Mind Spike

A
Damage

Mind Spike is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that lashes one creature with psychic pain and, on a failed save,
revealing its location

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

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 keeps it from hiding or vanishing.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
S
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 hour
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You drive a spike of psionic energy into the mind of one creature you can see within range. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw, taking 3d8 Psychic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. On a failed save, you also always know the target's location until the spell ends, but only while the two of you are on the same plane of existence. While you have this knowledge, the target can't become hidden from you, and if it has the Invisible condition, it gains no benefit from that condition against you.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 2.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level divination
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
S
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 hour
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You reach into the mind of one creature you can see within range. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, taking 3d8 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On a failed save, you also always know the target's location until the spell ends, but only while the two of you are on the same plane of existence. While you have this knowledge, the target can’t become hidden from you, and if it’s invisible, it gains no benefit from that condition against you.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 2nd.

Mind Spike 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Mind Spike’s range increased from 60 feet to 120 feet. Everything else works the same, including its concentration, damage, save, and upcasting.

Mind Spike popularity

Mind Spike is a commonly chosen level 2 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Mind Spike

  • Hunter's Mark 1st-level divination

    It marks a single target and grants extra damage while letting you track the target's location for up to an hour, which mirrors Mind Spike's damage-plus-tracking design.

  • Hex 1st-level enchantment

    Hex is a concentration buff that deals extra damage to a chosen creature over an extended period and helps you focus on one target, similar to how Mind Spike pins down and damages a single enemy.

  • Mind Sliver Enchantment cantrip

    Although a cantrip, it deals psychic harm and interferes with a target's saving throw, matching Mind Spike's psychic damage and mind-focused effect.

  • Dissonant Whispers 1st-level enchantment

    This single-target psychic attack forces a saving throw and inflicts mental damage, making it a close tactical analogue for Mind Spike's immediate psychic hit.

  • Detect Thoughts 2nd-level divination

    As a divination that probes a creature's mind and requires concentration, it shares Mind Spike's information-gathering, mind-focused niche despite lacking the damage component.