Black Tentacles
Level 4 · Conjuration
- Concentration
- Damage
- Save
- AOE
- Control
Listed under conjuration, Black Tentacles costs a 4th-level slot for wizard casters. Cast time: Action. Range 90 feet, components V/S/M, duration up to 1 minute. Material: a tentacle. Marked concentration. Effect: Squirming, ebony tentacles fill a 20-foot square on ground that you can see within range.
Stat Block
- Level
- 4
- School
- Conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 1 Minute
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Wizard
- Material
- a tentacle
Description
Squirming, ebony tentacles fill a 20-foot square on ground that you can see within range. For the duration, these tentacles turn the ground in that area into Difficult Terrain. Each creature in that area makes a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 3d6 Bludgeoning damage, and it has the Restrained condition until the spell ends. A creature also makes that save if it enters the area or ends it turn there. A creature makes that save only once per turn. A Restrained creature can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC, ending the condition on itself on a success.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Conjuration spells are creation magic in the loose sense — not creation from nothing, but creation from elsewhere. They borrow a creature from the planes or a body of water from a far lake. Black Tentacles sits among the Conjurations on the strength of the spell places matter or creatures into the world that were not there before the cast. Mid-tier casters can usually cast Black Tentacles once or twice per long rest.
Class Fit
- Wizard: At tier 1 Wizards have small prepared lists. Black Tentacles earns its place by either being always-relevant (Shield, Mage Armor) or by being the right answer to a known problem. Black Tentacles's concentration requirement makes it vulnerable to a single failed save when the caster takes damage.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Black Tentacles
- What level spell is Black Tentacles?
- Black Tentacles sits at level 4 in the Conjuration school of magic, prepared by Wizard.
- How much damage does Black Tentacles deal?
- The damage roll on Black Tentacles is 3d6 of bludgeoning damage at base.
- What save does Black Tentacles require?
- Black Tentacles calls for a Strength save against the caster's DC. Success conditions are described in the spell text.
- What is the range of Black Tentacles?
- From the caster's position, Black Tentacles reaches 90 feet.
- Is Black Tentacles a concentration spell?
- Black Tentacles is a concentration spell. Maximum duration is up to 1 minute. The caster can only maintain one concentration spell at a time, and damage forces a Con save to keep it active.
- What components and casting time does Black Tentacles need?
- Black tentacles requires v, s, m. The other notable details — Material component: a tentacle.