diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/item/ItemSpell.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/item/ItemSpell.java
index 77acfb09..1bb32617 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/item/ItemSpell.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/item/ItemSpell.java
@@ -6,14 +6,11 @@ import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.Predicates;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.entity.EntitySpell;
-import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.player.IPlayer;
-import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.player.PlayerSpeciesList;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IMagicEffect;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IUseAction;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.SpellAffinity;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.SpellCastResult;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IDispenceable;
-import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IHeldEffect;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.SpellRegistry;
 import com.minelittlepony.util.lang.ClientLocale;
 import com.minelittlepony.util.vector.VecHelper;
@@ -84,17 +81,7 @@ public class ItemSpell extends Item implements ICastable {
     }
 
     public void onUpdate(ItemStack stack, World world, Entity entity, int slot, boolean isSelected) {
-        if (isSelected && entity instanceof EntityPlayer) {
-            IPlayer player = PlayerSpeciesList.instance().getPlayer((EntityPlayer)entity);
 
-            if (player.getPlayerSpecies().canCast()) {
-                IHeldEffect effect = SpellRegistry.instance().getHeldFrom(stack);
-
-                if (effect != null) {
-                    effect.updateInHand(player, getAffinity(stack));
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     public Item setTranslationKey(String key) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/IPlayer.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/IPlayer.java
index 8deeaf76..fafd9a55 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/IPlayer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/IPlayer.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.UClient;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.enchanting.IPageOwner;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.network.ITransmittable;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.ICaster;
+import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IHeldEffect;
 import com.mojang.authlib.GameProfile;
 
 import net.minecraft.entity.Entity;
@@ -121,6 +122,15 @@ public interface IPlayer extends ICaster<EntityPlayer>, IRaceContainer<EntityPla
      */
     void onFall(float distance, float damageMultiplier);
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the held effect for the given item.
+     * Updates it if the current held effect doesn't match or is empty.
+     *
+     * Returns null if the passed item has no held effect.
+     */
+    @Nullable
+    IHeldEffect getHeldEffect(ItemStack stack);
+
     /**
      * Event triggered when this player is hit by a projectile.
      * @param projectile The projectile doing the hitting.
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/PlayerCapabilities.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/PlayerCapabilities.java
index bc5492d5..a27525ca 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/PlayerCapabilities.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/player/PlayerCapabilities.java
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.Unicopia;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.enchanting.PageState;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.init.UEffects;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.init.UItems;
+import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.item.ICastable;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.network.EffectSync;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.network.MsgPlayerCapabilities;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IAttachedEffect;
+import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IHeldEffect;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.IMagicEffect;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.SpellAffinity;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.spell.SpellDisguise;
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ import net.minecraft.network.datasync.EntityDataManager;
 import net.minecraft.network.play.server.SPacketSetPassengers;
 import net.minecraft.potion.PotionEffect;
 import net.minecraft.stats.StatList;
+import net.minecraft.util.EnumHand;
 import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.BlockPos;
 import net.minecraft.util.text.TextComponentTranslation;
@@ -52,6 +55,8 @@ class PlayerCapabilities implements IPlayer {
 
     private static final DataParameter<NBTTagCompound> EFFECT = EntityDataManager
             .createKey(EntityPlayer.class, DataSerializers.COMPOUND_TAG);
+    private static final DataParameter<NBTTagCompound> HELD_EFFECT = EntityDataManager
+            .createKey(EntityPlayer.class, DataSerializers.COMPOUND_TAG);
 
     private final Map<ResourceLocation, PageState> pageStates = Maps.newHashMap();
 
@@ -68,6 +73,7 @@ class PlayerCapabilities implements IPlayer {
     private final PlayerInventory inventory = new PlayerInventory(this);
 
     private final EffectSync<EntityPlayer> effectDelegate = new EffectSync<>(this, EFFECT);
+    private final EffectSync<EntityPlayer> heldEffectDelegate = new EffectSync<>(this, HELD_EFFECT);
 
     private final IInterpolator interpolator = new BasicEasingInterpolator();
 
@@ -86,6 +92,7 @@ class PlayerCapabilities implements IPlayer {
         player.getDataManager().register(EXERTION, 0F);
         player.getDataManager().register(ENERGY, 0F);
         player.getDataManager().register(EFFECT, new NBTTagCompound());
+        player.getDataManager().register(HELD_EFFECT, new NBTTagCompound());
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -142,6 +149,26 @@ class PlayerCapabilities implements IPlayer {
         this.invisible = invisible;
     }
 
+    @Nullable
+    @Override
+    public IHeldEffect getHeldEffect(ItemStack stack) {
+
+        if (!getPlayerSpecies().canCast()) {
+            heldEffectDelegate.set(null);
+
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        IHeldEffect heldEffect = heldEffectDelegate.get(IHeldEffect.class, true);
+
+        if (heldEffect == null || !heldEffect.getName().equals(SpellRegistry.getKeyFromStack(stack))) {
+            heldEffect = SpellRegistry.instance().getHeldFrom(stack);
+            heldEffectDelegate.set(heldEffect);
+        }
+
+        return heldEffect;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public SpellAffinity getAffinity() {
         return SpellAffinity.NEUTRAL;
@@ -224,6 +251,16 @@ class PlayerCapabilities implements IPlayer {
             }
         }
 
+        ItemStack stack = getOwner().getHeldItem(EnumHand.MAIN_HAND);
+
+        IHeldEffect effect = getHeldEffect(stack);
+
+        if (effect != null) {
+            SpellAffinity affinity = stack.getItem() instanceof ICastable ? ((ICastable)stack.getItem()).getAffinity(stack) : SpellAffinity.NEUTRAL;
+
+            effect.updateInHand(this, affinity);
+        }
+
         addExertion(-1);
         addEnergy(-1);