Eyebite

A
Control

Eyebite is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

See all Control spells →
 spell that can sleep, sicken, or panic a foe, with
swift action

Eyebite is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

See all Action Economy spells →
 and a
terrifying stare

Eyebite is a Social Influence spell. Social Influence spells create ways to communicate, persuade, and alter behavior.

See all Social Influence spells →
 in a
save-or-suffer

Eyebite is a Save or Suck spell. Save or Suck spells fall entirely flat if the target succeeds on a saving throw.

See all Save or Suck spells →
 curse.

2024 Rules
Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

For the duration, your eyes become an inky void. One creature of your choice within 60 feet of you that you can see must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be affected by one of the following effects of your choice for the duration.

On each of your turns until the spell ends, you can take a Magic action to target another creature but can't target a creature again if it has succeeded on a save against this casting of the spell.

Asleep. The target has the Unconscious condition. It wakes up if it takes any damage or if another creature takes an action to shake it awake.

Panicked. The target has the Frightened condition. On each of its turns, the Frightened target must take the Dash action and move away from you by the safest and shortest route available. If the target moves to a space at least 60 feet away from you where it can't see you, this effect ends.

Sickened. The target has the Poisoned condition.

2014 Rules
Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

For the spell's duration, your eyes become an inky void imbued with dread power. One creature of your choice within 60 feet of you that you can see must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be affected by one of the following effects of your choice for the duration. On each of your turns until the spell ends, you can use your action to target another creature but can't target a creature again if it has succeeded on a saving throw against this casting of eyebite.

Eyebite 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Effectively the same spell. The 2024 version is reworded but functions identically.

Spells similar to Eyebite

  • Sleep 1st-level enchantment

    It can render creatures unconscious with a save-less/HP mechanic and serves a similar single-target (or small-group) incapacitation role.

  • Hold Person 2nd-level enchantment

    Both inflict a debilitating condition on a target that can completely stop them from acting for up to a minute on a save.

  • Hold Monster 5th-level enchantment

    This is the stronger, more broadly applicable version of Hold Person and matches Eyebite's long-duration, high-level crowd-control intent.

  • Fear 3rd-level illusion

    It imposes the frightened condition and forces enemies to behave in predictable retreating ways, like one of Eyebite's effects.

  • Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment

    Both let you seize control of an enemy's choices for the duration, turning another creature's actions to your tactical advantage.

Eyebite is featured in