Illusory Dragon
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 8th-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
By gathering threads of shadow material from the Shadowfell, you create a Huge shadowy dragon in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. The illusion lasts for the spell's duration and occupies its space, as if it were a creature.
When the illusion appears, any of your enemies that can see it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of it for 1 minute. If a frightened creature ends its turn in a location where it doesn't have line of sight to the illusion, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.
As a bonus action on your turn, you can move the illusion up to 60 feet. At any point during its movement, you can cause it to exhale a blast of energy in a 60-foot cone originating from its space. When you create the dragon, choose a damage type: acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or poison. Each creature in the cone must make an Intelligence saving throw, taking 7d6 damage of the chosen damage type on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The illusion is tangible because of the shadow stuff used to create it, but attacks miss it automatically, it succeeds on all saving throws, and it is immune to all damage and conditions. A creature that uses an action to examine the dragon can determine that it is an illusion by succeeding on an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through it and has advantage on saving throws against its breath.
Illusory Dragon 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Illusory Dragon is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Illusory Dragon popularity
How popular is Illusory Dragon? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Bottom 50% picked level 8 Wizard spell
- Bottom 50% of all level 8 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Illusory Dragon
Prismatic Spray 7th-level evocation
Its large cone and broad selection of elemental damage types closely resemble the dragon's breath attack.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Illusory Dragon
Delayed Blast Fireball 7th-level evocation
Both reward concentration over several rounds while threatening clusters of enemies with powerful long-range area damage.
Players prefer Delayed Blast Fireball over Illusory Dragon
Bigby's Hand 5th-level evocation
A wizard can direct this durable magical creation with bonus actions, making it a similar ongoing combat presence.
Players prefer Bigby's Hand over Illusory Dragon
Weird 9th-level illusion
This illusion spell also combines sustained concentration with fear-themed psychic harm against multiple enemies.
Players prefer Weird over Illusory Dragon
Dark Star 8th-level evocation
Both are 8th-level wizard concentration spells that create a persistent danger zone affecting groups at long range.
Players prefer Illusory Dragon over Dark Star
Incendiary Cloud 8th-level conjuration
Like Illusory Dragon, it is a high-level wizard concentration spell that repeatedly threatens multiple creatures with area damage.
Players prefer Illusory Dragon over Incendiary Cloud