Silence

A
Control

Silence is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

See all Control spells →
 spell that creates
battlefield control

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

See all Battlefield Shaping spells →
 through absolute silence, muting voices and shutting down verbal magic.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level illusion
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Ranger
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

For the duration, no sound can be created within or pass through a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point you choose within range. Any creature or object entirely inside the Sphere has Immunity to Thunder damage, and creatures have the Deafened condition while entirely inside it. Casting a spell that includes a Verbal component is impossible there.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level illusion
Casting Time
Action or Ritual
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Ranger
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

For the duration, no sound can be created within or pass through a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point you choose within range. Any creature or object entirely inside the sphere is immune to thunder damage, and creatures are deafened while entirely inside it. Casting a spell that includes a verbal component is impossible there.

Silence 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 and 2014 versions are exactly the same.

How popular is Silence in 5e?

Silence is the #21 most popular level 2 spell (of 96) and the #5 most picked level 2 Bard spell (of 35).

Among level 2 spells, Silence ranks just below Zone of Truth and just above Prayer of Healing in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Silence