Seeming
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
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
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
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
How popular is Seeming in 5e?
Seeming is the #35 most popular level 5 spell (of 68) and the #25 most picked level 5 Wizard spell (of 46).
Among level 5 spells, Seeming ranks just below Holy Weapon and just above Summon Celestial in popularity.
- #361 (of 567) most popular 5e spell
- #35 (of 68) most popular level 5 spell
- #25 (of 46) most picked level 5 Wizard spell
- #12 (of 20) most picked level 5 Sorcerer spell
- #18 (of 21) most picked level 5 Bard spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Seeming
Invisibility 2nd-level illusion
The two spells offer lasting illusory concealment and can support group-based infiltration or evasion.
Players prefer Invisibility over Seeming
Disguise Self 1st-level illusion
Both create illusory disguises for social infiltration, though this spell affects only the caster.
Players prefer Disguise Self over Seeming
Hallucinatory Terrain 4th-level illusion
This spell also provides a long-duration illusion designed to disguise or reshape perceived surroundings.
Players prefer Seeming over Hallucinatory Terrain
Major Image 3rd-level illusion
Both use substantial visual illusions to support deception, impersonation, and elaborate misdirection.
Players prefer Seeming over Major Image
Arcanist's Magic Aura 2nd-level illusion
Both are long-duration illusion magic used primarily to mislead observers rather than deal damage.
Players prefer Seeming over Arcanist's Magic Aura
Distort Value 1st-level illusion
Its long-lasting illusion is likewise aimed at deception and influencing how others perceive something.
Players prefer Seeming over Distort Value