Seeming
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
You give an illusory appearance to each creature of your choice that you can see within range. An unwilling target can make a Charisma saving throw, and if it succeeds, it is unaffected by this spell.
You can give the same appearance or different ones to the targets. The spell can change the appearance of the targets' bodies and equipment. You can make each creature seem 1 foot shorter or taller and appear heavier or lighter. A target's new appearance must have the same basic arrangement of limbs as the target, but the extent of the illusion is otherwise up to you. The spell lasts for the duration.
The changes wrought by this spell fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, if you use this spell to add a hat to a creature's outfit, objects pass through the hat.
A creature that takes the Study action to examine a target can make an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If it succeeds, it becomes aware that the target is disguised.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
This spell allows you to change the appearance of any number of creatures that you can see within range. You give each target you choose a new, illusory appearance. An unwilling target can make a Charisma saving throw, and if it succeeds, it is unaffected by this spell.
The spell disguises physical appearance as well as clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment. You can make each creature seem 1 foot shorter or taller and appear thin, fat, or in between. You can't change a target's body type, so you must choose a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs. Otherwise, the extent of the illusion is up to you. The spell lasts for the duration, unless you use your action to dismiss it sooner.
The changes wrought by this spell fail to hold up to physical inspection. For example, if you use this spell to add a hat to a creature's outfit, objects pass through the hat, and anyone who touches it would feel nothing or would feel the creature's head and hair. If you use this spell to appear thinner than you are, the hand of someone who reaches out to touch you would bump into you while it was seemingly still in midair.
A creature can use its action to inspect a target and make an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If it succeeds, it becomes aware that the target is disguised.
Seeming 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Seeming popularity
How popular is Seeming? 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 25% of all level 5 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 5 Bard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 5 Sorcerer spell
Spells similar to Seeming
Invisibility 2nd-level illusion
Though it’s focused on concealment rather than changing looks, it’s a classic illusion that alters how creatures are perceived and is often chosen for similar social or stealth situations.
Players prefer Invisibility over Seeming
Programmed Illusion 6th-level illusion
A higher-level illusion that creates crafted visual deceptions with long duration and flexibility, similar in intent to creating convincing false appearances.
Players prefer Programmed Illusion over Seeming
Disguise Self 1st-level illusion
This is the basic, self-only version of changing appearance and shares the same illusion school and social uses, just on a smaller scale and shorter duration.
Players prefer Disguise Self over Seeming
Major Image 3rd-level illusion
It makes fairly elaborate visual illusions over an area and can be used for social deception or cover, matching Seeming’s use of convincing visual falsehoods.
Players prefer Major Image over Seeming
Arcanist's Magic Aura 2nd-level illusion
It’s a low-level illusion that alters how a creature or object appears to detection and can last a long time, making it thematically close to changing appearances.
Players prefer Arcanist's Magic Aura over Seeming