Dispel Evil and Good

A
Support

Dispel Evil and Good is a Support spell. Support spells strengthen, protect, or buff allies.

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 spell that wards you from celestials, fiends, and more, then uses swift
magic actions

Dispel Evil and Good is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

See all Action Economy spells →
 to break enchantments or banish foes.

2024 Rules
Level & School
5th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (powdered silver and iron)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Cleric, Paladin

For the duration, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends, and Undead have Disadvantage on attack rolls against you. You can end the spell early by using either of the following special functions.

Break Enchantment. As a Magic action, you touch a creature that is possessed by or has the Charmed or Frightened condition from one or more creatures of the types above. The target is no longer possessed, Charmed, or Frightened by such creatures.

Dismissal. As a Magic action, you target one creature you can see within 5 feet of you that has one of the creature types above. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be sent back to its home plane if it isn't there already. If they aren't on their home plane, Undead are sent to the Shadowfell, and Fey are sent to the Feywild.

2014 Rules
Level & School
5th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (holy water or powdered silver and iron)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Cleric, Paladin

Shimmering energy surrounds and protects you from fey, undead, and creatures originating from beyond the Material Plane. For the duration, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead have disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

You can end the spell early by using either of the following special functions.

  • Break Enchantment. As your action, you touch a creature you can reach that is charmed, frightened, or possessed by a celestial, an elemental, a fey, a fiend, or an undead. The creature you touch is no longer charmed, frightened, or possessed by such creatures.
  • Dismissal. As your action, make a melee spell attack against a celestial, an elemental, a fey, a fiend, or an undead you can reach. On a hit, you attempt to drive the creature back to its home plane. The creature must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be sent back to its home plane (if it isn’t there already). If they are already on their home plane, undead are sent to the Shadowfell, and fey are sent to the Feywild.

Dispel Evil and Good 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Dismissal changed: it no longer uses a melee spell attack; instead you target one creature you can see within 5 feet and it makes the Charisma save. Break Enchantment now works on creatures with the Charmed or Frightened condition from the listed types, not just ones charmed/frightened by them.

Dispel Evil and Good popularity

Dispel Evil and Good is a seldom chosen level 5 spell. Choosing it adds a unique option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Dispel Evil and Good

  • Protection from Evil and Good 1st-level abjuration

    It's the direct lower-level counterpart that wards a creature against celestials, fiends, fey, elementals, and undead and removes certain mental effects.

  • Magic Circle 3rd-level abjuration

    It creates a protective boundary specifically against supernatural creature types and can trap or repel them, matching the planar/creature-type theme.

  • Banishment 4th-level abjuration

    It forces a creature back to its home plane on a failed charisma save, which mirrors the dismissal portion of the target spell.

  • Banishing Smite 5th-level conjuration

    As a paladin option that can send a target to another plane, it matches the same one-target banishment functionality at a comparable spell level.

  • Hallow 5th-level abjuration

    This level-5 sanctifying effect affects or repels extraplanar and undead creatures across an area, sharing the same thematic protection against certain creature types.