Modify Memory

A
Control

Modify Memory is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

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spell of
memory manipulation

Modify Memory is a Social Influence spell. Social Influence spells create ways to communicate, persuade, and alter behavior.

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that can erase or reshape a creature's past with a single
wisdom save

Modify Memory is a Save or Suck spell. Save or Suck spells fall entirely flat if the target succeeds on a saving throw.

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.

2024 Rules

Level & School
5th-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Wizard

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

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 GM 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

Effectively the same spell. The 2024 version is reworded but functions identically.

Modify Memory popularity

Modify Memory is a seldom chosen level 5 spell. Choosing it adds a unique option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Modify Memory

  • Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment

    A same-level enchantment that takes direct mental control of a humanoid for up to a minute and requires concentration, so it fills the same tactical niche of overriding a target's mind.

  • Charm Person 1st-level enchantment

    This is the lower-level version of charming and socially manipulating a single creature, sharing the speak-to-and-influence interaction and the reliance on a saving throw to resist.

  • Suggestion 2nd-level enchantment

    Both spells work by speaking to a target to impose a mental alteration and hinge on persuasive phrasing rather than direct damage or physical effects.

  • Geas 5th-level enchantment

    Although it lasts far longer, Geas similarly forces or forbids behavior via a mental compulsion and is used for long-term manipulation of a creature's actions.

  • Dream 5th-level illusion

    Dream lets you shape a target's perceptions and plant ideas or impressions through a dreamscape, matching Modify Memory's theme of altering a creature's recollection or beliefs.