Locate Animals or Plants

Utility Information

Level & School
2nd-level divination
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (fur from a bloodhound)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Druid, Ranger

Describe or name a specific kind of Beast, Plant creature, or nonmagical plant. You learn the direction and distance to the closest creature or plant of that kind within 5 miles, if any are present.

Level & School
2nd-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a bit of fur from a bloodhound)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Druid, Ranger

Describe or name a specific kind of beast or plant. Concentrating on the voice of nature in your surroundings, you learn the direction and distance to the closest creature or plant of that kind within 5 miles, if any are present.

Locate Animals or Plants 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version allows casting as an action or ritual, whereas the 2014 version is only action. The 2024 description specifies "Beast, Plant creature, or nonmagical plant," expanding the types of targets. No other significant mechanical differences are present.

Spells similar to Locate Animals or Plants

  • Locate Creature, 4th-level divination

    It’s the closest mechanical analogue, giving direction (and for longer duration) to nearby living beings and sharing the same divination focus.

  • Locate Object, 2nd-level divination

    This level and school match closely and it likewise pinpoints a nearby target by direction and proximity rather than providing direct interaction.

  • Commune with Nature, 5th-level divination

    A higher‑level spell that provides broad natural-world information, including locations of plants and animals, making it a bigger-scale version of the same idea.

  • Beast Sense, 2nd-level divination

    It’s a touch divination tied specifically to beasts and used by similar classes, offering sensory information about animal targets rather than simply locating them.

  • Speak with Animals, 1st-level divination

    Although it enables conversation rather than locating, it’s thematically focused on animals and used by the same casters for wilderness interaction and reconnaissance.