Alarm

Utility Information

Level & School
1st-level abjuration
Casting Time
1 minute or Ritual
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (a bell and silver wire)
Duration
8 hours
Classes
Ranger, Wizard

You set an alarm against intrusion. Choose a door, a window, or an area within range that is no larger than a 20-foot Cube. Until the spell ends, an alarm alerts you whenever a creature touches or enters the warded area. When you cast the spell, you can designate creatures that won't set off the alarm. You also choose whether the alarm is audible or mental:

Audible Alarm. The alarm produces the sound of a handbell for 10 seconds within 60 feet of the warded area.

Mental Alarm. You are alerted by a mental ping if you are within 1 mile of the warded area. This ping awakens you if you're asleep.

Level & School
1st-level abjuration
Casting Time
1 minute
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (a tiny bell and a piece of fine silver wire)
Duration
8 hours
Classes
Ranger, Wizard

You set an alarm against unwanted intrusion. Choose a door, a window, or an area within range that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. Until the spell ends, an alarm alerts you whenever a Tiny or larger creature touches or enters the warded area. When you cast the spell, you can designate creatures that won't set off the alarm. You also choose whether the alarm is mental or audible.

A mental alarm alerts you with a ping in your mind if you are within 1 mile of the warded area. This ping awakens you if you are sleeping.

An audible alarm produces the sound of a hand bell for 10 seconds within 60 feet.

Alarm 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version allows casting as a ritual, whereas the 2014 version does not specify this. The 2024 version clarifies the alarm can be either audible or mental, with explicit options, while the 2014 version states these options but with less clarity. No change in duration or range.

Spells similar to Alarm

  • Arcane Lock, 2nd-level abjuration

    Both are low-level abjuration effects that secure doors or entry points to prevent or detect intrusion.

  • Glyph of Warding, 3rd-level abjuration

    It creates a placed, triggerable magical ward that watches an area until triggered, which is conceptually very close to an alarm's triggered protection.

  • Magic Mouth, 2nd-level illusion

    Magic Mouth is a placed, triggered effect that produces an audible response when someone activates it, similar to Alarm's audible option.

  • Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound, 4th-level conjuration

    Faithful Hound creates a persistent guardian that detects and reacts to intruders over an extended period, much like an alarmed sentinel.

  • Find Familiar, 1st-level conjuration

    A familiar can be stationed to watch an area and relay information back to the caster, providing an information-and-alerting function akin to Alarm's mental notice.