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Evard’s Black Tentacles spell icon: writhing black tentacles
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Evard’s Black Tentacles (Black Tentacles) 5e spell

4th-level conjuration (concentration) · called Black Tentacles in the SRD 5.1 · 2024 version below

Casting time
1 action
Range
90 feet
Components
V, S, M (A piece of tentacle from a giant octopus or a giant squid)
Duration
Concentration, Up to 1 minute
School
Conjuration
Level
4
Saving throw
Dexterity
Damage type
Bludgeoning

Squirming, ebony tentacles fill a 20-foot square on ground that you can see within range. For the duration, these tentacles turn the ground in the area into difficult terrain.

When a creature enters the affected area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 bludgeoning damage and be restrained by the tentacles until the spell ends. A creature that starts its turn in the area and is already restrained by the tentacles takes 3d6 bludgeoning damage.

A creature restrained by the tentacles can use its action to make a Strength or Dexterity check (its choice) against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself.

Classes that can cast Black Tentacles

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Wizard spells7th character levelIntelligence

Black Tentacles in the 2024 rules

The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:

Same level, casting time, range, components, duration and dice; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.

Casting time
Action
Range
90 feet
Components
V, S, M (a tentacle)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
School
Conjuration
Level
4
Classes
Wizard
Tags
concentration

Squirming, ebony tentacles fill a 20-foot square on ground that you can see within range. For the duration, these tentacles turn the ground in that area into Difficult Terrain.

Each creature in that area makes a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 3d6 Bludgeoning damage, and it has the Restrained condition until the spell ends. A creature also makes that save if it enters the area or ends it turn there. A creature makes that save only once per turn.

A Restrained creature can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC, ending the condition on itself on a success.

2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.

Other 4th-level conjuration spells

Other bludgeoning spells

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