Modify Memory
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You attempt to reshape another creature's memories. One creature that you can see within range makes a Wisdom saving throw. If you are fighting the creature, it has Advantage on the save. On a failed save, the target has the Charmed condition for the duration. While Charmed in this way, the target also has the Incapacitated condition and is unaware of its surroundings, though it can hear you. If it takes any damage or is targeted by another spell, this spell ends, and no memories are modified.
While this charm lasts, you can affect the target's memory of an event that it experienced within the last 24 hours and that lasted no more than 10 minutes. You can permanently eliminate all memory of the event, allow the target to recall the event with perfect clarity, change its memory of the event's details, or create a memory of some other event.
You must speak to the target to describe how its memories are affected, and it must be able to understand your language for the modified memories to take root. Its mind fills in any gaps in the details of your description. If the spell ends before you finish describing the modified memories, the creature's memory isn't altered. Otherwise, the modified memories take hold when the spell ends.
A modified memory doesn't necessarily affect how a creature behaves, particularly if the memory contradicts the creature's natural inclinations, alignment, or beliefs. An illogical modified memory, such as a false memory of how much the creature enjoyed swimming in acid, is dismissed as a bad dream. The DM might deem a modified memory too nonsensical to affect a creature.
A Remove Curse or Greater Restoration spell cast on the target restores the creature's true memory.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can alter the target's memories of an event that took place up to 7 days ago (level 6 spell slot), 30 days ago (level 7 spell slot), 365 days ago (level 8 spell slot), or any time in the creature's past (level 9 spell slot).
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You attempt to reshape another creature's memories. One creature that you can see must make a Wisdom saving throw. If you are fighting the creature, it has advantage on the saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes charmed by you for the duration. The charmed target is incapacitated and unaware of its surroundings, though it can still hear you. If it takes any damage or is targeted by another spell, this spell ends, and none of the target's memories are modified.
While this charm lasts, you can affect the target's memory of an event that it experienced within the last 24 hours and that lasted no more than 10 minutes. You can permanently eliminate all memory of the event, allow the target to recall the event with perfect clarity and exacting detail, change its memory of the details of the event, or create a memory of some other event.
You must speak to the target to describe how its memories are affected, and it must be able to understand your language for the modified memories to take root. Its mind fills in any gaps in the details of your description. If the spell ends before you have finished describing the modified memories, the creature's memory isn't altered. Otherwise, the modified memories take hold when the spell ends.
A modified memory doesn't necessarily affect how a creature behaves, particularly if the memory contradicts the creature's natural inclinations, alignment, or beliefs. An illogical modified memory, such as implanting a memory of how much the creature enjoyed dousing itself in acid, is dismissed, perhaps as a bad dream. The DM might deem a modified memory too nonsensical to affect a creature in a significant manner.
A remove curse or greater restoration spell cast on the target restores the creature's true memory.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, you can alter the target's memories of an event that took place up to 7 days ago (6th level), 30 days ago (7th level), 1 year ago (8th level), or any time in the creature's past (9th level).
Modify Memory 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Modify Memory popularity
How popular is Modify Memory? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Top 50% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all level 5 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 5 Bard spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Modify Memory
Suggestion 2nd-level enchantment
A failed Wisdom save lets the caster steer a creature's behavior through a convincing spoken directive.
Players prefer Suggestion over Modify Memory
Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment
This shares the same level, class overlap, range, concentration, and powerful single-target mental control.
Players prefer Dominate Person over Modify Memory
Geas 5th-level enchantment
Both are high-level enchantments that impose lasting influence on a single target through speech and a failed save.
Players prefer Geas over Modify Memory
Charm Person 1st-level enchantment
As a lower-level enchantment, it similarly relies on a single creature failing a save against socially oriented magical influence.
Players prefer Modify Memory over Charm Person
Dream 5th-level illusion
Both use constructed experiences and communication to manipulate what another creature believes or remembers.
Players prefer Modify Memory over Dream
Gift of Gab 2nd-level enchantment
It directly alters a creature's memory of a recent conversation for social manipulation.
Players prefer Modify Memory over Gift of Gab