Dominate Beast
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Classes
- Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer
One Beast you can see within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Charmed condition for the duration. The target has Advantage on the save if you or your allies are fighting it. Whenever the target takes damage, it repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success.
You have a telepathic link with the Charmed target while the two of you are on the same plane of existence. On your turn, you can use this link to issue commands to the target (no action required), such as "Attack that creature," "Move over there," or "Fetch that object." The target does its best to obey on its turn. If it completes an order and doesn't receive further direction from you, it acts and moves as it likes, focusing on protecting itself.
You can command the target to take a Reaction but must take your own Reaction to do so.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. Your Concentration can last longer with a spell slot of level 5 (up to 10 minutes), 6 (up to 1 hour), or 7+ (up to 8 hours).
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Druid, Sorcerer
You attempt to beguile a beast that you can see within range. It must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you for the duration. If you or creatures that are friendly to you are fighting it, it has advantage on the saving throw.
While the beast is charmed, you have a telepathic link with it as long as the two of you are on the same plane of existence. You can use this telepathic link to issue commands to the creature while you are conscious (no action required), which it does its best to obey. You can specify a simple and general course of action, such as "Attack that creature," "Run over there," or "Fetch that object." If the creature completes the order and doesn't receive further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to the best of its ability.
You can use your action to take total and precise control of the target. Until the end of your next turn, the creature takes only the actions you choose, and doesn't do anything that you don't allow it to do. During this time, you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well.
Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell with a 5th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 10 minutes. When you use a 6th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 1 hour. When you use a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the duration is concentration, up to 8 hours.
Dominate Beast 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Dominate Beast popularity
Dominate Beast is a seldom chosen level 4 spell. Choosing it adds a unique option to your spellbook.
- Bottom 25% level 4 Druid spell
- Bottom 25% level 4 Ranger spell
- Bottom 50% level 4 Sorcerer spell
Spells similar to Dominate Beast
Dominate Monster 8th-level enchantment
It’s the direct, more powerful analogue that also creates a mental link and lets you issue commands to another creature for an extended period.
Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment
This spell works the same way on humanoids, forcing a charmed condition and allowing you to control a single target’s actions while concentrating.
Charm Monster 4th-level enchantment
Like Dominate Beast it charms non-humanoid creatures and can be used to turn an enemy into an ally, though with less direct command ability.
Animal Friendship 1st-level enchantment
It specifically targets beasts and attempts to make them friendly to you, sharing the same beast-focused social interaction niche at lower power.
Command 1st-level enchantment
A short, single-target option for forcing an enemy to obey a simple order, making it a compact tactical cousin for controlling a foe’s turn.