Player's Handbook

Spook

A 1st-level wizard spell.

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At a glance

Level1
SchoolIllusion/Phantasm
Range30 ft.
ComponentsV / S
DurationSpecial
Casting time1
Area of effect1 creature
Saving throwNeg.
ReversibleNo
SourcePHB p. 179

Description

A spook spell enables the wizard to play upon natural fears to cause the target creature to perceive the spellcaster as someone or something inimical. Without actually knowing what this is, the wizard merely advances threateningly upon the creature. If the creature does not make a successful vs. spell, it and flees at maximum speed as far from the wizard as possible, though items carried are not dropped. The creature has a saving throw penalty of –1 for every two experience of the caster, to a maximum of –6 at 12th level. Note that a natural (unmodified) roll of 20 automatically succeeds, regardless of saving throw penalties. Although the caster does not actually pursue the fleeing creature, a phantasm from its own mind does. Each after the initial casting, the creature receives another saving throw, without penalty, until it successfully saves and the spell is broken. In any event, the spell functions only against creatures with Intelligences of 2 or more, and undead are not affected at all.

Flavour

The caster preys on instinctive fear, and the target flees from a menace its own mind conjures.