Ensnaring Strike spell icon: a piercing arrowhead
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Ensnaring Strike 5e spell (2024)

1st-level conjuration (concentration) · new in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)

Casting time
Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a creature with a weapon
Range
Self
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
School
Conjuration
Level
1
Classes
Ranger
Tags
concentration

As you hit the target, grasping vines appear on it, and it makes a Strength saving throw. A Large or larger creature has Advantage on this save. On a failed save, the target has the Restrained condition until the spell ends. On a successful save, the vines shrivel away, and the spell ends.

While Restrained, the target takes 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The target or a creature within reach of it can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC. On a success, the spell ends.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.

Ensnaring Strike isn’t in the 2014 SRD 5.1; this is its 2024 text from the SRD 5.2.

Classes that can cast Ensnaring Strike

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Ranger spells1st character levelWisdom

Levels follow the 2024 rules, where paladins and rangers cast from 1st level.

Other 1st-level conjuration spells

Browse: all 1st-level spells · conjuration spells · piercing damage spells