Tongues
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level divination
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, M (a miniature ziggurat)
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
This spell grants the creature you touch the ability to understand any spoken or signed language that it hears or sees. Moreover, when the target communicates by speaking or signing, any creature that knows at least one language can understand it if that creature can hear the speech or see the signing.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level divination
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, M (a small clay model of a ziggurat)
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
This spell grants the creature you touch the ability to understand any spoken language it hears. Moreover, when the target speaks, any creature that knows at least one language and can hear the target understands what it says.
Tongues 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Tongues popularity
How popular is Tongues? It is a commonly found spell in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a reliable addition to any spellbook.
- Top 25% of all level 3 spells
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% picked level 3 Wizard spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Warlock spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Sorcerer spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Bard spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 3 Cleric spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Tongues
Speak with Animals 1st-level divination
Like Tongues, it grants access to otherwise inaccessible speech and is primarily useful for gathering information through conversation.
Players prefer Speak with Animals over Tongues
Speak with Plants 3rd-level transmutation
It similarly expands social and investigative options by allowing communication with unusual speakers.
Players prefer Speak with Plants over Tongues
Speak with Dead 3rd-level necromancy
The spell centers on obtaining information by communicating with a creature that would normally be unable to converse.
Players prefer Speak with Dead over Tongues
Sending 3rd-level divination
This is another communication-focused divination that lets creatures exchange messages over extraordinary linguistic and physical distances.
Players prefer Sending over Tongues
Rary's Telepathic Bond 5th-level divination
Both facilitate communication across language barriers and support information gathering without dealing damage.
Players prefer Tongues over Rary's Telepathic Bond
Comprehend Languages 1st-level divination
It directly removes language barriers, though it benefits only the caster rather than also enabling others to understand the target.
Players prefer Tongues over Comprehend Languages