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After an erratum, Twinned Spell metamagic says:

To be eligible, a spell must be incapable of targeting more than one creature at the spell’s current level. For example, magic missile and scorching ray aren’t eligible, but ray of frost and chromatic orb are. [PHB, pg. 102]

So Twinned Spell metamagic cannot be used with an Area of Effect spell, even if it has only one target, because if someone else were present, they would also be targeted.

The Shield Master feat, on the other hand, says:

If you aren’t incapacitated, you can add your shield’s AC bonus to any Dexterity saving throw you make against a spell or other harmful effect that targets only you. [PHB, pg. 170]

Because this doesn't talk about the spell's ability to target multiple creatures, but rather only asks whether or not someone was the only one targeted, does that mean that a different interpretation applies? If someone is the only creature in the Area of Effect, does that count as them being the only target, even though the spell (or whatever it was) did target an entire area?

AncientSwordMage has identified a relevant question: Which spells trigger the second benefit of Shield Master?

That discussion also references another related question: Does Shield Master only grant DEX save bonuses vs. single-target spells?

gto
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1 Answers1

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Yes, the ruling is different.

Twinned Spell states:

a spell must be incapable of targeting more than one creature at the spell’s current level.

So Twinned Spell is concerned not only with what the spell is doing right now, but also the full range of the spell's potential at this level. Even if a spell will target only one creature for the entire duration of its casting this time, if it is even capable of targeting more than one creature at this level, it cannot be twinned.

As you have observed, the language of Shield Master is different:

you can add your shield’s AC bonus to any Dexterity saving throw you make against a spell or other harmful effect that targets only you.

This does not mention anything about the spell's potential, so as long you are the only target at the moment, you may use Shield Master, even if there is the possibility that the effect can target more creatures at a different time or under different circumstances.

Note, area of effect spells target a point in space:

A spell's description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin for an area of effect (described below).

So for example, a fireball that only harms you would not be an eligible effect, since it targets the point in space it erupts from.

That said, there are a lot of spells and a lot of different ways spells are worded, so I must leave you with the disclaimer that your mileage may vary from spell to spell and DM to DM. There are too many spells and too little consistency between them to tell you that this ruling can be trusted every time.

An example: acid splash

Acid splash states:

You hurl a bubble of acid. Choose one or two creatures you can see within range. If you choose two, they must be within 5 feet of each other. A target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 acid damage.

Since acid splash is capable of targeting two creatures, it is never eligible for Twinned Spell, but if its caster targets only one creature, and that creature has the Shield Master feat, that creature may use it on the saving throw for acid splash.

Thomas Markov
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  • I would say that is likely intended and just overlooked but as written I agree. My reasoning would be that things that go around corners such as fireball and others would bypass a shield easily which is what you block the spell with in the case of the feat. But table mileage will vary. – Slagmoth Jul 02 '21 at 13:09
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    @Slagmoth Area of effect spells also target a point in space, so they do not apply here. I'll mention that. – Thomas Markov Jul 02 '21 at 13:09
  • Well, JC doesn't help matters with his wording in the podcast from like jan 2017 iirc... where he says a "target" is a creature affected by a spell even if the spell doesn't call them "targets"... lack of consistency is fun. – Slagmoth Jul 02 '21 at 13:12
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    @Slagmoth Victims of AoE spells are targets. – Thomas Markov Jul 02 '21 at 13:14
  • Oh, I know. My point is that the verbiage used through out could have been better defined, but that is true on SOOO many things in 5E. And having the same OO approach that 3.5 had would have gone a long way to alleviating many ambiguities. – Slagmoth Jul 02 '21 at 13:23
  • @Slagmoth Gotcha. I added a disclaimer to the end of the answer to hedge against the inevitable ambiguities that challenge the ruling I give here. – Thomas Markov Jul 02 '21 at 13:24
  • I think an example spell applying to one and not the other would be helpful – Exempt-Medic Jul 02 '21 at 13:38
  • @Medix2 Good idea, I know just the one. – Thomas Markov Jul 02 '21 at 13:39
  • @Slagmoth, I don't know if "going around corners" would bypass a shield is a valid argument. There is no difference in 5e mechanics with regards to what defines a "shield". It could be a small buckler, a kite shield, or a full tower shield. All give the exact same protection in the game. – MivaScott Jul 02 '21 at 14:22
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    So, by your reasoning (and by that of the related question AncientSwordRage has referenced), all AoE spells would still be ineligible for the Shield Master mitigation, even if there was only the one creature in the affected area? How disappointing... – gto Jul 02 '21 at 18:30
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    @gto That is correct, and yes, disappointing. – Thomas Markov Jul 02 '21 at 18:31