Animal Messenger
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action or Ritual
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a morsel of food)
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Druid, Ranger
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
A Tiny Beast of your choice that you can see within range must succeed on a Charisma saving throw, or it attempts to deliver a message for you (if the target's Challenge Rating isn't 0, it automatically succeeds). You specify a location you have visited and a recipient who matches a general description, such as "a person dressed in the uniform of the town guard" or "a red-haired dwarf wearing a pointed hat." You also communicate a message of up to twenty-five words. The Beast travels for the duration toward the specified location, covering about 25 miles per 24 hours or 50 miles if the Beast can fly.
When the Beast arrives, it delivers your message to the creature that you described, mimicking your communication. If the Beast doesn't reach its destination before the spell ends, the message is lost, and the Beast returns to where you cast the spell.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The spell's duration increases by 48 hours for each spell slot level above 2.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action or Ritual
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a morsel of food)
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Druid, Ranger
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
By means of this spell, you use an animal to deliver a message. Choose a Tiny beast you can see within range, such as a squirrel, a blue jay, or a bat. You specify a location, which you must have visited, and a recipient who matches a general description, such as "a man or woman dressed in the uniform of the town guard" or "a red-haired dwarf wearing a pointed hat." You also speak a message of up to twenty-five words. The target beast travels for the duration of the spell toward the specified location, covering about 50 miles per 24 hours for a flying messenger, or 25 miles for other animals.
When the messenger arrives, it delivers your message to the creature that you described, replicating the sound of your voice. The messenger speaks only to a creature matching the description you gave. If the messenger doesn't reach its destination before the spell ends, the message is lost, and the beast makes its way back to where you cast this spell.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases by 48 hours for each slot level above 2nd.
Animal Messenger 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
How popular is Animal Messenger in 5e?
Animal Messenger is the #47 most popular level 2 spell (of 96) and the #11 most picked level 2 Druid spell (of 32).
Among level 2 spells, Animal Messenger ranks just below Wither and Bloom and just above Blur in popularity.
- #186 (of 567) most popular 5e spell
- #47 (of 96) most popular level 2 spell
- #11 (of 32) most picked level 2 Druid spell
- #14 (of 35) most picked level 2 Bard spell
- #10 (of 21) most picked level 2 Ranger spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Animal Messenger
Speak with Animals 1st-level divination
Both are closely tied to communicating with beasts and appear on the bard, druid, and ranger spell lists.
Players prefer Speak with Animals over Animal Messenger
Animal Friendship 1st-level enchantment
The shared enchantment school, animal focus, Charisma saving throw, and overlapping class lists make it a close thematic match.
Players prefer Animal Friendship over Animal Messenger
Sending 3rd-level divination
Both spells transmit a short message to a distant, specifically described recipient, though Sending is immediate.
Players prefer Animal Messenger over Sending
Galder's Speedy Courier 4th-level conjuration
This spell also uses a dispatched agent to transport something to another location, closely matching the delivery-focused purpose.
Players prefer Animal Messenger over Galder's Speedy Courier
Magic Mouth 2nd-level illusion
Each creates an autonomous means of delivering spoken communication that can persist long after casting.
Players prefer Animal Messenger over Magic Mouth
Skywrite 2nd-level transmutation
It provides long-distance written communication that can convey information beyond the caster's immediate surroundings.
Players prefer Animal Messenger over Skywrite