Magic Mouth spell icon: a mouth sticking out its tongue
Icon by Delapouite, CC BY 3.0

Magic Mouth 5e spell

2nd-level illusion (ritual) · 2024 version below

Casting time
1 minute (ritual)
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (A small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth at least 10 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Until dispelled
School
Illusion
Level
2

You implant a message within an object in range, a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn't being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or less, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message.

When that circumstance occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there so that the words appear to come from the object's mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.

The triggering circumstance can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.

Classes that can cast Magic Mouth

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Bard spells3rd character levelCharisma
Wizard spells3rd character levelIntelligence

Magic Mouth 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
1 minute or Ritual
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (jade dust worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Until dispelled
School
Illusion
Level
2
Classes
Bard, Wizard
Tags
ritual

You implant a message within an object in range—a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn't being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or fewer, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message.

When that trigger occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there, so the words appear to come from the object's mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.

The trigger can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.

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

Other 2nd-level illusion spells

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