Sleep
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 1st-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a pinch of sand or rose petals)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Each creature of your choice in a 5-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point within range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn, at which point it must repeat the save. If the target fails the second save, the target has the Unconscious condition for the duration. The spell ends on a target if it takes damage or someone within 5 feet of it takes an action to shake it out of the spell's effect.
Creatures that don't sleep, such as elves, or that have Immunity to the Exhaustion condition automatically succeed on saves against this spell.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 1st-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket)
- Duration
- 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures).
Starting with the creature that has the lowest current hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake. Subtract each creature's hit points from the total before moving on to the creature with the next lowest hit points. A creature's hit points must be equal to or less than the remaining total for that creature to be affected.
Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren't affected by this spell.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each slot level above 1st.
Sleep 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Sleep popularity
How popular is Sleep? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.
- Top 5% of all 5e spells
- Top 25% of all level 1 spells
- Top 25% picked level 1 Wizard spell
- Top 25% picked level 1 Sorcerer spell
- Top 50% picked level 1 Bard spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Sleep
Hold Person 2nd-level enchantment
This enchantment also locks down targets for repeated turns after a failed save, making it a similarly strong combat shutdown.
Players prefer Hold Person over Sleep
Hypnotic Pattern 3rd-level illusion
Both are concentration-based area effects that can incapacitate groups through failed saving throws.
Players prefer Hypnotic Pattern over Sleep
Fear 3rd-level illusion
It targets several creatures at once with a saving throw and removes their ability to act effectively for an extended duration.
Players prefer Fear over Sleep
Bane 1st-level enchantment
As a 1st-level concentration enchantment, it affects multiple creatures through saving throws and weakens enemies rather than dealing damage.
Players prefer Bane over Sleep
Tasha's Hideous Laughter 1st-level enchantment
The spell incapacitates a creature through a Wisdom save and can keep that target helpless while concentration lasts.
Players prefer Sleep over Tasha's Hideous Laughter
Color Spray 1st-level illusion
Like Sleep, it is a 1st-level spell that disables multiple creatures after failed saves, though it uses a cone instead of a small sphere.
Players prefer Sleep over Color Spray