Illusory Script
Level 1 · Illusion
- Ritual
Illusory Script (bard, warlock, and wizard) casts from a 1st-level slot in the illusion school. Cast time: 1 Minute. Range Touch, components S/M, duration 10 days. Material: ink worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes. Marked ritual. Effect: You write on parchment, paper, or another suitable material and imbue it with an illusion that lasts for the duration.
Stat Block
- Level
- 1
- School
- Illusion
- Casting Time
- 1 Minute
- Range / Area
- Touch
- Components
- S, M
- Duration
- 10 days
- Ritual
- Yes
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Bard, Warlock, Wizard
- Material
- ink worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes
Description
You write on parchment, paper, or another suitable material and imbue it with an illusion that lasts for the duration. To you and any creatures you designate when you cast the spell, the writing appears normal, seems to be written in your hand, and conveys whatever meaning you intended when you wrote the text. To all others, the writing appears as if it were written in an unknown or magical script that is unintelligible. Alternatively, the illusion can alter the meaning, handwriting, and language of the text, though the language must be one you know. If the spell is dispelled, the original script and the illusion both disappear. A creature that has Truesight can read the hidden message.
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
Illusion is the spell-school of theatre. Its outputs are images, sounds, smells, and false bodies — props for the rest of the spell list. The school fit for Illusory Script comes from the spell creates a perceptual fiction the target's senses report as real. The 1st-level slot is the most-cast slot of tier 1 — Illusory Script earns its place there or somewhere else.
Class Fit
- Bard: On a Bard sheet, Illusory Script competes with Counterspell, Greater Invisibility, and Polymorph for known-spell budget. Pick it when those don't fit the day's planned arc.
- Warlock: Eldritch Blast is the Warlock's default action. Illusory Script only competes with Eldritch Blast if it does more than scale-damage to one target.
- Wizard: Tier 3 and tier 4 Wizards add 5th-9th level spells to the book — Illusory Script interacts with those upper-tier picks as part of a full prep loadout.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Illusory Script
- What level spell is Illusory Script?
- The spell Illusory Script is a level 1 spell in the Illusion school. Bard, Warlock, Wizard all have access to it.
- What is the range of Illusory Script?
- Illusory Script is cast via touch. The caster has to reach the target with a successful melee touch (if the target is unwilling).
- How long does Illusory Script last?
- Illusory Script sticks for 10 days. Concentration is not required, so the caster's concentration slot stays free.
- What components and casting time does Illusory Script need?
- Illusory Script requires S, M. Material component: ink worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes; Illusory Script can be cast as a ritual: an extra 10 minutes of casting time, no spell slot consumed; the casting time is 1 minute (not a standard Action).