Programmed Illusion

A
Utility

Programmed Illusion is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell that stages a scripted scene to guard spaces, mislead intruders, and hide clues until triggered, with
battlefield control

Programmed Illusion is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

See all Battlefield Shaping spells →
 and
revealing details

Programmed Illusion is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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.

2024 Rules
Level & School
6th-level illusion
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S, M (jade dust worth 25+ GP)
Duration
Until dispelled
Classes
Bard, Wizard

You create an illusion of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon within range that activates when a specific trigger occurs. The illusion is imperceptible until then. It must be no larger than a 30-foot Cube, and you decide when you cast the spell how the illusion behaves and what sounds it makes. This scripted performance can last up to 5 minutes.

When the trigger you specify occurs, the illusion springs into existence and performs in the manner you described. Once the illusion finishes performing, it disappears and remains dormant for 10 minutes, after which the illusion can be activated again. The trigger can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible phenomena that occur within 30 feet of the area. For example, you could create an illusion of yourself to appear and warn off others who attempt to open a trapped door.

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be illusory, since things can pass through it. A creature that takes the Study action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and any noise it makes sounds hollow to the creature.

2014 Rules
Level & School
6th-level illusion
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S, M (a bit of fleece and jade dust worth at least 25 gp)
Duration
Until dispelled
Classes
Bard, Wizard

You create an illusion of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon within range that activates when a specific condition occurs. The illusion is imperceptible until then. It must be no larger than a 30-foot cube, and you decide when you cast the spell how the illusion behaves and what sounds it makes. This scripted performance can last up to 5 minutes.

When the condition you specify occurs, the illusion springs into existence and performs in the manner you described. Once the illusion finishes performing, it disappears and remains dormant for 10 minutes. After this time, the illusion can be activated again.

The triggering condition can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the area. For example, you could create an illusion of yourself to appear and warn off others who attempt to open a trapped door, or you could set the illusion to trigger only when a creature says the correct word or phrase.

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and any noise it makes sounds hollow to the creature.

Programmed Illusion 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

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

Spells similar to Programmed Illusion

  • Glyph of Warding 3rd-level abjuration

    Both create a prepared, triggered magical effect that remains until triggered or dispelled and can be scripted to perform when a condition is met.

  • Magic Mouth 2nd-level illusion

    It makes a preprogrammed illusionary speech that activates on a specified trigger and remains in place until used, matching the triggered, scripted utility of the target.

  • Major Image 3rd-level illusion

    This spell creates a believable, multisensory illusion of creatures or phenomena in an area, similar to how the target produces a large, detailed illusion when activated.

  • Silent Image 1st-level illusion

    A lower‑level version of creating visible illusions in a defined area, sharing the same core mechanic of making objects or creatures appear convincingly.

  • Project Image 7th-level illusion

    It produces a large, long‑duration illusion of people and scenes at range and can be used for scripted, information‑focused deception, paralleling the target's advanced illusion capabilities.