Hello magic casters of all shapes and sizes! Welcome to my spellbook and thank you so much for checking out the 8th episode of our third level spell series. Today we have an interesting spell in the way that i would make an argument that for 99% of you it might be utterly useless which is really weird cuz i’ve always considered this website to kind of be like one real place that puts a spotlight on every spell and tries to frame them in the best lighting possible but this one is interesting.
There’s one case where it’s super useful but outside of that it’s kind of meh. We’re talking about catnap spell dnd 5e which is about as exciting as it sounds. It is usable by the bard, sorcerer, wizard and the artificer and it is found in the xanathar’s guide to everything which is really weird cuz xanathar’s has a ton of great spells and also has this one. Now let’s take a look at the catnap spell dnd 5e stats and see if you are as underwhelmed as i am.
Table of Contents
Mechanics
- Level: 3rd
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Range/Area: 30 ft
- Components: S, M *
- Duration: 10 Minutes
- School: Enchantment
- Attack/Save: None
- Damage/Effect: Buff
The effect at a glance is as followed: 3 creatures within range fall asleep. If left undisturbed, they gain the benefits of a short rest. That’s right short rest. Do you know how does sleep spell work 5e.
The cast time is one action, the range is 30 feet, the duration is 10 minutes. And at higher levels you can target one more creature for each spell slot level above 3rd. The components are somatic and material. If you’re curious about that material component it is a pinch of sand which makes sense thematically. And the school is enchantment which also makes sense. Let’s take a look at the full description and see exactly what’s going on here. Also read this can i cast catnap on myself?
Description
You make a calming gesture, and up to three willing creatures of your choice that you can see within range fall unconscious for the spell’s duration. The spell ends on a target early if it takes damage or someone uses an action to shake or slap it awake. If a target remains unconscious for the full duration, that target gains the benefit of a short rest, and it can’t be affected by this spell again until it finishes a long rest.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional willing creature for each slot level above 3rd. * – (a pinch of sand)
Alright so to oversimplify 10 minutes equals to short rest with this spell for up to three party members. I mean clearly there’s some upside just through virtue that there are a lot of short rest dependent classes out there like the warlock, monk those guys. Outside of that, i mean i suppose in a pinch i might come in handy but i’ll get into that in a little bit here. That being said, let’s check out the alternative uses. Also read what is the nap spell in 5e?
Alternative Uses
In terms of ways to actually use this i think is like a quick power nap like let’s say you’re on a long rest and exhaustion is about to set in but it hasn’t really i’d make an argument this spell would help to deter the effects of exhaustion a little bit longer. Don’t miss catnap spell dnd 5e magic items such as chainmail 5e.
Outside of that though this is actually meant to be used with an alternative game mode called gritty realism. What gritty realism does is it kind of changes the time parameters around resting. So instead of one hour short rest like usual it’s actually eight hours. Check out this what is the most powerful spell in d&d?
And it’s seven days to do a long rest which is pretty dang ludicrous. So that’s where this spell comes in handy and that’s kind of what it’s meant to be used for or with at least as far as i can tell because it’s they’re gonna be very few circumstances where you are able to be unconscious for 10 minutes opposed to being like just relaxing for an hour, they’re gonna be very few situations where the ten minutes of unconscious behaviour is better. Also check out this are elves immune to catnap?
Outside of that there are best catnap spell dnd 5e like rope trick that you can do a short rest in and keep you safe and lasts and effect more than three people so it is a hard to sell and rope trick a lower level as well so i don’t know.
Conclusion
That being said if you have any alternative uses, thoughts, questions, comments, ideas, concerns please put them down beneath i the comment section, i really do appreciate it. And as always guys happy casting. Keep reading glyph of warding 5e | enemies abound 5e | cat 5e speed |