Zone of Truth spell icon: the scales of justice
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Zone of Truth 5e spell

2nd-level enchantment · 2024 version below

Casting time
1 action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
10 minutes
School
Enchantment
Level
2

You create a magical zone that guards against deception in a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on a point of your choice within range. Until the spell ends, a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw.

An affected creature is aware of the spell and can thus avoid answering questions to which it would normally respond with a lie. Such a creature can be evasive in its answers as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth.

Classes that can cast Zone of Truth

ClassFirst availableSpellcasting ability
Bard spells3rd character levelCharisma
Cleric spells3rd character levelWisdom
Paladin spells5th character levelCharisma

Zone of Truth 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
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
10 minutes
School
Enchantment
Level
2
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Paladin

You create a magical zone that guards against deception in a 15-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point within range. Until the spell ends, a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there makes a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether a creature succeeds or fails on this save.

An affected creature is aware of the spell and can avoid answering questions to which it would normally respond with a lie. Such a creature can be evasive yet must be truthful.

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

Other 2nd-level enchantment spells

Browse: all 2nd-level spells · enchantment spells