Those who delve into black magic have learned of exceedingly evil spells that take an appalling toll on the caster in exchange for their powerful but foul effects. These vile applications of magic are known as corrupt spells. They are thankfully few in number.

Spellcasters prepare corrupt spells just as they do regular spells, but corrupt spells are available only to spellcasters who prepare spells. Wizards and clerics, for example, can use corrupt magic, but sorcerers and bards cannot normally do so. A sorcerer or bard could, however, cast a corrupt spell from a scroll. In addition, the Corrupt Arcana feat presented on page 120 allows spontaneous spellcasters to prepare and cast corrupt spells.

A corrupt spell has no material component, but it does have a corruption cost. Casting a corrupt spell draws power from the mental or physical well-being of the caster in the form of ability damage or ability drain. The ability damage or drain occurs when the spell’s duration expires. No corrupt spells have a permanent duration. If a corrupt spell is made into a potion, scroll, wand, or other magic item, the user of the item takes the ability damage or ability drain, not the creator. This corruption cost, mentioned in the spell’s descriptive text, is paid each time the item is used.

Corrupt spells are not specific to any character class. Furthermore, they aren’t inherently divine or arcane spells; a divine caster casting a corrupt spell casts it as a divine spell, and an arcane caster casts it as an arcane spell.