Cause Fear
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 1st-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You awaken the sense of mortality in one creature you can see within range. A construct or an undead is immune to this effect. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the spell ends. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
Cause Fear 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Cause Fear is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Cause Fear popularity
How popular is Cause Fear? It is a commonly found spell in the game, but it is almost never chosen when available. This spell is not highly valued.
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 1 Wizard spell
- Bottom 25% of all level 1 spells
- Bottom 10% picked level 1 Warlock spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Cause Fear
Suggestion 2nd-level enchantment
Its concentration-based mental influence can compel a creature through a failed saving throw, making it a flexible alternative for controlling behavior.
Players prefer Suggestion over Cause Fear
Fear 3rd-level illusion
It applies the same frightened condition for up to a minute with concentration, but projects it in a cone and at a higher level.
Players prefer Fear over Cause Fear
Bane 1st-level enchantment
This is another 1st-level concentration spell that weakens multiple creatures after failed saving throws and scales to affect more targets.
Players prefer Bane over Cause Fear
Charm Person 1st-level enchantment
Both are low-level enchantment-style spells that impose a powerful emotional or interpersonal effect after a saving throw.
Players prefer Charm Person over Cause Fear
Crown of Madness 2nd-level enchantment
Both are concentration-based enchantments available to warlocks and wizards that use a saving throw to disrupt an enemy's behavior.
Players prefer Crown of Madness over Cause Fear
Tasha's Hideous Laughter 1st-level enchantment
Like Cause Fear, it targets a creature at range, relies on a saving throw, and can keep an enemy out of the fight for up to a minute.
Players prefer Tasha's Hideous Laughter over Cause Fear