Minor Illusion 5e spell

Illusion cantrip · 2024 version below

Casting time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S, M (A bit of fleece)
Duration: 1 minute
School: Illusion
Level: Cantrip

You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration. The illusion also ends if you dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again.

If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream. It can be your voice, someone else's voice, a lion's roar, a beating of drums, or any other sound you choose. The sound continues unabated throughout the duration, or you can make discrete sounds at different times before the spell ends.

If you create an image of an object—such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest—it must be no larger than a 5-foot cube. The image can't create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it.

If a creature uses its action to examine the sound or image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the illusion becomes faint to the creature.

How Minor Illusion plays

You create either a sound or an image of an object within 30 feet, for a minute. A sound can be anything from a whisper to a scream: footsteps, a voice, a lion’s roar. An image can be anything that fits in a 5-foot cube, like a crate, a wall section or a pile of treasure, but it makes no sound, light or smell, and anything passing through it gives it away.

A creature that spends its action examining the illusion can make an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC to see through it. Until someone does, a well-placed illusion is very convincing. The spell has no verbal component, so you can cast it quietly while the guards are distracted.

When to pick Minor Illusion

Creative players get more from it than almost any other cantrip. It’s on the bard, sorcerer, warlock and wizard lists.
Hide behind it. An illusory crate or a patch of wall can block the view of anyone who believes it. Many DMs let you Hide inside one.
Use sounds to lure. Voices behind a door, a cry for help down a side passage or footsteps running away pull enemies where you want them.

Common questions

Can Minor Illusion make a sound and an image at the same time?

No, one or the other per casting. An Illusion wizard’s Improved Minor Illusion lets you create both.

Can I hide behind a Minor Illusion?

It blocks sight for anyone who hasn’t seen through it, so an illusory crate or wall can hide you. You still need to take the Hide action, and anyone who touches or examines it can see through.

Can the image move?

The spell doesn’t give it any way to move, so treat it as a still object. Silent Image creates images you can move.

Can I make an image of a creature?

No, only an object, up to a 5-foot cube. The sound can be a creature’s voice or roar, though.

Can I cast Minor Illusion while silenced?

Yes. It needs only somatic and material components, so a gag or Silence doesn’t stop it. Someone watching may still see your gestures.

What happens when someone sees through it?

The illusion becomes faint to that creature. Others who haven’t seen through it are still fooled.

Minor Illusion compared with other illusion spells

Spell	How it compares
Silent Image	1st level: an image up to a 15-foot cube that you can move, but silent, with concentration.
Major Image	3rd level: a 20-foot image with sound, smell and temperature, which you can move and animate.
Disguise Self	1st level: changes how you look for an hour.
Prestidigitation	Cantrip: its illusory images fit in your hand and last only until the end of your next turn.
Invisibility	2nd level: hides a creature completely, until it attacks or casts a spell.

Classes that can cast Minor Illusion

Class	First available	Spellcasting ability
Bard spells	1st level (cantrip)	Charisma
Sorcerer spells	1st level (cantrip)	Charisma
Warlock spells	1st level (cantrip)	Charisma
Wizard spells	1st level (cantrip)	Intelligence

Minor Illusion 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: 30 feet
Components: S, M (a bit of fleece)
Duration: 1 minute
School: Illusion
Level: Cantrip
Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration. See the descriptions below for the effects of each. The illusion ends if you cast this spell again.

If a creature takes a Study action to examine the sound or image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the illusion becomes faint to the creature.

Sound. If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream. It can be your voice, someone else's voice, a lion's roar, a beating of drums, or any other sound you choose. The sound continues unabated throughout the duration, or you can make discrete sounds at different times before the spell ends.

Image. If you create an image of an object—such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest—it must be no larger than a 5-foot Cube. The image can't create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, since things can pass through it.

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

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