Infernal Calling
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- 1 minute
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a ruby worth at least 999 gp)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 hour
- Classes
- Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Uttering a dark incantation, you summon a devil from the Nine Hells. You choose the devil's type, which must be one of challenge rating 6 or lower, such as a barbed devil or a bearded devil. The devil appears in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. The devil disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
The devil is unfriendly toward you and your companions. Roll initiative for the devil, which has its own turns. It is under the Dungeon Master's control and acts according to its nature on each of its turns, which might result in its attacking you if it thinks it can prevail, or trying to tempt you to undertake an evil act in exchange for limited service. The DM has the creature's statistics.
On each of your turns, you can try to issue a verbal command to the devil (no action required by you). It obeys the command if the likely outcome is in accordance with its desires, especially if the result would draw you toward evil. Otherwise, you must make a Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion) check contested by its Wisdom (Insight) check. You make the check with advantage if you say the devil's true name. If your check fails, the devil becomes immune to your verbal commands for the duration of the spell, though it can still carry out your commands if it chooses. If your check succeeds, the devil carries out your command—such as "attack my enemies," "explore the room ahead," or "bear this message to the queen"—until it completes the activity, at which point it returns to you to report having done so.
If your concentration ends before the spell reaches its full duration, the devil doesn't disappear if it has become immune to your verbal commands. Instead, it acts in whatever manner it chooses for 3d6 minutes, and then it disappears.
If you possess an individual devil's talisman, you can summon that devil if it is of the appropriate challenge rating plus 1, and it obeys all your commands, with no Charisma checks required.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the challenge rating increases by 1 for each slot level above 5th.
Infernal Calling 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Infernal Calling is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Infernal Calling popularity
How popular is Infernal Calling? It is one of the rarest spells in the game, and it is almost never chosen when available. This spell is virtually unheard of in most campaigns, but you can change that.
- Bottom 25% picked level 5 Warlock spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 10% of all level 5 spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Infernal Calling
Summon Fiend 6th-level conjuration
It is a same-level warlock and wizard spell that summons a fiend for an hour with concentration from 90 feet.
Players prefer Summon Fiend over Infernal Calling
Summon Undead 3rd-level necromancy
A warlock or wizard can use it to maintain one summoned creature for an hour while spending concentration.
Players prefer Summon Undead over Infernal Calling
Summon Fey 3rd-level conjuration
Its one-hour concentration duration and 90-foot summoning range closely match the spell's core battlefield and exploration use.
Players prefer Summon Fey over Infernal Calling
Summon Aberration 4th-level conjuration
This shares the same classes, range, duration, concentration requirement, and single-creature summoning format.
Players prefer Summon Aberration over Infernal Calling
Summon Elemental 4th-level conjuration
Like this spell, it creates a lasting combat-capable ally through a fifth-level-style summoning effect rather than direct damage.
Players prefer Summon Elemental over Infernal Calling
Summon Greater Demon 4th-level conjuration
Both call a dangerous extraplanar creature into service for up to an hour, with the possibility of it becoming difficult to control.
Players prefer Infernal Calling over Summon Greater Demon