Phantasmal Killer 5e spell

4th-level illusion (concentration) · 2024 version below

Casting time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, Up to 1 minute
School: Illusion
Level: 4
Saving throw: Wisdom
Damage type: Psychic

You tap into the nightmares of a creature you can see within range and create an illusory manifestation of its deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes frightened for the duration. At the end of each of the target's turns before the spell ends, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 4d10 psychic damage. On a successful save, the spell ends.

At higher levels

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 4th.

Classes that can cast Phantasmal Killer

Class	First available	Spellcasting ability
Wizard spells	7th character level	Intelligence

Phantasmal Killer 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:

Added to the Bard spell list.

Casting time: Action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
School: Illusion
Level: 4
Classes: Bard, Wizard
Tags: concentration

You tap into the nightmares of a creature you can see within range and create an illusion of its deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 4d10 Psychic damage and has Disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls for the duration. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage, and the spell ends.

For the duration, the target makes a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a failed save, it takes the Psychic damage again. On a successful save, the spell ends.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d10 for each spell slot level above 4.

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

Other 4th-level illusion spells

Other psychic spells

Dream 5th level

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