Suggestion

A
Control

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

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 spell of
social influence

Suggestion is a Social Influence spell. Social Influence spells create ways to communicate, persuade, and alter behavior.

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 that plants a subtle command in one creature; one failed
save-or-suck

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

See all Save or Suck spells →
 can bend its next move.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, M (a drop of honey)
Duration
Concentration, up to 8 hours
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You suggest a course of activity—described in no more than 25 words—to one creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you. The suggestion must sound achievable and not involve anything that would obviously deal damage to the target or its allies. For example, you could say, “Fetch the key to the cult's treasure vault, and give the key to me.” Or you could say, “Stop fighting, leave this library peacefully, and don't return.”

The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Charmed condition for the duration or until you or your allies deal damage to the target. The Charmed target pursues the suggestion to the best of its ability. The suggested activity can continue for the entire duration, but if the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends for the target upon completing it.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, M (a snake's tongue and either a bit of honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil)
Duration
Concentration, 8 hours
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You suggest a course of activity (limited to a sentence or two) and magically influence a creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you. Creatures that can't be charmed are immune to this effect. The suggestion must be worded in such a manner as to make the course of action sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act ends the spell.

The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it pursues the course of action you described to the best of its ability. The suggested course of action can continue for the entire duration. If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends when the subject finishes what it was asked to do.

You can also specify conditions that will trigger a special activity during the duration. For example, you might suggest that a knight give her warhorse to the first beggar she meets. If the condition isn't met before the spell expires, the activity isn't performed.

If you or any of your companions damage the target, the spell ends.

Suggestion 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Now limited to 25 words, and it targets one creature. A failed save now gives the target the Charmed condition for the duration, ending if you or your allies deal damage. The old “special trigger” option is gone.

Suggestion popularity

Suggestion is a commonly chosen level 2 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Suggestion

  • Charm Person 1st-level enchantment

    A low-level charm effect that makes a single humanoid friendly and is used for social manipulation in much the same way.

  • Command 1st-level enchantment

    Both impose a short directive on a target to alter its actions, making this an immediate, speech-based way to control behavior.

  • Calm Emotions 2nd-level enchantment

    This spell similarly influences a creature's social behavior and can end or prevent hostile actions without dealing damage.

  • Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment

    A higher-level, longer-duration form of controlling a humanoid's actions that shares the same theme of compelling behavior.

  • Geas 5th-level enchantment

    Both create long-term obligations a target tries to follow, using enforced instructions rather than direct harm to coerce behavior.