Sometimes magic bites back. Magical Backlash is a temporary harmful condition triggered by unstable or conflicting magic. It only occurs when a spell, magic item, enchanted zone, or specific rule explicitly says it can cause backlash.

When a target rolls a natural 20 on a Save Roll using 1d20, the save succeeds no matter the Target Number, and the magic fails completely against that target. If Magical Backlash applies, the escape is so complete that the spell may twist, rebound, spill over, or accidentally affect the caster instead. The DN decides the exact result at that moment based on the spell and situation.

When you suffer Magical Backlash, you take a -1 penalty to your Constitution score (Backlash on CON doesn't stack). The duration depends on your class: Wizards recover after completing their morning studies, while Clerics must finish their morning meditation to clear the effect (see Character Builder).