Locate Creature

A
Utility

Locate Creature is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell that reveals a familiar creature’s direction and movement, or helps you
gather information

Locate Creature is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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 on the nearest of a kind.

2024 Rules
Level & School
4th-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (fur from a bloodhound)
Duration
Concentration, 1 hour
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

Describe or name a creature that is familiar to you. You sense the direction to the creature's location if that creature is within 1,000 feet of you. If the creature is moving, you know the direction of its movement.

The spell can locate a specific creature known to you or the nearest creature of a specific kind (such as a human or a unicorn) if you have seen such a creature up close—within 30 feet—at least once. If the creature you described or named is in a different form, such as under the effects of a Flesh to Stone or Polymorph spell, this spell doesn't locate the creature.

This spell can't locate a creature if any thickness of lead blocks a direct path between you and the creature.

2014 Rules
Level & School
4th-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a bit of fur from a bloodhound)
Duration
Concentration, 1 hour
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

Describe or name a creature that is familiar to you. You sense the direction to the creature's location, as long as that creature is within 1,000 feet of you. If the creature is moving, you know the direction of its movement.

The spell can locate a specific creature known to you, or the nearest creature of a specific kind (such as a human or a unicorn), so long as you have seen such a creature up close—within 30 feet—at least once. If the creature you described or named is in a different form, such as being under the effects of a polymorph spell, this spell doesn't locate the creature.

This spell can't locate a creature if running water at least 10 feet wide blocks a direct path between you and the creature.

Locate Creature 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The blocking rule changed: in 2024, any thickness of lead blocks the spell’s path instead of running water at least 10 feet wide. The example of a changed form was also updated to include Flesh to Stone.

How popular is Locate Creature in 5e?

Locate Creature is the #10 most popular level 4 spell (of 59) and the #18 most picked level 4 Wizard spell (of 43).

Among level 4 spells, Locate Creature ranks just below Death Ward and just above Confusion in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

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