A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose within range. The hand lasts for the duration or until you dismiss it as an action. The hand vanishes if it is ever more than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again.
You can use your action to control the hand. You can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial. You can move the hand up to 30 feet each time you use it.
The hand can't attack, activate magic items, or carry more than 10 pounds.
How Mage Hand plays
A spectral hand appears at a point within 30 feet and lasts a minute. With your action you can use it to pick up or move an object, open an unlocked door or container, take something out of an open container or put something in, or pour out a vial, moving it up to 30 feet each time. It can’t attack, can’t activate magic items and can’t carry more than 10 pounds.
It’s the cantrip for doing things at a safe distance: pulling the lever, opening the suspicious chest, grabbing the key off the sleeping guard’s table, or pressing the pressure plate you’re not willing to step on.
When to pick Mage Hand
Any bard, sorcerer, warlock or wizard who likes solving problems. It’s one of the most-used utility cantrips.
Arcane Tricksters get an upgraded, invisible version with Mage Hand Legerdemain that can pick locks and pockets.
Use it for danger, not chores. Its best use is poking things you suspect are trapped from 30 feet away.
Common questions
How much can Mage Hand lift?
Up to 10 pounds. A backpack of gear or a small chest is usually too heavy; a key, a lantern, a potion or a book is fine.
Can Mage Hand attack or deal damage?
No. It can’t attack. Most DMs also won’t let you drop heavy objects on enemies with it, since that’s an attack in disguise.
Can Mage Hand pick a lock?
Not the normal spell: it can only open unlocked doors and containers. An Arcane Trickster rogue’s Mage Hand Legerdemain lets the hand use thieves’ tools.
Can Mage Hand give a potion to an unconscious ally?
The spell lets it pour out the contents of a vial, but it doesn’t say it can feed a creature. Many DMs allow it; ask before you rely on it.
Is Mage Hand invisible?
No, it’s a visible spectral hand. Only the Arcane Trickster’s version is invisible.
What happens if the hand goes more than 30 feet from me?
It vanishes, and it also disappears if you cast Mage Hand again.
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
30 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
1 minute
School
Conjuration
Level
Cantrip
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose within range. The hand lasts for the duration. The hand vanishes if it is ever more than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again.
When you cast the spell, you can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial.
As a Magic action on your later turns, you can control the hand thus again. As part of that action, you can move the hand up to 30 feet.
The hand can't attack, activate magic items, or carry more than 10 pounds.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
