Glyph of Warding
Level 3 · Abjuration
- Concentration
- Save
- AOE
- Summon
Glyph of Warding occupies the abjuration school at level 3, available to bard, cleric, and wizard. Cast time: 1 Hour. Range Touch, components V/S/M, duration until dispelled or triggered you inscribe a glyph that later unleashes a magical effect.. Material: powdered diamond worth 200+ GP, which the spell consumes. Marked concentration. Effect: You inscribe it either on a surface (such as a table or a section of floor) or within an object that can be closed (such as a book or chest) to conceal the glyph. At higher levels: The damage of an explosive rune increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 3. If you create a spell glyph, you can store any spell of up to the same level as the spell slot y…
Stat Block
- Level
- 3
- School
- Abjuration
- Casting Time
- 1 Hour
- Range / Area
- Touch (20-foot radius sphere)
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- Until dispelled or triggered You inscribe a glyph that later unleashes a magical effect.
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Wizard
- Material
- powdered diamond worth 200+ GP, which the spell consumes
Description
You inscribe it either on a surface (such as a table or a section of floor) or within an object that can be closed (such as a book or chest) to conceal the glyph. The glyph can cover an area no larger than 10 feet in diameter. If the surface or object is moved more than 10 feet from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered. The glyph is nearly imperceptible and requires a successful Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC to notice. When you inscribe the glyph, you set its trigger and choose whether it's an explosive rune or a spell glyph, as explained below.
You decide what triggers the glyph when you cast the spell. For glyphs inscribed on a surface, common triggers include touching or stepping on the glyph, removing another object covering it, or approaching within a certain distance of it. For glyphs inscribed within an object, common triggers include opening that object or seeing the glyph. Once a glyph is triggered, this spell ends. You can refine the trigger so that only creatures of certain types activate it (for example, the glyph could be set to affect Aberrations). You can also set conditions for creatures that don't trigger the glyph, such as those who say a certain password.
When triggered, the glyph erupts with magical energy in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on the glyph. Each creature in the area makes a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 5d8 Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Thunder damage (your choice when you create the glyph) on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
You can store a prepared spell of level 3 or lower in the glyph by casting it as part of creating the glyph. The spell must target a single creature or an area. The spell being stored has no immediate effect when cast in this way. When the glyph is triggered, the stored spell takes effect. If the spell has a target, it targets the creature that triggered the glyph. If the spell affects an area, the area is centered on that creature. If the spell summons Hostile creatures or creates harmful objects or traps, they appear as close as possible to the intruder and attack it. If the spell requires Concentration, it lasts until the end of its full duration.
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
The school of Abjuration is built around three verbs: prevent, dispel, banish. Every Abjuration spell is one of those three at different scales. Glyph of Warding reads as Abjuration the moment a player sees what it does — the spell ends, prevents, or absorbs an effect that would otherwise land. At level 3, daily slot counts allow Glyph of Warding to be cast multiple times across the adventuring day.
Class Fit
- Bard: At the Bard table, Glyph of Warding matters most when the College's signature features are on cooldown or out of charges. Otherwise the class has cheaper answers. Upcasting Glyph of Warding changes the effect; the spell page lists the per-slot scaling.
- Cleric: Clerics often prep Glyph of Warding for a single arc — a kidnapping arc, a planar arc, a politics arc — and swap it out when the arc ends. Concentration on Glyph of Warding forces the caster to choose between this spell and the next big concentration play.
- Wizard: Once Glyph of Warding is in the spellbook the cost is gold-and-ritual-time at acquisition; from then on the daily prep decision is free. Glyph of Warding has an at-higher-levels rule; the spell's per-slot scaling makes upcasting worthwhile in the right context.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Glyph of Warding
- What level spell is Glyph of Warding?
- Glyph of Warding sits at level 3 in the Abjuration school of magic, prepared by Bard, Cleric, Wizard.
- What is the range of Glyph of Warding?
- Glyph of Warding is cast via touch. The caster has to reach the target with a successful melee touch (if the target is unwilling).
- Is Glyph of Warding a concentration spell?
- Glyph of Warding is a concentration spell. Maximum duration is up to until dispelled or triggered you inscribe a glyph that later unleashes a magical effect.. 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 Glyph of Warding need?
- For Glyph of Warding: the spell uses V, S, M components; on top of that, Material component: powdered diamond worth 200+ GP, which the spell consumes; the casting time is 1 hour (not a standard Action).
- Can Glyph of Warding be upcast?
- Glyph of Warding scales when upcast: The damage of an explosive rune increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 3. If you create a spell glyph, you can store any spell of up to the same level as the spell slot you use for the Glyph of Warding.