Fear

A
Control

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

See all Control spells →
 spell that sends
multiple creatures

Fear is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

See all Multi Target spells →
 fleeing in terror, making them drop their gear unless they resist a
save-or-suck

Fear 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 →
 effect.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level illusion
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a white feather)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

Each creature in a 30-foot Cone must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or drop whatever it is holding and have the Frightened condition for the duration.

A Frightened creature takes the Dash action and moves away from you by the safest route on each of its turns unless there is nowhere to move. If the creature ends its turn in a space where it doesn't have line of sight to you, the creature makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a successful save, the spell ends on that creature.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level illusion
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self (30-foot cone)
Components
V, S, M (a white feather or the heart of a hen)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You project a phantasmal image of a creature's worst fears. Each creature in a 30-foot cone must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or drop whatever it is holding and become frightened for the duration.

While frightened by this spell, a creature must take the Dash action and move away from you by the safest available route on each of its turns, unless there is nowhere to move. If the creature ends its turn in a location where it doesn't have line of sight to you, the creature can make a Wisdom saving throw. On a successful save, the spell ends for that creature.

Fear 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

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

Fear popularity

Fear is a commonly chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Fear

  • Hypnotic Pattern 3rd-level illusion

    A 3rd‑level illusion that incapacitates or otherwise neutralizes groups for up to a minute with a single saving throw, making it the closest analogue in level, school, and multi‑target crowd control effect.

  • Compulsion 4th-level enchantment

    It forces multiple creatures to take certain actions for up to a minute and relies on saves to resist, producing the same kind of enforced, disruptive behavior on enemy turns.

  • Calm Emotions 2nd-level enchantment

    Though lower level, it manipulates creatures’ emotional state across an area with saving throws and is often chosen to control crowds without doing direct harm.

  • Sleep 1st-level enchantment

    An area enchantment that disables multiple low‑hp foes with an instant effect and a single area roll, serving a similar tactical role of removing enemies from the fight.

  • Crown of Madness 2nd-level enchantment

    It seizes control of a target’s actions and forces hostile behavior that disrupts enemy plans, making it a comparable way to bend foes to the caster’s will in combat.