Power Word Pain
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You speak a word of power that causes waves of intense pain to assail one creature you can see within range. If the target has 100 hit points or fewer, it is subject to crippling pain. Otherwise, the spell has no effect on it. A target is also unaffected if it is immune to being charmed.
While the target is affected by crippling pain, any speed it has can be no higher than 10 feet. The target also has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, other than Constitution saving throws. Finally, if the target tries to cast a spell, it must first succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or the casting fails and the spell is wasted.
A target suffering this pain can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, the pain ends.
Power Word Pain 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Power Word Pain is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Power Word Pain popularity
How popular is Power Word Pain? 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 7 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all level 7 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Warlock spell
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Power Word Pain
Hold Monster 5th-level enchantment
This shares the same classes, school, range, and single-enemy focus while shutting down a dangerous creature through an ongoing saving-throw effect.
Players prefer Hold Monster over Power Word Pain
Eyebite 6th-level necromancy
Both are high-level enchantments that cripple one enemy with debilitating effects, forcing repeated saves to end the condition.
Players prefer Eyebite over Power Word Pain
Bestow Curse 3rd-level necromancy
Both spells weaken one enemy with crippling penalties rather than dealing direct damage, making them useful for neutralizing a priority target.
Players prefer Bestow Curse over Power Word Pain
Power Word Stun 8th-level enchantment
It is the closest high-level enchantment counterpart: a 60-foot, single-target power word that imposes severe ongoing combat penalties based on the creature's hit points.
Players prefer Power Word Stun over Power Word Pain
Ray of Enfeeblement 2nd-level necromancy
Its ranged, single-target debuff similarly reduces an enemy's effectiveness for a duration, though at a much lower spell level.
Players prefer Ray of Enfeeblement over Power Word Pain
Flesh to Stone 6th-level transmutation
Like Power Word Pain, it progressively disables a single creature with a powerful long-lasting effect and recurring saves.
Players prefer Power Word Pain over Flesh to Stone