Planar Binding spell icon: heavy chains pulled taut
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Planar Binding 5e spell

5th-level abjuration · 2024 version below

Casting time
1 hour
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (A jewel worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration
24 hours
School
Abjuration
Level
5
Saving throw
Charisma

With this spell, you attempt to bind a celestial, an elemental, a fey, or a fiend to your service. The creature must be within range for the entire casting of the spell. (Typically, the creature is first summoned into the center of an inverted magic circle in order to keep it trapped while this spell is cast.) At the completion of the casting, the target must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, it is bound to serve you for the duration. If the creature was summoned or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell.

A bound creature must follow your instructions to the best of its ability. You might command the creature to accompany you on an adventure, to guard a location, or to deliver a message. The creature obeys the letter of your instructions, but if the creature is hostile to you, it strives to twist your words to achieve its own objectives. If the creature carries out your instructions completely before the spell ends, it travels to you to report this fact if you are on the same plane of existence. If you are on a different plane of existence, it returns to the place where you bound it and remains there until the spell ends.

At higher levels

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of a higher level, the duration increases to 10 days with a 6th-level slot, to 30 days with a 7th-level slot, to 180 days with an 8th-level slot, and to a year and a day with a 9th-level spell slot.

Classes that can cast Planar Binding

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Bard spells9th character levelCharisma
Cleric spells9th character levelWisdom
Druid spells9th character levelWisdom
Wizard spells9th character levelIntelligence

Planar Binding 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:

Casting time
1 hour
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a jewel worth 1,000+ GP, which the spell consumes)
Duration
24 hours
School
Abjuration
Level
5
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Warlock, Wizard

You attempt to bind a Celestial, an Elemental, a Fey, or a Fiend to your service. The creature must be within range for the entire casting of the spell. (Typically, the creature is first summoned into the center of the inverted version of the Magic Circle spell to trap it while this spell is cast.) At the completion of the casting, the target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be bound to serve you for the duration. If the creature was summoned or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell.

A bound creature must follow your commands to the best of its ability. You might command the creature to accompany you on an adventure, to guard a location, or to deliver a message. If the creature is Hostile, it strives to twist your commands to achieve its own objectives. If the creature carries out your commands completely before the spell ends, it travels to you to report this fact if you are on the same plane of existence. If you are on a different plane, it returns to the place where you bound it and remains there until the spell ends.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The duration increases with a spell slot of level 6 (10 days), 7 (30 days), 8 (180 days), and 9 (366 days).

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

Other 5th-level abjuration spells

Browse: all 5th-level spells · abjuration spells