Blink

A
Support

Blink is a Support spell. Support spells strengthen, protect, or buff allies.

See all Support spells →
 spell for
slipping between spaces

Blink is a Mobility spell. Mobility spells augment or allow for new ways of moving.

See all Mobility spells →
, briefly fading into the Ethereal Plane before reappearing near where you left.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

Roll 1d6 at the end of each of your turns for the duration. On a roll of 4–6, you vanish from your current plane of existence and appear in the Ethereal Plane (the spell ends instantly if you are already on that plane). While on the Ethereal Plane, you can perceive the plane you left, which is cast in shades of gray, but you can't see anything there more than 60 feet away. You can affect and be affected only by other creatures on the Ethereal Plane, and creatures on the other plane can't perceive you unless they have a special ability that lets them perceive things on the Ethereal Plane. You return to the other plane at the start of your next turn and when the spell ends if you are on the Ethereal Plane. You return to an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of the space you left. If no unoccupied space is available within that range, you appear in the nearest unoccupied space.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

Roll a d20 at the end of each of your turns for the duration of the spell. On a roll of 11 or higher, you vanish from your current plane of existence and appear in the Ethereal Plane (the spell fails and the casting is wasted if you were already on that plane). At the start of your next turn, and when the spell ends if you are on the Ethereal Plane, you return to an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of the space you vanished from. If no unoccupied space is available within that range, you appear in the nearest unoccupied space (chosen at random if more than one space is equally near). You can dismiss this spell as an action.

While on the Ethereal Plane, you can see and hear the plane you originated from, which is cast in shades of gray, and you can't see anything there more than 60 feet away. You can only affect and be affected by other creatures on the Ethereal Plane. Creatures that aren't there can't perceive you or interact with you, unless they have the ability to do so.

Blink 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Blink changed from a d20 roll (11+) to a d6 roll (4–6) each turn. If you’re already on the Ethereal Plane, it now ends instantly instead of wasting the casting. The option to dismiss it as an Action is gone. Ethereal-plane sight also now specifically uses “perceive” and other-plane creatures need a special ability to do so.

Blink popularity

Blink is a commonly chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Blink

  • Etherealness 7th-level conjuration

    It also moves you off the Material Plane into the Ethereal Plane to gain mobility and safety, making it the closest conceptual match.

  • Gaseous Form 3rd-level transmutation

    Both are third‑level transmutation options that temporarily change your plane‑touching nature to avoid harm and move through the battlefield differently.

  • Misty Step 2nd-level conjuration

    While instantaneous, it offers short‑range personal repositioning for survival and tactical movement like the blink returns do.

  • Fly 3rd-level transmutation

    Fly grants a sustained personal mobility buff at the same spell level, used for repositioning and avoiding threats over about a minute.

  • Rope Trick 2nd-level transmutation

    It creates a temporary safe, out‑of‑combat space you can retreat into, similar in purpose to disappearing from the main plane for safety and repositioning.