Prestidigitation 5e spell

Transmutation cantrip · 2024 version below

Casting time: 1 action
Range: 10 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Up to 1 hour
School: Transmutation
Level: Cantrip

This spell is a minor magical trick that novice spellcasters use for practice. You create one of the following magical effects within range:

You create an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect, such as a shower of sparks, a puff of wind, faint musical notes, or an odd odor.

You instantaneously light or snuff out a candle, a torch, or a small campfire.

You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.

You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for 1 hour.

You make a color, a small mark, or a symbol appear on an object or a surface for 1 hour.

You create a nonmagical trinket or an illusory image that can fit in your hand and that lasts until the end of your next turn.

If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time, and you can dismiss such an effect as an action.

How Prestidigitation plays

It’s a toolbox of small magic tricks, all within 10 feet. You can make a harmless sensory effect like sparks or a puff of wind; light or snuff a candle, torch or small campfire; clean or soil an object up to a cubic foot; chill, warm or flavor food for an hour; make a mark or color appear on a surface for an hour; or conjure a trinket or illusory image small enough to fit in your hand, which lasts until the end of your next turn.

None of it does damage or has any real effect in combat. What it does is make a spellcaster feel like one. Clean boots before an audience with the duke, warm stew on a freezing night, a secret mark on a door for the rest of the party, a trail of sparks to distract a guard.

When to pick Prestidigitation

Roleplay-heavy tables get the most from it. Many bards, sorcerers, warlocks and wizards take it for flavor alone.
Pick it over a damage cantrip only when you already have one good attack. Its value is in the countless small problems it solves.
Pair it with Minor Illusion for distractions, or with Mage Hand for doing things quietly.

Common questions

How many Prestidigitation effects can I have at once?

Up to three of its non-instantaneous effects, such as three marks or a warmed bowl and two colored patches. You can dismiss one as an action.

Can Prestidigitation light a creature on fire or deal damage?

No. It only lights or snuffs a candle, torch or small campfire, and its sensory effects are harmless.

Can Prestidigitation clean a whole outfit?

It cleans an object no larger than 1 cubic foot per casting, so a large cloak or a suit of armor may take a few castings. It’s a cantrip, so that costs nothing but time.

Can I use the trinket it creates?

It’s a real, nonmagical trinket, but it only lasts until the end of your next turn.

Can Prestidigitation make food safe to eat?

No. It can flavor, warm or chill food. Purify Food and Drink removes poison and disease.

Does it give a bonus to Performance or Deception?

Not by the rules. Some DMs grant advantage for a clever use, such as a showy flourish during a performance.

Prestidigitation compared with other utility cantrips

Spell	How it compares
Thaumaturgy	The cleric’s version: a booming voice, flickering flames, tremors, glowing eyes. Built for intimidation.
Druidcraft	The druid’s version: predicting the weather, making a flower bloom, lighting or snuffing a small flame.
Minor Illusion	A sound or a still image up to a 5-foot cube for a minute. Better for tricking enemies.
Mending	Repairs a single break or tear up to a foot long. The cantrip for fixing what Prestidigitation can’t clean.
Light	Makes an object shine like a torch for an hour.

Classes that can cast Prestidigitation

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

Prestidigitation 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: 10 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Up to 1 hour
School: Transmutation
Level: Cantrip
Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You create a magical effect within range. Choose the effect from the options below. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time.

Sensory Effect. You create an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect, such as a shower of sparks, a puff of wind, faint musical notes, or an odd odor.

Fire Play. You instantaneously light or snuff out a candle, a torch, or a small campfire.

Clean or Soil. You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.

Minor Sensation. You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for 1 hour.

Magic Mark. You make a color, a small mark, or a symbol appear on an object or a surface for 1 hour.

Minor Creation. You create a nonmagical trinket or an illusory image that can fit in your hand. It lasts until the end of your next turn. A trinket can deal no damage and has no monetary worth.

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

Other transmutation cantrips

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