Hello magic casters of all shapes and sizes! Welcome to my spellbook and thank you so much for checking out the 18th episode of our cantrip series. Does your character want everyone just do they say are they control freak or they manipulator or do they just stress out when tiniest thing do we go according to plan? if that sounds like them, then this spell is perfect for you. Today we’re taking a look at the dungeons and dragons command spell.
It is usable by the cleric and the paladin and naturally through extension anyone else with access to their spell lists so you magic initiate out there can grab this one and it is found in the players handbook. Let’s take a quick look at some mechanics here so we kind of get the gist of what we’re talking about.
Table of Contents
Mechanics
- Level: 1st
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Range/Area: 60 ft
- Components: V
- Duration: 1 Round
- School: Enchantment
- Attack/Save: WIS Save
- Damage/Effect: Prone
The cast time is your standard one action, the range is the standard 60 feet, the duration is one round and the effect is as followed at least at a glance. Issue a one word command to a creature you can see within range. If a creature fails a wisdom saving throw they must follow the command to the best of their ability. The command can not work if the target is undead, if it doesn’t understand the language, or if the command causes direct harm to it. You may also like to read our article on is command a charm spell?
At higher levels you can add one creature per spell slot level above first. So long as the creatures are within 30 feet of each other. The components are just a verbal and the school is enchantment. Pretty cool stuff there! Let’s take a look at the full description here so that we all can know how does command work 5e. You can also check out this dnd 5e command sleep.
description
You speak a one-word command to a creature you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. The spell has no effect if the target is undead, if it doesn’t understand your language, or if your command is directly harmful to it.
Some typical commands and their effects follow. You might issue a command other than one described here. If you do so, the GM determines how the target behaves. If the target can’t follow your command, the spell ends.
- Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within 5 feet of you.
- Drop. The target drops whatever it is holding and then ends its turn.
- Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means.
- Grovel. The target falls prone and then ends its turn.
- Halt. The target doesn’t move and takes no actions. A flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum distance needed to remain in the air.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can affect one additional creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
Wow that is a wordy one my goodness very cool though. Something i would like to point out regardless of the wording here then verbal component is the one word command. So there’s no real incantation on top of that. At least that’s in my interpretation of this. You can also check out this dnd 5e command vs suggestion.
So you just essentially lace your word with magical energy and spew at forth. I really think that’s cool in terms of being able to come across as an intimidating figure even though you’re using magic on them. It doesn’t say that the targets are where they had magic used on them like it does for friends or for charm persons so i would make it a DM coal for the most part i think that’s a pretty solid way of looking at it. That being said, let’s take a look at some alternative uses here.
Alternative Uses
One of my personal favorite alternative uses for the spell is using it to mess up people during important moments. Usding it for that cunning and manipulation aspect that the mastermind robe would absolutely die for. For example at an archery tournament or range or something along those lines.
You could cast command as though you’re shouting from the crowd and simply say miss at the top of your lungs and because it will be laced with magic and because it’s just a verbal component, the drowning in this spell would kind of drown out in the crowd but its effect would still target the archer it caused them to miss their shot.
Very cool! Alternatively you could really take advantage of the fact that the spell specifies that it can’t cause knowing damage or i only find the exact wording up top here again. The spell has no effect, if the commanded does direct harm to it are the keywords being direct harm.
So you could easily trick the person into falling into a trap or into a potentially dangerous scenario that they would not have immediate knowledge of. I think this spell has tons of crazy kooky uses to it and this is a really common section is a really important.
Conclusion
If you’ve any alternative uses or any just stories that you want to tell i’d really appreciate that and i know everyone else checking this article would as well. With that in mind guys thank you so much for checking out and as always happy casting everyone. trident of fish command dnd 5e | command undead dnd 5e | hold person 5e | compelled duel 5e | suggestion 5e.