrying device . Over time , Anglin ' s name was dropped and this spell became known as magic mirror . Cleric s received a similar spell they called magic font because it used a basin of " holy water " as the scrying surface . Druid s ( and some clerics ) had a more limited version they called " reflecting pool " for the same reason . Effects . For all versions of this spell , the chance of success was increased by knowledge of the subject . If the subject was a location , then " scrying " was much more likely to succeed if the caster had been to the location rather than having a picture or having it described to him or her . If the subject was a sentient being , then the more familiar the caster was with the person the better . Additionally , having a personal possession , something that was worn by the subject , or an actual piece of the subject ( hair clipping , a vial of blood , " etc . " ) also improved the chance for success . The early versions of this spell allowed the caster to see the subject through a scrying device ( such as a mirror or a font of holy / unholy water ) but not hear what was being said or done at the subject ' s location ; however , they did allow viewing across other planes of existence ( difficult , but possible ) . Later versions added auditory scrying but the latest version was limited to subjects on the same plane as the caster . The casting time for this spell was typically one hour , but the latest version reduced this down to ten minutes . The viewing time for the earlier versions of this spell depended on the chance of success ( which was directly related to familiarity with the subject ) and could be as low as ten minutes once a day to as high as one hour three times per day . A later version gave a number of minutes proportional to the level of the caster . The newest version was limited to ten minutes as long as the caster maintained concentration . Sensory organ . The later " scrying " spells worked by creating a sensory organ that was an adjunct of the caster ' s sight and , if the spell allowed , hearing , even if the caster was visually or hearing impaired . ( This was a great improvement over previous versions that required the caster to be able to view a reflective surface . ) Thus , any enhancements to the caster ' s senses , such as " darkvision " , " see invisibility " , " comprehend languages " , " tongues " , and " read magic " , operated through the scrying . If the subject was a location , then this sensor was stationary at that location , otherwise it followed the subject for the duration of the spell . Casting spells through scrying . All but the newest version of this spell allowed a limited set of other spells to be cast through the scrying device or the connection to the sensory organ and operate at the observed location . The higher the level of the caster , the better the chance that these spells would succeed . Over the ages , the spells that could be attempted through a " scrying " were : " detect chaos " , " detect evil " , " detect good " , " detect illusion " , " detect law " , " detect magic " , and " message " . Detection and thwarting . For the earliest versions of this spell , creatures that had sufficient intelligence had a small chance every minute to notice they were being observed . This chance increased with intelligence and experience level . A later version simplified this to the same chance for all beings with average or better intelligence . For the newest version , creatures that could see invisible objects could see the sensor as a floating orb about the size of a human fist . Once detected , the sensor could be dispelled by " dispel magic " . " Scrying " was blocked by " antimagic field " , sheets of , " mind blank " , and " nondetection " . Other methods included the " wardmist " spell , a " weirdstone " , and even the semi - precious gemstone tchazar caused " scrying " to be blurred within a two - foot ( sixty - centimeter ) radius . Components . The earliest versions of the " scrying " spell were called " magic mirror " when cast by a wizard or illusionist and required a finely crafted and highly polished silver mirror costing no less then 1 , 000 gp . In addition to verbal and somatic components , samples of copper , , and were required , along with the eye of an eagle , hawk , or roc . All but the mirror were consumed in the casting . The divine version was called " magic font " and required a basin that held holy or unholy water ( depending on the alignment of the caster ) . The more holy / unholy water in the basin , the longer the scrying lasted . Nothing was consumed in the casting of " magic font " . When the sensory organ version was first developed , the only additional requirements were that the mirror have dimensions at least two feet by four feet ( 60 by 120 centimeters ) and the holy / unholy water font cost at least 100 gp . Druids were able to use just a natural pool of water . Mirrors , fonts , and pools were not consumed in the casting . For the latest version of this spell , all that was required beyond verbal and somatic components was a focus costing at least 1 , 000 gp , such as a " crystal ball " , a silver mirror , or a font of holy / unholy water — no more metals , acids , or eyes .