My wizard was caught reading the thoughts of a city guard as I was trying to dig for info about a friends wrongful arrest. As a result I was also arrested and thrown in prison. I was stripped of my items including my arcane focus I use for my spells…
In chapter 10 under Materials it says that the Arcane Focus can be used in place of the material components. I can't find anything in the PHB about needing a focus to cast all spells, just that it replaces the need for most materials, with a few exception such as large monetary valued materials. Does this mean I can cast spells I have prepared that only have Vocal and/or Somatic components?
Best Answer
Yes, you can cast prepared spells which require only Verbal and/or Somatic components when deprived of your focus. (As long as you can produce the Verbal and Somatic components, that is.)
The focus only functions to replace (subject to the limitations you mentioned) such Material components as are required. It, like a component pouch, is not implicated when a spell has no Material requirement.