Hideous Laughter
Level 1 · Enchantment
- Concentration
- Save
- Control
- Buff
Hideous Laughter (bard, warlock, and wizard) casts from a 1st-level slot in the enchantment school. Cast time: Action. Range 30 feet, components V/S/M, duration up to 1 minute. Material: a tart and a feather. Marked concentration. Effect: One creature of your choice that you can see within range makes a Wisdom saving throw. At higher levels: You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level about 1.
Stat Block
- Level
- 1
- School
- Enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 1 Minute
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Bard, Warlock, Wizard
- Material
- a tart and a feather
Description
One creature of your choice that you can see within range makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it has the Prone and Incapacitated conditions for the duration. During that time, it laughs uncontrollably if it's capable of laughter, and it can't end the Prone condition on it self. At the end of each of its turns and each time it takes damage, it makes another Wisdom saving throw. The target has Advantage on the save if the save is triggered by damage. On a successful save, the spell ends.
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 Enchantment tradition rewrites decisions. Its targets do not feel coerced; they feel as if their own preferences shifted between one breath and the next. Hideous Laughter reads as Enchantment because the spell rewrites a sentient creature's intent or perception. Level-1 slots come back on every long rest; Hideous Laughter is one of the spells the slot column fills first.
Class Fit
- Bard: Lore Bards reach Magical Secrets at level 6 and 10, which changes the calculus on Hideous Laughter: if a non-Bard list has it cheaper, Magical Secrets is the way in. Upcasting Hideous Laughter changes the effect; the spell page lists the per-slot scaling.
- Warlock: Pact Magic casts every spell at the highest slot the Warlock has available. Hideous Laughter upcasts automatically. Hideous Laughter reaches 30 feet, which lets the caster stay clear of the front line.
- Wizard: On a Wizard sheet, Hideous Laughter competes for prep slot with Misty Step, Counterspell, Shield (a Reaction always worth prepping), Fireball, Polymorph, and the higher-tier wall and force spells. As a concentration spell, Hideous Laughter occupies the caster's single concentration slot.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Hideous Laughter
- What level spell is Hideous Laughter?
- In D&D 5e, Hideous Laughter is classified as a level 1 spell of the Enchantment school. Available classes: Bard, Warlock, Wizard.
- What save does Hideous Laughter require?
- Hideous Laughter forces a Wisdom save. The DC is the caster's spell save DC (8 + proficiency + casting modifier).
- What is the range of Hideous Laughter?
- From the caster's position, Hideous Laughter reaches 30 feet.
- Is Hideous Laughter a concentration spell?
- Concentration is required for Hideous Laughter, with a maximum duration up to 1 minute. The concentration rules apply: one at a time, and Con saves on damage.
- What components and casting time does Hideous Laughter need?
- For Hideous Laughter: the components are V, S, M; on top of that, Material component: a tart and a feather.
- Can Hideous Laughter be upcast?
- Yes — You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level about 1.