Yes under the 2024 D&D rules, if the Sorcerer has the Ritual-tagged spell prepared. Under the 2014 rules, Sorcerers cannot cast rituals by default: they need a feature that grants ritual casting.
How the rules differ by edition
| Ruleset | Does a Sorcerer need a ritual-casting feature? | Spell requirement | Wizard exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Yes. The general ritual rule requires a feature that grants the ability. | The spell must meet that feature’s terms; generally, it must be prepared or among the caster’s spells known. See the 2014 Basic Rules: Spellcasting and 2014 Sage Advice Compendium. | Not applicable to the 2014 rule described here. |
| 2024 | No. The general rule lets a spellcaster ritual-cast a prepared spell with the Ritual tag. | The spell must have the Ritual tag and be prepared. See the 2024 Basic Rules: Spells. | Yes. A Wizard can use Ritual Adept to cast a Ritual-tagged spell in their spellbook without preparing it, by reading from the book. See the 2024 Basic Rules: Character Classes. |
What a Sorcerer needs under the 2014 rules
In the 2014 rules, knowing or preparing a spell is not enough on its own to cast it as a ritual. The character needs a feature that specifically grants ritual casting, and that feature determines which spells qualify. The Sage Advice Compendium clarifies: “To cast the ritual version of a spell you know, you need a feature, such as Ritual Casting, that gives you the ability to cast the spell as a ritual.”
What a Sorcerer needs under the 2024 rules
The 2024 rules use a broader general rule: a spellcaster can cast a spell with the Ritual tag as a Ritual if the spell is prepared. The rule states, “To cast a spell as a Ritual, a spellcaster must have it prepared.” A Sorcerer therefore does not need a separate ritual-casting feature, but must satisfy the prepared-spell requirement.
How ritual casting works
Under both editions, casting a spell as a ritual takes 10 minutes longer than its normal casting time and does not expend a spell slot. A ritual cannot be cast at a higher level. These rules concern spells with the Ritual tag and do not make every spell eligible for ritual casting.
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Why Wizards have an extra option in 2024
The 2024 Wizard’s Ritual Adept feature allows a Wizard to cast a Ritual-tagged spell recorded in their spellbook without having it prepared, provided the Wizard reads from the book. This is a Wizard-specific option, not a general alternative for Sorcerers: a Sorcerer still needs the spell prepared to cast it as a Ritual under the 2024 rule.
Which rule should your table use?
First establish whether the game uses the 2014 or 2024 rules for the character and spellcasting. If a table mixes books or uses house rules, ask the Dungeon Master how those rules interact; a table ruling should not be mistaken for the published rule for either edition.
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