Hold Person

A
Control

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

See all Control spells →
 spell that freezes a humanoid in place, leaving it helpless until it shakes off the effect. Scale it to
multiple targets

Hold Person 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 →
, but a failed save can mean instant shutdown
save or suck

Hold Person 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 →
.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a straight piece of iron)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

Choose a Humanoid that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Paralyzed condition for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional Humanoid for each spell slot level above 2.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a small, straight piece of iron)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

Choose a humanoid that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the spell ends on the target.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional humanoid for each slot level above 2nd. The humanoids must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.

Hold Person 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version removes the 30-foot spacing requirement for extra targets when you upcast it. Now you can target one additional Humanoid per slot level above 2nd without needing them to be within 30 feet of each other.

How popular is Hold Person in 5e?

Hold Person is the #2 most popular level 2 spell (of 96) and the #4 most picked level 2 Wizard spell (of 70).

Among level 2 spells, Hold Person ranks just below Misty Step and just above Aid in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Hold Person