Scrying spell icon: a crystal ball on a stand
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Scrying 5e spell

5th-level divination (concentration) · 2024 version below

Casting time
10 minutes
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (A focus worth at least 1,000 gp, such as a crystal ball, a silver mirror, or a font filled with holy water)
Duration
Concentration, Up to 10 minutes
School
Divination
Level
5
Saving throw
Wisdom

You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, which is modified by how well you know the target and the sort of physical connection you have to it. If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.

KnowledgeSave Modifier
Secondhand (you have heard of the target)+5
Firsthand (you have met the target)+0
Familiar (you know the target well)-5
ConnectionSave Modifier
Likeness or picture-2
Possession or garment-4
Body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, or the like-10

On a successful save, the target isn't affected, and you can't use this spell against it again for 24 hours.

On a failed save, the spell creates an invisible sensor within 10 feet of the target. You can see and hear through the sensor as if you were there. The sensor moves with the target, remaining within 10 feet of it for the duration. A creature that can see invisible objects sees the sensor as a luminous orb about the size of your fist.

Instead of targeting a creature, you can choose a location you have seen before as the target of this spell. When you do, the sensor appears at that location and doesn't move.

Classes that can cast Scrying

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

Scrying 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
10 minutes
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a focus worth 1,000+ GP, such as, a crystal ball, mirror, or water-filled font)
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
School
Divination
Level
5
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Warlock, Wizard
Tags
concentration

You can see and hear a creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw, which is modified (see the tables below) by how well you know the target and the sort of physical connection you have to it. The target doesn't know what it is making the save against, only that it feels uneasy.

Your Knowledge of the Target Is …Save Modifier
Secondhand (heard of the target)+5
Firsthand (met the target)+0
Extensive (know the target well)−5
You Have the Target's …Save Modifier
Picture or other likeness−2
Garment or other possession−4
Body part, lock of hair, or bit of nail−10

On a successful save, the target isn't affected, and you can't use this spell on it again for 24 hours.

On a failed save, the spell creates an Invisible, intangible sensor within 10 feet of the target. You can see and hear through the sensor as if you were there. The sensor moves with the target, remaining within 10 feet of it for the duration. If something can see the sensor, it appears as a luminous orb about the size of your fist.

Instead of targeting a creature, you can target a location you have seen. When you do so, the sensor appears at that location and doesn't move.

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

Other 5th-level divination spells

Browse: all 5th-level spells · divination spells · concentration spells