Divination

A
Utility

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

See all Utility spells →
 spell that seeks
divine guidance

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

See all Information spells →
, giving a truthful answer about a future goal, event, or activity.

2024 Rules
Level & School
4th-level divination
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (incense worth 25+ GP, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric, Druid, Wizard

This spell puts you in contact with a god or a god's servants. You ask one question about a specific goal, event, or activity to occur within 7 days. The DM offers a truthful reply, which might be a short phrase or cryptic rhyme. The spell doesn't account for circumstances that might change the answer, such as the casting of other spells.

If you cast the spell more than once before finishing a Long Rest, there is a cumulative 25 percent chance for each casting after the first that you get no answer.

2014 Rules
Level & School
4th-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (incense and a sacrificial offering appropriate to your religion, together worth at least 25 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric

Your magic and an offering put you in contact with a god or a god's servants. You ask a single question concerning a specific goal, event, or activity to occur within 7 days. The GM offers a truthful reply. The reply might be a short phrase, a cryptic rhyme, or an omen.

The spell doesn't take into account any possible circumstances that might change the outcome, such as the casting of additional spells or the loss or gain of a companion.

If you cast the spell two or more times before finishing your next long rest, there is a cumulative 25 percent chance for each casting after the first that you get a random reading. The GM makes this roll in secret.

Divination 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Divination now has the Ritual tag. It’s also now available to Druids and Wizards, not just Clerics.

Divination popularity

Divination is a commonly chosen level 4 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Divination

  • Augury 2nd-level divination

    It’s a lower‑level ritual that asks a godlike force about the near future and returns a brief, fate‑oriented answer much like this spell.

  • Commune 5th-level divination

    Both put you in direct contact with a divine source to get truthful answers, differing mainly in level and number/detail of questions.

  • Contact Other Plane 5th-level divination

    This spell contacts extraplanar intelligences for information with ritual casting and risky side effects, making it a darker counterpart to the target spell.

  • Commune with Nature 5th-level divination

    Like the target spell it provides instant ritual knowledge from a greater power, but focused on environmental and local facts instead of future events.

  • Scrying 5th-level divination

    Both are higher‑level divination rituals used to gather specific information about events or people, trading direct answers for sensory reconnaissance.