Sleep

A
Control

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

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 spell that can
put multiple foes

Sleep is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

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 to sleep with a
single failed save

Sleep is a Save or Suck spell. Save or Suck spells fall entirely flat if the target succeeds on a saving throw.

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, leaving them dazed or unconscious.

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, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard

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

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 now requires Concentration, has a 60-foot range, and affects chosen creatures in a 5-foot-radius sphere. It no longer uses hit points; each target makes a Wisdom save, can be Incapacitated until the end of its next turn, then saves again to become Unconscious. It also now ends from a shake within 5 feet, and the scaling upcasting is gone.

Sleep popularity

Sleep is a commonly chosen level 1 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Sleep

  • Tasha's Hideous Laughter 1st-level enchantment

    A 1st‑level enchantment that incapacitates targets with a save and can knock creatures out for up to a minute, making it the closest mechanical sibling to Sleep.

  • Hypnotic Pattern 3rd-level illusion

    Creates a large area effect that incapacitates multiple enemies on a save for up to a minute, serving as a higher‑level, larger‑area version of Sleep.

  • Color Spray 1st-level illusion

    A 1st‑level illusion that affects multiple creatures at once and can render them helpless without dealing direct damage, similar in tactical use to Sleep.

  • Calm Emotions 2nd-level enchantment

    A concentration effect that neutralizes hostilities and can suppress reactions in groups, functioning as a nonlethal crowd‑control option like Sleep.

  • Hold Person 2nd-level enchantment

    A focused control spell that paralyzes targets on a failed save and can disable multiple humanoids, offering a comparable way to remove enemies from a fight.