Forbiddance
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- 10 minute or Ritual
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (ruby dust worth 1,000+ GP)
- Duration
- 1 day
- Classes
- Cleric
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You create a ward against magical travel that protects up to 40,000 square feet of floor space to a height of 30 feet above the floor. For the duration, creatures can't teleport into the area or use portals, such as those created by the Gate spell, to enter the area. The spell proofs the area against planar travel, and therefore prevents creatures from accessing the area by way of the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, the Feywild, the Shadowfell, or the Plane Shift spell.
In addition, the spell damages types of creatures that you choose when you cast it. Choose one or more of the following: Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends, and Undead. When a creature of a chosen type enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there, the creature takes 5d10 Radiant or Necrotic damage (your choice when you cast this spell).
You can designate a password when you cast the spell. A creature that speaks the password as it enters the area takes no damage from the spell.
The spell's area can't overlap with the area of another Forbiddance spell. If you cast Forbiddance every day for 30 days in the same location, the spell lasts until it is dispelled, and the Material components are consumed on the last casting.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- 10 minute or Ritual
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a sprinkling of holy water, rare incense, and powdered ruby worth at least 1,000 gp)
- Duration
- 1 day
- Classes
- Cleric
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You create a ward against magical travel that protects up to 40,000 square feet of floor space to a height of 30 feet above the floor. For the duration, creatures can't teleport into the area or use portals, such as those created by the gate spell, to enter the area. The spell proofs the area against planar travel, and therefore prevents creatures from accessing the area by way of the Astral Plane, Ethereal Plane, Feywild, Shadowfell, or the plane shift spell.
In addition, the spell damages types of creatures that you choose when you cast it. Choose one or more of the following: celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. When a chosen creature enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature takes 5d10 radiant or necrotic damage (your choice when you cast this spell).
When you cast this spell, you can designate a password. A creature that speaks the password as it enters the area takes no damage from the spell.
The spell's area can't overlap with the area of another forbiddance spell. If you cast forbiddance every day for 30 days in the same location, the spell lasts until it is dispelled, and the material components are consumed on the last casting.
Forbiddance 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Forbiddance popularity
How popular is Forbiddance? It is one of the rarest spells in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a rare and unique offering.
- Top 50% picked level 6 Cleric spell
- Bottom 50% of all level 6 spells
- Bottom 10% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Forbiddance
Hallow 5th-level abjuration
Both are cleric abjurations that sanctify a location, persist for an exceptionally long time, and can impose harmful effects on unwanted creatures.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Hallow
Guards and Wards 6th-level abjuration
Like Forbiddance, it is a high-level abjuration that establishes a long-lasting defensive ward over a large area.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Guards and Wards
Magic Circle 3rd-level abjuration
This spell also protects an area from dangerous creature types and interferes with planar movement.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Magic Circle
Glyph of Warding 3rd-level abjuration
A cleric can use it to place a persistent magical defense on a location that triggers against intruders and may deal elemental damage.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Glyph of Warding
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum 4th-level abjuration
Both spells create an abjured area that blocks forms of magical intrusion, including teleportation or planar access.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
Gate Seal 4th-level abjuration
It directly resembles Forbiddance's ability to prevent magical portals and secure a location for an extended duration.
Players prefer Forbiddance over Gate Seal