Transmute Rock
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (clay and water)
- Duration
- Until dispelled
- Classes
- Artificer, Druid, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You choose an area of stone or mud that you can see that fits within a 40-foot cube and is within range, and choose one of the following effects.
Transmute Rock to Mud. Nonmagical rock of any sort in the area becomes an equal volume of thick, flowing mud that remains for the spell's duration.
The ground in the spell's area becomes muddy enough that creatures can sink into it. Each foot that a creature moves through the mud costs 4 feet of movement, and any creature on the ground when you cast the spell must make a Strength saving throw. A creature must also make the saving throw when it moves into the area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there. On a failed save, a creature sinks into the mud and is restrained, though it can use an action to end the restrained condition on itself by pulling itself free of the mud.
If you cast the spell on a ceiling, the mud falls. Any creature under the mud when it falls must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 4d8 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Transmute Mud to Rock. Nonmagical mud or quicksand in the area no more than 10 feet deep transforms into soft stone for the spell's duration. Any creature in the mud when it transforms must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a successful save, a creature is shunted safely to the surface in an unoccupied space. On a failed save, a creature becomes restrained by the rock. A restrained creature, or another creature within reach, can use an action to try to break the rock by succeeding on a DC 20 Strength check or by dealing damage to it. The rock has AC 15 and 25 hit points, and it is immune to poison and psychic damage.
Transmute Rock 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Transmute Rock is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Transmute Rock popularity
How popular is Transmute Rock? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Bottom 25% of all level 5 spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 5 Artificer spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 5 Druid spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Transmute Rock
Plant Growth 3rd-level transmutation
Like Transmute Rock, it makes movement through an area much worse and is often used to lock down space on the battlefield.
Players prefer Plant Growth over Transmute Rock
Wall of Stone 5th-level evocation
This is another high-level spell for changing stone terrain and blocking movement, so it fills a very similar tactical niche.
Players prefer Wall of Stone over Transmute Rock
Control Water 4th-level transmutation
It manipulates a natural environment in a broad area for lasting positional control, which feels very close in play pattern.
Players prefer Control Water over Transmute Rock
Stone Shape 4th-level transmutation
Both work with stone as a material and let you fundamentally alter the landscape rather than just deal damage.
Players prefer Stone Shape over Transmute Rock
Move Earth 6th-level transmutation
It reshapes a large stretch of ground in a very direct, terrain-altering way, and it shares the same spell family and class overlap.
Players prefer Move Earth over Transmute Rock