Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a miniature hand sculpted from clay)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You choose a 5-foot-square unoccupied space on the ground that you can see within range. A Medium hand made from compacted soil rises there and reaches for one creature you can see within 5 feet of it. The target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and is restrained for the spell's duration.
As an action, you can cause the hand to crush the restrained target, which must make a Strength saving throw. The target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
To break out, the restrained target can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target escapes and is no longer restrained by the hand.
As an action, you can cause the hand to reach for a different creature or to move to a different unoccupied space within range. The hand releases a restrained target if you do either.
Maximilian's Earthen Grasp 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Maximilian's Earthen Grasp is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Maximilian's Earthen Grasp popularity
How popular is Maximilian's Earthen Grasp? It is a commonly found spell in the game, but is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may be situational for many spellbooks.
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 2 Wizard spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 2 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 50% of all level 2 spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Hold Person 2nd-level enchantment
This is another low-level concentration spell that locks down a single target with a saving throw, making it a very similar pick for disabling one foe hard.
Players prefer Hold Person over Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Web 2nd-level conjuration
It also uses a planted area to pin enemies down, and creatures that fail the save can get restrained while the spell keeps influencing the same space.
Players prefer Web over Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Levitate 2nd-level transmutation
Both spells can remove a creature from the fight through a failed save, and each gives you a steady way to keep interfering with the target after the first cast.
Players prefer Levitate over Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Evard's Black Tentacles 4th-level conjuration
It has the same feeling of magical terrain seizing enemies in place, just on a larger and nastier scale with ongoing restraint and damage.
Players prefer Evard's Black Tentacles over Maximilian's Earthen Grasp
Earthbind 2nd-level transmutation
Like Maximilian's Earthen Grasp, it hinders a creature by forcing a save and then limiting movement in a very direct, no-nonsense way.
Players prefer Maximilian's Earthen Grasp over Earthbind