You attempt to send one creature that you can see within range to another plane of existence. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be banished.
If the target is native to the plane of existence you're on, you banish the target to a harmless demiplane. While there, the target is incapacitated. The target remains there until the spell ends, at which point the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.
If the target is native to a different plane of existence than the one you're on, the target is banished with a faint popping noise, returning to its home plane. If the spell ends before 1 minute has passed, the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied. Otherwise, the target doesn't return.
At higher levels
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 4th.
How Banishment plays
Choose a creature you can see within 60 feet. If it fails a Charisma save, it vanishes. A creature from the plane you’re on goes to a harmless demiplane, where it’s incapacitated, and comes back to the same spot when the spell ends. A creature from another plane, like a fiend, celestial, elemental or fey on the Material Plane, goes home, and if you keep concentrating for the full minute, it doesn’t come back.
It’s one of the best ways to split a fight. Banish the ogre chief for a minute while the party kills its guards, then deal with it once it returns. Against a summoned demon or elemental, it’s often an outright win.
When to pick Banishment
Clerics, paladins, sorcerers, warlocks and wizards all get it. Most parties want one caster with it by 7th level.
Pick targets with weak Charisma. Beasts, giants, many monstrosities and brutish humanoids tend to have poor Charisma saves. Fiends and celestials are often stronger, but they’re the ones that stay gone.
Get ready for the return. Ready attacks and surround the empty space before the minute is up, or drop concentration when your party is in position.
Common questions
Does a banished creature come back?
A creature native to your plane always does, when the spell ends. A creature from another plane only comes back if the spell ends before the full minute; if you concentrate for the whole minute, it stays on its home plane.
What does a banished creature do in the demiplane?
Nothing. It’s incapacitated while it’s there, so it can’t take actions or reactions. When it returns, it reappears in the space it left, or the nearest unoccupied space.
Can I banish a summoned creature permanently?
Often yes. A conjured elemental or a summoned fiend is from another plane, so holding concentration for a minute sends it home for good.
How many creatures can I banish?
One, plus one more for each slot level above 4th.
Does Banishment work on legendary monsters?
They can use Legendary Resistance to succeed on the save. Many DMs’ bosses will, so it’s often best used after they’ve spent their resistances.
Does the banished creature’s concentration break?
If it was sent to the demiplane, yes: it’s incapacitated there, and an incapacitated creature can’t maintain concentration. A creature sent back to its home plane isn’t incapacitated, so it keeps concentrating if it can.
The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:
Range: 60 feet → 30 feet.
Casting time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (a pentacle)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
School
Abjuration
Level
4
Classes
Cleric, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Tags
concentration
One creature that you can see within range must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be transported to a harmless demiplane for the duration. While there, the target has the Incapacitated condition. When the spell ends, the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.
If the target is an Aberration, a Celestial, an Elemental, a Fey, or a Fiend, the target doesn't return if the spell lasts for 1 minute. The target is instead transported to a random location on a plane (GM's choice) associated with its creature type.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level above 4.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
