diff --git a/common/shareddb.cpp b/common/shareddb.cpp
index fd55b3766..fc628ea6f 100644
--- a/common/shareddb.cpp
+++ b/common/shareddb.cpp
@@ -1700,6 +1700,7 @@ void SharedDatabase::LoadSpells(void *data, int max_spells) {
 		sp[tempid].pvpresistcalc=atoi(row[178]);
 		sp[tempid].pvpresistcap=atoi(row[179]);
 		sp[tempid].spell_category=atoi(row[180]);
+		sp[tempid].pcnpc_only_flag=atoi(row[183]);
 		sp[tempid].cast_not_standing = atoi(row[184]) != 0;
 		sp[tempid].can_mgb=atoi(row[185]);
 		sp[tempid].dispel_flag = atoi(row[186]);
diff --git a/common/spdat.h b/common/spdat.h
index edb750f2a..ab00451e0 100644
--- a/common/spdat.h
+++ b/common/spdat.h
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ struct SPDat_Spell_Struct
 /* 180 */	int spell_category; // -- GLOBAL_GROUP
 /* 181 */	//int pvp_duration; // buffdurationformula for PvP -- PVP_DURATION
 /* 182 */	//int pvp_duration_cap; // buffduration for PvP -- PVP_DURATION_CAP
-/* 183 */	//int pcnpc_only_flag; // valid values are 0, 1 = PCs (and mercs), and 2 = NPCs (and not mercs) -- PCNPC_ONLY_FLAG
+/* 183 */	int pcnpc_only_flag; // valid values are 0, 1 = PCs (and mercs), and 2 = NPCs (and not mercs) -- PCNPC_ONLY_FLAG
 /* 184 */	bool cast_not_standing; // this is checked in the client's EQ_Spell::IsCastWhileInvisSpell, this also blocks SE_InterruptCasting from affecting this spell -- CAST_NOT_STANDING
 /* 185 */	bool can_mgb; // 0=no, -1 or 1 = yes -- CAN_MGB
 /* 186 */	int dispel_flag; // -- NO_DISPELL
diff --git a/zone/effects.cpp b/zone/effects.cpp
index 3e3f7a4bc..0cec65877 100644
--- a/zone/effects.cpp
+++ b/zone/effects.cpp
@@ -778,6 +778,11 @@ void EntityList::AESpell(Mob *caster, Mob *center, uint16 spell_id, bool affect_
 			continue;
 		if (spells[spell_id].targettype == ST_AreaNPCOnly && !curmob->IsNPC())
 			continue;
+		// check PC/NPC only flag 1 = PCs, 2 = NPCs
+		if (spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag == 1 && !curmob->IsClient() && !curmob->IsMerc())
+			continue;
+		if (spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag == 2 && (curmob->IsClient() || curmob->IsMerc()))
+			continue;
 
 		if (spells[spell_id].targettype == ST_Ring) {
 			dist_targ = DistanceSquared(static_cast<glm::vec3>(curmob->GetPosition()), caster->GetTargetRingLocation());
diff --git a/zone/entity.cpp b/zone/entity.cpp
index 2bbcdef20..2ff83980e 100644
--- a/zone/entity.cpp
+++ b/zone/entity.cpp
@@ -4655,7 +4655,7 @@ Mob *EntityList::GetClosestMobByBodyType(Mob *sender, bodyType BodyType)
 	return ClosestMob;
 }
 
-void EntityList::GetTargetsForConeArea(Mob *start, float min_radius, float radius, float height, std::list<Mob*> &m_list)
+void EntityList::GetTargetsForConeArea(Mob *start, float min_radius, float radius, float height, int pcnpc, std::list<Mob*> &m_list)
 {
 	auto it = mob_list.begin();
 	while (it !=  mob_list.end()) {
@@ -4664,6 +4664,14 @@ void EntityList::GetTargetsForConeArea(Mob *start, float min_radius, float radiu
 			++it;
 			continue;
 		}
+		// check PC/NPC only flag 1 = PCs, 2 = NPCs
+		if (pcnpc == 1 && !ptr->IsClient() && !ptr->IsMerc()) {
+			++it;
+			continue;
+		} else if (pcnpc == 2 && (ptr->IsClient() || ptr->IsMerc())) {
+			++it;
+			continue;
+		}
 		float x_diff = ptr->GetX() - start->GetX();
 		float y_diff = ptr->GetY() - start->GetY();
 		float z_diff = ptr->GetZ() - start->GetZ();
diff --git a/zone/entity.h b/zone/entity.h
index d2141d1b9..9a532cdb1 100644
--- a/zone/entity.h
+++ b/zone/entity.h
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ public:
 	void GetObjectList(std::list<Object*> &o_list);
 	void GetDoorsList(std::list<Doors*> &d_list);
 	void GetSpawnList(std::list<Spawn2*> &d_list);
-	void GetTargetsForConeArea(Mob *start, float min_radius, float radius, float height, std::list<Mob*> &m_list);
+	void GetTargetsForConeArea(Mob *start, float min_radius, float radius, float height, int pcnpc, std::list<Mob*> &m_list);
 
 	void	DepopAll(int NPCTypeID, bool StartSpawnTimer = true);
 
diff --git a/zone/spells.cpp b/zone/spells.cpp
index 3b232f9cd..814f01be6 100644
--- a/zone/spells.cpp
+++ b/zone/spells.cpp
@@ -3405,6 +3405,17 @@ bool Mob::SpellOnTarget(uint16 spell_id, Mob *spelltar, bool reflect, bool use_r
 	if(!IsValidSpell(spell_id))
 		return false;
 
+	// these target types skip pcnpc only check (according to dev quotes)
+	// other AE spells this is redundant, oh well
+	// 1 = PCs, 2 = NPCs
+	if (spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag && spells[spell_id].targettype != ST_AETargetHateList &&
+	    spells[spell_id].targettype != ST_HateList) {
+		if (spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag == 1 && !spelltar->IsClient() && !spelltar->IsMerc())
+			return false;
+		else if (spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag == 2 && (spelltar->IsClient() || spelltar->IsMerc()))
+			return false;
+	}
+
 	uint16 caster_level = level_override > 0 ? level_override : GetCasterLevel(spell_id);
 
 	Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::Spells, "Casting spell %d on %s with effective caster level %d", spell_id, spelltar->GetName(), caster_level);
@@ -5623,7 +5634,7 @@ void Mob::BeamDirectional(uint16 spell_id, int16 resist_adjust)
 	std::list<Mob *> targets_in_range;
 
 	entity_list.GetTargetsForConeArea(this, spells[spell_id].min_range, spells[spell_id].range,
-					  spells[spell_id].range / 2, targets_in_range);
+					  spells[spell_id].range / 2, spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag, targets_in_range);
 	auto iter = targets_in_range.begin();
 
 	float dX = 0;
@@ -5698,7 +5709,7 @@ void Mob::ConeDirectional(uint16 spell_id, int16 resist_adjust)
 	std::list<Mob *> targets_in_range;
 
 	entity_list.GetTargetsForConeArea(this, spells[spell_id].min_range, spells[spell_id].aoerange,
-					  spells[spell_id].aoerange / 2, targets_in_range);
+					  spells[spell_id].aoerange / 2, spells[spell_id].pcnpc_only_flag, targets_in_range);
 	auto iter = targets_in_range.begin();
 
 	while (iter != targets_in_range.end()) {