Hold Person

A
Control

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

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 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.

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, 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.

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.

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

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

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

Upcasting changed: the 2014 version let you affect extra humanoids only if they were within 30 feet of each other; that spacing restriction is gone in 2024.

Hold Person popularity

How popular is Hold Person? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.

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