Phantasmal Force spell icon: psychic waves radiating from a figure
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Phantasmal Force 5e spell (2024)

2nd-level illusion (concentration) · new in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)

Casting time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a bit of fleece)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
School
Illusion
Level
2
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
Tags
concentration

You attempt to craft an illusion in the mind of a creature you can see within range. The target makes an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, you create a phantasmal object, creature, or other phenomenon that is no larger than a 10-foot Cube and that is perceivable only to the target for the duration. The phantasm includes sound, temperature, and other stimuli.

The target can take a Study action to examine the phantasm with an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If the check succeeds, the target realizes that the phantasm is an illusion, and the spell ends.

While affected by the spell, the target treats the phantasm as if it were real and rationalizes any illogical outcomes from interacting with it. For example, if the target steps through a phantasmal bridge and survives the fall, it believes the bridge exists and something else caused it to fall.

An affected target can even take damage from the illusion if the phantasm represents a dangerous creature or hazard. On each of your turns, such a phantasm can deal 2d8 Psychic damage to the target if it is in the phantasm's area or within 5 feet of the phantasm. The target perceives the damage as a type appropriate to the illusion.

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

Classes that can cast Phantasmal Force

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Bard spells3rd character levelCharisma
Sorcerer spells3rd character levelCharisma
Wizard spells3rd character levelIntelligence

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

Other 2nd-level illusion spells

Browse: all 2nd-level spells · illusion spells · psychic damage spells