Major Image
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a bit of fleece)
- Duration
- Concentration, 10 minutes
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot Cube. The image appears at a spot that you can see within range and lasts for the duration. It seems real, including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to the thing depicted, but it can't deal damage or cause conditions.
If you are within range of the illusion, you can take a Magic action to cause the image to move to any other spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking. Similarly, you can cause the illusion to make different sounds at different times, even making it carry on a conversation, for example.
Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, for things can pass through it. A creature that takes a Study action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and its other sensory qualities become faint to the creature.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The spell lasts until dispelled, without requiring Concentration, if cast with a level 4+ spell slot.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a bit of fleece)
- Duration
- Concentration, 10 minutes
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. The image appears at a spot that you can see within range and lasts for the duration. It seems completely real, including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to the thing depicted. You can't create sufficient heat or cold to cause damage, a sound loud enough to deal thunder damage or deafen a creature, or a smell that might sicken a creature (like a troglodyte's stench).
As long as you are within range of the illusion, you can use your action to cause the image to move to any other spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking. Similarly, you can cause the illusion to make different sounds at different times, even making it carry on a conversation, for example.
Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and its other sensory qualities become faint to the creature.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the spell lasts until dispelled, without requiring your concentration.
Major Image 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
How popular is Major Image in 5e?
Major Image is the #34 most popular level 3 spell (of 80) and the #24 most picked level 3 Wizard spell (of 59).
Among level 3 spells, Major Image ranks just below Feign Death and just above Water Breathing in popularity.
- #224 (of 567) most popular 5e spell
- #34 (of 80) most popular level 3 spell
- #24 (of 59) most picked level 3 Wizard spell
- #16 (of 36) most picked level 3 Sorcerer spell
- #11 (of 23) most picked level 3 Warlock spell
- #16 (of 27) most picked level 3 Bard spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Major Image
Project Image 7th-level illusion
It expands on the same concept of manipulating a lifelike, communicative illusion, but projects it over a vastly greater distance.
Players prefer Project Image over Major Image
Programmed Illusion 6th-level illusion
This also creates a detailed illusion for deception and environmental storytelling, with a longer-lasting effect once its trigger is set.
Players prefer Programmed Illusion over Major Image
Mislead 5th-level illusion
Both provide an interactive false image that can support scouting, distraction, impersonation, and elaborate deception.
Players prefer Mislead over Major Image
Creation 5th-level illusion
Both use illusion magic to produce convincing objects or phenomena for practical, noncombat purposes.
Players prefer Creation over Major Image
Hallucinatory Terrain 4th-level illusion
The spells excel at disguising or reshaping an area through convincing sensory illusions, although this one covers much more ground.
Players prefer Hallucinatory Terrain over Major Image
Silent Image 1st-level illusion
It is the lower-level version of the same versatile, movable illusion effect, though it lacks sound and other sensory details.
Players prefer Major Image over Silent Image