Ensnaring Strike
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 1st-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Bonus action, which you take immediately after hitting a creature with a weapon
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Ranger
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
As you hit the target, grasping vines appear on it, and it makes a Strength saving throw. A Large or larger creature has Advantage on this save. On a failed save, the target has the Restrained condition until the spell ends. On a successful save, the vines shrivel away, and the spell ends.
While Restrained, the target takes 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The target or a creature within reach of it can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC. On a success, the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 1st-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Bonus action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Ranger
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack before this spell ends, a writhing mass of thorny vines appears at the point of impact, and the target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained by the magical vines until the spell ends. A Large or larger creature has advantage on this saving throw. If the target succeeds on the save, the vines shrivel away.
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. A creature restrained by the vines or one that can touch the creature can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.
Ensnaring Strike 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Ensnaring Strike popularity
How popular is Ensnaring Strike? It is a commonly found spell in the game, and is chosen above nearly all other options when available. This spell is a widely sought-after option.
- #2 picked level 1 Ranger spell
- Top 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% of all level 1 spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Ensnaring Strike
Hold Person 2nd-level enchantment
Against humanoids, both spells remove a creature's ability to act effectively after a failed save and last for up to a minute with concentration.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Hold Person
Entangle 1st-level conjuration
Both are low-level ranger or druid conjurations that restrain creatures with a saving throw while requiring concentration.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Entangle
Web 2nd-level conjuration
Animated material restrains creatures in an area for up to a minute, making it a broader battlefield version of the same basic tactic.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Web
Evard's Black Tentacles 4th-level conjuration
It creates grasping terrain that can immobilize enemies and deal recurring damage during a concentration-based encounter spell.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Evard's Black Tentacles
Maximilian's Earthen Grasp 2nd-level transmutation
This single-target concentration spell also uses a saving throw to trap a creature and can continue hindering it over multiple rounds.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Snare 1st-level abjuration
As another first-level ranger control spell, it relies on a failed saving throw to leave a creature caught and unable to move freely.
Players prefer Ensnaring Strike over Snare