Before you can cast a spell, you must have the spell prepared in your mind or have access to the spell from a magic item, such as a Spell Scroll. Your features specify which spells you have access to, if any; whether you always have certain spells prepared; and whether you can change the list of spells you have prepared.
If you have a list of level 1+ spells you prepare, your spellcasting feature specifies when you can change the list and the number of spells you can change, as summarized in the Spell Preparation by Class table.
| Class | Change When You … |
Number of Spells |
|---|---|---|
| Bard | Gain a level | One |
| Cleric | Finish a Long Rest |
Any |
| Druid | Finish a Long Rest |
Any |
| Paladin | Finish a Long Rest |
One |
| Ranger | Finish a Long Rest |
One |
| Sorcerer | Gain a level |
One |
| Warlock | Gain a level |
One |
| Wizard | Finish a Long Rest |
Any |
Most spellcasting monsters don’t change their lists of prepared spells, but the DM is free to alter them.
Certain features might give you a spell that you always have prepared. If you also have a list of prepared spells that you can change, a spell that you always have prepared doesn’t count against the number of spells on that list.