Magic Mouth
Level 2 · Illusion
- Ritual
Magic Mouth occupies the illusion school at level 2, available to bard and wizard. Cast time: 1 Minute. Range 30 feet, components V/S/M, duration until dispelled. Material: jade dust worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes. Marked ritual. Effect: You implant a message within an object in range—a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met.
Stat Block
- Level
- 2
- School
- Illusion
- Casting Time
- 1 Minute
- Range / Area
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- Until dispelled
- Ritual
- Yes
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Bard, Wizard
- Material
- jade dust worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes
Description
You implant a message within an object in range—a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn't being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or fewer, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message. When that trigger occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there, so the words appear to come from the object's mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs. The trigger can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.
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
Illusions are spells against perception, not against bodies. They cannot kill, they cannot move, they cannot heal — but they can convince. Magic Mouth is Illusion because the spell creates a perceptual fiction the target's senses report as real. 2nd-level slots become common enough that Magic Mouth can be cast in two or three encounters per long rest.
Class Fit
- Bard: Bards rely on Bardic Inspiration for most action-economy boosts; Magic Mouth matters when Inspiration isn't the right tool for the moment. Magic Mouth reaches 30 feet, which lets the caster stay clear of the front line.
- Wizard: At tier 1 Wizards have small prepared lists. Magic Mouth earns its place by either being always-relevant (Shield, Mage Armor) or by being the right answer to a known problem. 30 feet is enough range that Magic Mouth doesn't pull the caster forward.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Magic Mouth
- What level spell is Magic Mouth?
- In D&D 5e, Magic Mouth is classified as a level 2 spell of the Illusion school. Available classes: Bard, Wizard.
- What is the range of Magic Mouth?
- Magic Mouth can target a point or creature within 30 feet of the caster.
- How long does Magic Mouth last?
- Magic Mouth lasts until dispelled. It does not require concentration, so the caster can run other concentration spells alongside it.
- What components and casting time does Magic Mouth need?
- Note: Magic Mouth requires V, S, M. Beyond that — Material component: jade dust worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes; Magic Mouth 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).