Magic Mouth
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level illusion
- Casting Time
- 1 minute or Ritual
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (jade dust worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- Until dispelled
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
You implant a message within an object in range—a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn't being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or fewer, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message. When that trigger occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there, so the words appear to come from the object's mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.
The trigger can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level illusion
- Casting Time
- 1 minute
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth at least 10 gp, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- Until dispelled
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
You implant a message within an object in range, a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn't being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or less, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message.
When that circumstance occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there so that the words appear to come from the object's mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.
The triggering circumstance can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.
Magic Mouth 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Magic Mouth popularity
Magic Mouth is one of the rarest level 2 spells in the game. Choosing it will set you apart from all other casters.
- Bottom 10% level 2 Bard spell
- Bottom 10% level 2 Wizard spell
Spells similar to Magic Mouth
Illusory Script 1st-level illusion
It invisibly encodes a written message on an object and is cast as a ritual, making it a close analogue for embedding information into items.
Alarm 1st-level abjuration
Both are ritual spells that watch an area or object and trigger a magical response when specified conditions occur nearby.
Glyph of Warding 3rd-level abjuration
It places a latent magical effect on an object or surface that activates on a trigger, similar to a mouth that speaks when conditions are met.
Programmed Illusion 6th-level illusion
This creates a long‑lasting illusion tied to a location that can be set to play out on a trigger, matching the idea of a prewritten magical performance.
Sending 3rd-level divination
While not bound to an object, it serves the same information purpose by delivering a short message magically across distance.