[RPG] Advancing a monster with spell-like abilities

dnd-3.5emonsters

I am interested in advancing an Efreeti to 16 HD and thus making it huge. My question is about advancing a monster with spell-like abilities. Would the caster level – currently 12 – increase by advancing said monster?

Best Answer

No

When a creature's spell-like abilities are listed as used at a specific caster level--such as 12 in the efreeti's case--that caster level is fixed and usually unaffected by changes in Hit Dice or the addition of templates and class levels.1

If a creature's spell-like abilities lack a specified caster level, the caster level for those spell-like abilities is the creature's Hit Dice.


  1. As with everything in D&D 3.5, there are always exceptions. For example, from page 44 of Dungeon #116 there's this feat:

    Practiced Magic

    [untyped]

    Your spell-like abilities are more powerful.

    Prerequisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks, spell-like abilities.

    Benefit: Your caster level for you spell-like abilities increases by +4. Ths can’t increase your caster level for your spell-like abilities beyond your Hit Dice. However, even if you can’t benefit from the full bonus immediately, if you later gain non-caster-level Hit Dice you may be able to apply the rest of the bonus.

    If you have spellcasting ability from multiple sources (from gained templates or from a character class) you must choose which set of spell-like abilities gain the feat’s effect.

    This does not affect how often you can use your spell-like abilities in a day. It only increases your caster level, which would help you penetrate spell resistance, increase the duration and damage of some spells, and so on.

    Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time you choose it, you must apply it to a different set of spell-like abilities.