Clairvoyance

A
Utility

Clairvoyance is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell for scouting hidden places with unseen sight or sound, and a
bonus action

Clairvoyance is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

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 to shift for
information

Clairvoyance is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level divination
Casting Time
10 minutes
Range
1 mile
Components
V, S, M (a focus worth 100+ GP, either a jeweled horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing)
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard

You create an Invisible sensor within range in a location familiar to you (a place you have visited or seen before) or in an obvious location that is unfamiliar to you (such as behind a door, around a corner, or in a grove of trees). The intangible, invulnerable sensor remains in place for the duration.

When you cast the spell, choose seeing or hearing. You can use the chosen sense through the sensor as if you were in its space. As a Bonus Action, you can switch between seeing and hearing.

A creature that sees the sensor (such as a creature benefiting from See Invisibility or Truesight) sees a luminous orb about the size of your fist.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level divination
Casting Time
10 minutes
Range
1 mile
Components
V, S, M (a focus worth at least 100 gp, either a jeweled horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing)
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard

You create an invisible sensor within range in a location familiar to you (a place you have visited or seen before) or in an obvious location that is unfamiliar to you (such as behind a door, around a corner, or in a grove of trees). The sensor remains in place for the duration, and it can't be attacked or otherwise interacted with.

When you cast the spell, you choose seeing or hearing. You can use the chosen sense through the sensor as if you were in its space. As your action, you can switch between seeing and hearing.

A creature that can see the sensor (such as a creature benefiting from see invisibility or truesight) sees a luminous, intangible orb about the size of your fist.

Clairvoyance 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Switching between seeing and hearing is now a Bonus Action instead of an Action.

Clairvoyance popularity

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

Spells similar to Clairvoyance

  • Arcane Eye 4th-level divination

    Both create an invisible, remote sensor you can perceive through to scout areas from a distance.

  • Scrying 5th-level divination

    This spell likewise lets you remotely observe a location or creature for intelligence-gathering, though at a higher level and with target-based restrictions.

  • Beast Sense 2nd-level divination

    You use another creature or object as a surrogate for your senses in the same way Clairvoyance lets you see or hear from a remote point.

  • Find Familiar 1st-level conjuration

    A familiar can relay its senses back to you, providing persistent remote vision or hearing similar to placing a distant sensor.

  • Project Image 7th-level illusion

    It creates a remote illusion you can perceive through to interact with or scout a distant area, offering a comparable remote-presence utility.