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Paralyzed 5e condition

How the paralyzed condition works in the 2014 rules (SRD 5.1) and the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2), what changed, and which spells and monsters cause it.

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Paralyzed in the 2014 rules (SRD 5.1)

Paralyzed in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)

While you have the Paralyzed condition, you experience the following effects.

Incapacitated. You have the Incapacitated condition.

Speed 0. Your Speed is 0 and can't increase.

Saving Throws Affected. You automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws.

Attacks Affected. Attack rolls against you have Advantage.

Automatic Critical Hits. Any attack roll that hits you is a Critical Hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of you.

What changed in 2024

How Paralyzed works

A paralyzed creature is incapacitated and can’t move or speak. It automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws, attack rolls against it have advantage, and any attack that hits it is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet.

Those automatic crits are what make it deadly. A paladin smiting a held enemy doubles every smite die, and a rogue doubles Sneak Attack. It’s usually worth the whole party’s turn to pile onto a paralyzed enemy before it makes its save.

Sources and cures

What changed in 2024

Very little. The 2024 condition gives the creature the Incapacitated condition and Speed 0, makes it fail Strength and Dexterity saves automatically, gives attackers advantage, and turns any hit from within 5 feet into a critical hit. “Can’t speak” now comes from the 2024 Incapacitated condition rather than from paralyzed itself.

Common questions

Are ranged attacks against a paralyzed creature critical hits?

Only if the attacker is within 5 feet when it hits. An archer 30 feet away gets advantage but no automatic crit.

Does a paralyzed creature fall prone?

No. Unlike unconscious, paralysis doesn’t knock a creature down or make it drop what it holds; it stands frozen in place. A flying creature that can’t hover does fall, because it can’t move.

Can a paralyzed creature cast spells?

No. It’s incapacitated, so it can’t take actions, and it can’t speak for verbal components. It also loses concentration on any spell it was holding.

What cures paralysis in 5e?

Lesser Restoration ends it, and so does ending its source, such as breaking the concentration of the caster holding Hold Person. Most paralysis also allows a save at the end of each of the victim’s turns.

Does paralysis make you fail Constitution saves?

No, only Strength and Dexterity saves. That’s why the repeated saves against a ghoul’s claws, or the Wisdom saves against Hold Person, still have a real chance.

Do spell attacks crit a paralyzed creature?

Yes, if the caster is within 5 feet: any attack that hits counts. A melee spell attack like Inflict Wounds rolls 6d10 instead of 3d10.

Paralyzed compared with similar conditions

ConditionHow it compares
StunnedThe same advantage and failed saves, but no automatic critical hits, and in 2024 a stunned creature can move.
RestrainedAdvantage for attackers too, but the creature can still act and attack, with disadvantage.
IncapacitatedThe part of paralysis that stops actions and reactions, with none of the defensive penalties.
Hold Person2nd level: paralyzes a humanoid on a failed Wisdom save, with concentration, for up to a minute.
GhoulCR 1. The low-level paralyzer: every claw hit calls for a DC 10 Constitution save, and a pack can lock down a whole party.

Spells and the paralyzed condition

From the SRD 5.1 spells: 2 spells can leave a creature paralyzed, and 2 spells can end or prevent it.

Spells that cause it

Spells that end or prevent it

Monsters and the paralyzed condition

Monsters whose attacks or traits cause it (16)

Monsters immune to it (34)

Rules that mention paralyzed

Other conditions