Power Word Stun

A
Control

Power Word Stun is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

See all Control spells →
 spell that overwhelms one creature’s mind, stunning the weak and slowing the strong to a halt.

2024 Rules
Level & School
8th-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You overwhelm the mind of one creature you can see within range. If the target has 150 Hit Points or fewer, it has the Stunned condition. Otherwise, its Speed is 0 until the start of your next turn.

The Stunned target makes a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself on a success.

2014 Rules
Level & School
8th-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You speak a word of power that can overwhelm the mind of one creature you can see within range, leaving it dumbfounded. If the target has 150 hit points or fewer, it is stunned. Otherwise, the spell has no effect.

The stunned target must make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, this stunning effect ends.

Power Word Stun 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

If the target has more than 150 HP, the spell now still has an effect: its Speed becomes 0 until the start of your next turn instead of doing nothing. The stunned target now ends the condition on itself with a successful Con save at the end of each turn.

Spells similar to Power Word Stun

  • Power Word Kill 9th-level enchantment

    Shares the same family and instant, no-save effect that ends a creature based on its current hit points.

  • Divine Word 7th-level evocation

    Also uses a single verbal-only proclamation to instantly impose debilitating effects on creatures depending on their remaining hit points.

  • Maze 8th-level conjuration

    Removes one creature from play instantly with no attack roll, serving a similar single-target incapacitation niche at high level.

  • Dominate Monster 8th-level enchantment

    A high-level enchantment that exerts powerful single-target mental control for extended tactical advantage.

  • Hold Monster 5th-level enchantment

    Produces paralysis on one or more foes and is used for the same crowd-stopping, control-focused purpose in combat.