Banishment

A
Control

Banishment is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

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 spell that banishes
multiple creatures

Banishment is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

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 unless they fail a
save-or-suck

Banishment is a Save or Suck spell. Save or Suck spells fall entirely flat if the target succeeds on a saving throw.

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 Charisma test, briefly removing them from battle.

2024 Rules
Level & School
4th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (a pentacle)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Cleric, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

One creature that you can see within range must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be transported to a harmless demiplane for the duration. While there, the target has the Incapacitated condition. When the spell ends, the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied. If the target is an Aberration, a Celestial, an Elemental, a Fey, or a Fiend, the target doesn't return if the spell lasts for 1 minute. The target is instead transported to a random location on a plane (DM's choice) associated with its creature type.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level above 4.

2014 Rules
Level & School
4th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (an item distasteful to the target)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Cleric, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You attempt to send one creature that you can see within range to another plane of existence. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be banished.

If the target is native to the plane of existence you're on, you banish the target to a harmless demiplane. While there, the target is incapacitated. The target remains there until the spell ends, at which point the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.

If the target is native to a different plane of existence than the one you're on, the target is banished with a faint popping noise, returning to its home plane. If the spell ends before 1 minute has passed, the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied. Otherwise, the target doesn't return.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 4th.

Banishment 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Range drops from 60 feet to 30 feet. The banishment rider changed: instead of affecting any creature native to the current plane versus another plane, it now only has the “doesn’t return after 1 minute” rider for Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, and Fiends, which are sent to a random location on an associated plane.

Banishment popularity

Banishment is one of the most popular level 4 spells in the game. Choosing it adds a D&D staple to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Banishment

  • Otiluke's Resilient Sphere 4th-level evocation

    Both are 4th-level spells that remove or isolate a single target from the fight for up to a minute, effectively taking them out of combat.

  • Maze 8th-level conjuration

    Maze banishes a creature to an extradimensional labyrinth until the caster ends the effect, which closely mirrors the way this spell temporarily transports a target out of play.

  • Imprisonment 9th-level abjuration

    Imprisonment permanently confines a creature on failure, making it a higher‑power analogue to this spell’s ability to remove a foe from the battlefield.

  • Plane Shift 7th-level conjuration

    Plane Shift can be used offensively to send creatures to another plane on a failed save, matching the theme of banishing a target off‑world rather than merely incapacitating them.

  • Forcecage 7th-level evocation

    Forcecage traps creatures in an inescapable space for an extended duration, similar in tactical use to removing or neutralizing dangerous opponents.

Banishment is featured in