Detect magic Detect magic was a divination spell that was sometimes categorized as a universal spell . It allowed the caster to become aware of magical emanations in the direction the caster was facing , within range of the spell . After the Spellplague , it became a trained skill for those with affinity for magic . Effects . Over the years , this spell has evolved , growing in capability while becoming easier to learn . Early illusionists didn ' t learn this spell until they reached second level while divine and other arcane casters could learn it at first level . Eventually this spell became a cantrip for wizards and an orison for priests . After the Art recovered from the Spellplague , a spellcaster could be trained to identify rituals , magical effects , and even sense the presence of magic through most any barrier . At first , each practitioner of magic had their own version of " detect magic " . Magic - user s including illusionists could sense magic in a 10 ft ( 3 m ) wide corridor 60 ft ( 18 . 3 m ) long and for a duration based on their experience level . Cleric s and druid s could only " see " magical auras out to 30 ft ( 9 . 1 m ) and 40 ft ( 12 . 2 m ) respectively for a duration of 10 or 12 minutes respectively . The caster could turn in an arc to sweep out an area , making a full circle in six minutes . These versions of the spell could penetrate anything less than 1 ft ( 30 cm ) of stone , 1 in ( 2 . 5 cm ) of solid metal , a thin sheet of lead , or 3 ft ( 0 . 9 m ) of wood or dirt . No information other than the presence or absence of magic was acquired . Later , wizards and priests were able to determine the intensity of magical auras , classifying them as dim , faint , moderate , strong , and overwhelming . In addition , wizards had a chance to identify the school of magic to which an aura belonged . Priests were likewise able to identify the sphere of magic . The more experienced the caster , the better were the chances to correctly identify each aura . Once again , the divine spellcasters had a fixed duration of 10 minutes but could " see " out to 90 ft ( 27 . 4 m ) . Arcane spellcasters could only detect out to 60 ft ( 18 . 3 m ) but the duration was based on their level and eventually exceeded the divine version ' s 10 minutes for more experienced wizards . The orison / cantrip version of " detect magic " was effective in a cone - shaped area out to 60 ft ( 18 . 3 m ) and revealed information depending on how long the caster studied a particular area or subject , but even so it was much faster than earlier versions . The spell supplied indications in three stages : First , the caster could feel the presence or absence of magical auras . As the caster concentrated further , the number of different magical auras and the strength of the strongest was evident . And finally , knowledge of the strength and location of each aura was revealed , with a chance to determine the school of magic if the aura was in line - of - sight . If an aura could be placed in more than one category , " detect magic " indicated the stronger of the two . Likewise , strong emanations could mask or distort weaker ones . Magical effects left a residual aura that faded with time . How long this residual aura could be detected depended on its original strength . The caster was able to get a dim reading on a faint effects for only a few seconds after the effect ended . Moderate to strong effects left a lingering aura for a few minutes to an hour . Overwhelming magical effects were still detectable for a few days afterward . The orison / cantrip version was also blocked by the same materials as previous versions . After the Spellplague , arcane practitioners could be trained to analyze and identify magic rituals and effects as long as they had line of sight to the area of interest . In addition , they could sense the presence of magic regardless of barriers . The post Second Sundering version of the spell lasted 10 minutes and only reached 30 feet ( 9 meters ) . In this zone the caster could feel the magic ' s presence and determine the spells school see it as a vague aura . the spell could not penetrate 3 feet of wood or dirt , 1 foot of stone or 1 inch of steel or a slim sheet of lead . Components . All versions of " detect magic " required verbal and somatic components . The divine versions also required the use of the caster ' s holy symbol or divine focus .