Summon Lesser Demons
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a vial of blood from a humanoid killed within the past 24 hours)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 hour
- Classes
- Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You utter foul words, summoning demons from the chaos of the Abyss. Roll on the following table to determine what appears.
| d6 | Demons Summoned |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Two demons of challenge rating 1 or lower |
| 3-4 | Four demons of challenge rating 1/2 or lower |
| 5-6 | Eight demons of challenge rating 1/4 or lower |
The DM chooses the demons, such as manes or dretches, and you choose the unoccupied spaces you can see within range where they appear. A summoned demon disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
The demons are hostile to all creatures, including you. Roll initiative for the summoned demons as a group, which has its own turns. The demons pursue and attack the nearest non-demons to the best of their ability.
As part of casting the spell, you can form a circle on the ground with the blood used as a material component. The circle is large enough to encompass your space. While the spell lasts, the summoned demons can't cross the circle or harm it, and they can't target anyone within it. Using the material component in this manner consumes it when the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th or 7th level, you summon twice as many demons. If you cast it using a spell slot of 8th or 9th level, you summon three times as many demons.
Summon Lesser Demons 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Summon Lesser Demons is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Spells similar to Summon Lesser Demons
Conjure Animals 3rd-level conjuration
It fills the same tactical niche of flooding the map with multiple creatures that pressure enemies and soak attention.
Animate Dead 3rd-level necromancy
Both spells turn one cast into a small force of extra combatants, which changes the action economy in a very similar way.
Summon Fiend 6th-level conjuration
This also brings a powerful outsider onto the field for a full fight, and its warlock/wizard fit lines up well with the target.
Summon Shadowspawn 3rd-level conjuration
Like the target, it gives you a summoned creature that acts independently and demands concentration to keep around.
Summon Greater Demon 4th-level conjuration
It’s the clearest cousin: both call up a dangerous fiendish ally with the same kind of chaotic, risky battlefield presence.