Etherealness
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You step into the border regions of the Ethereal Plane, where it overlaps with your current plane. You remain in the Border Ethereal for the duration. During this time, you can move in any direction. If you move up or down, every foot of movement costs an extra foot. You can perceive the plane you left, which looks gray, and you can't see anything there more than 60 feet away.
While on the Ethereal Plane, you can affect and be affected only by creatures, objects, and effects on that plane. Creatures that aren't on the Ethereal Plane can't perceive or interact with you unless a feature gives them the ability to do so.
When the spell ends, you return to the plane you left in the spot that corresponds to your space in the Border Ethereal. If you appear in an occupied space, you are shunted to the nearest unoccupied space and take Force damage equal to twice the number of feet you are moved.
This spell ends instantly if you cast it while you are on the Ethereal Plane or a plane that doesn't border it, such as one of the Outer Planes.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target up to three willing creatures (including yourself) for each spell slot level above 7. The creatures must be within 10 feet of you when you cast the spell.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You step into the border regions of the Ethereal Plane, in the area where it overlaps with your current plane. You remain in the Border Ethereal for the duration or until you use your action to dismiss the spell. During this time, you can move in any direction. If you move up or down, every foot of movement costs an extra foot. You can see and hear the plane you originated from, but everything there looks gray, and you can't see anything more than 60 feet away.
While on the Ethereal Plane, you can only affect and be affected by other creatures on that plane. Creatures that aren't on the Ethereal Plane can't perceive you and can't interact with you, unless a special ability or magic has given them the ability to do so.
You ignore all objects and effects that aren't on the Ethereal Plane, allowing you to move through objects you perceive on the plane you originated from.
When the spell ends, you immediately return to the plane you originated from in the spot you currently occupy. If you occupy the same spot as a solid object or creature when this happens, you are immediately shunted to the nearest unoccupied space that you can occupy and take force damage equal to twice the number of feet you are moved.
This spell has no effect if you cast it while you are on the Ethereal Plane or a plane that doesn't border it, such as one of the Outer Planes.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 8th level or higher, you can target up to three willing creatures (including you) for each slot level above 7th. The creatures must be within 10 feet of you when you cast the spell.
Etherealness 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Etherealness popularity
How popular is Etherealness? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Top 25% of all level 7 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Wizard spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Bard spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Warlock spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 7 Cleric spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Etherealness
Teleport 7th-level conjuration
Although instantaneous, it shares the conjuration school, broad class overlap, and ability to relocate a group.
Players prefer Teleport over Etherealness
Wind Walk 6th-level transmutation
Eight hours of unusual movement for several creatures makes it a comparable travel and infiltration option.
Players prefer Wind Walk over Etherealness
Plane Shift 7th-level conjuration
It is the same school and level, offers planar travel, and can transport multiple willing creatures.
Players prefer Plane Shift over Etherealness
Astral Projection 9th-level necromancy
This spell likewise enables long-range planar exploration while supporting multiple creatures.
Players prefer Astral Projection over Etherealness
Demiplane 8th-level conjuration
This higher-level conjuration provides a temporary extradimensional destination useful for escape, hiding, and travel.
Players prefer Etherealness over Demiplane
Dream of the Blue Veil 7th-level conjuration
Both are high-level conjurations that move a group across planes for an extended duration.
Players prefer Etherealness over Dream of the Blue Veil