Planar Binding
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a jewel worth 1,000+ GP, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Druid, Warlock, Wizard
You attempt to bind a Celestial, an Elemental, a Fey, or a Fiend to your service. The creature must be within range for the entire casting of the spell. (Typically, the creature is first summoned into the center of the inverted version of the Magic Circle spell to trap it while this spell is cast.) At the completion of the casting, the target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be bound to serve you for the duration. If the creature was summoned or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell.
A bound creature must follow your commands to the best of its ability. You might command the creature to accompany you on an adventure, to guard a location, or to deliver a message. If the creature is Hostile, it strives to twist your commands to achieve its own objectives. If the creature carries out your commands completely before the spell ends, it travels to you to report this fact if you are on the same plane of existence. If you are on a different plane, it returns to the place where you bound it and remains there until the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The duration increases with a spell slot of level 6 (10 days), 7 (30 days), 8 (180 days), and 9 (366 days).
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a jewel worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Druid, Wizard
With this spell, you attempt to bind a celestial, an elemental, a fey, or a fiend to your service. The creature must be within range for the entire casting of the spell. (Typically, the creature is first summoned into the center of an inverted magic circle in order to keep it trapped while this spell is cast.) At the completion of the casting, the target must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, it is bound to serve you for the duration. If the creature was summoned or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell.
A bound creature must follow your instructions to the best of its ability. You might command the creature to accompany you on an adventure, to guard a location, or to deliver a message. The creature obeys the letter of your instructions, but if the creature is hostile to you, it strives to twist your words to achieve its own objectives. If the creature carries out your instructions completely before the spell ends, it travels to you to report this fact if you are on the same plane of existence. If you are on a different plane of existence, it returns to the place where you bound it and remains there until the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of a higher level, the duration increases to 10 days with a 6th-level slot, to 30 days with a 7th-level slot, to 180 days with an 8th-level slot, and to a year and a day with a 9th-level spell slot.
Planar Binding 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Planar Binding popularity
How popular is Planar Binding? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and it is almost never chosen when available. This spell is one that few spellcasters would ever acquire.
- Bottom 50% of all level 5 spells
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Cleric spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Druid spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Bard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Warlock spell
Spells similar to Planar Binding
Conjure Celestial 7th-level conjuration
Like this spell, it targets celestial-type creatures to serve you, though it summons them rather than binding them for an extended duration.
Players prefer Conjure Celestial over Planar Binding
Conjure Elemental 5th-level conjuration
It covers the elemental side of the same niche by bringing an elemental ally into play to follow your orders for a set time.
Players prefer Conjure Elemental over Planar Binding
Planar Ally 6th-level conjuration
Both involve dealing with extraplanar beings and essentially procuring the service of an outsider through magic and negotiation.
Players prefer Planar Ally over Planar Binding
Imprisonment 9th-level abjuration
Both permanently restrain or remove a creature’s freedom when successfully cast, offering a long-term solution for controlling a target.
Players prefer Imprisonment over Planar Binding
Geas 5th-level enchantment
Both force a creature to obey long-term commands and use a charisma-based coercive effect at the same spell level.
Players prefer Planar Binding over Geas