Major Image
Level 3 · Illusion
- Concentration
- AOE
Major Image (bard, sorcerer, warlock, and wizard) casts from a 3rd-level slot in the illusion school. Cast time: Action. Range 120 feet, components V/S/M, duration up to 10 minutes. Material: a bit of fleece. Marked concentration. Effect: You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot Cube. At higher levels: The spell lasts until dispelled, without requiring Concentration, if cast with a level 4+ spell slot.
Stat Block
- Level
- 3
- School
- Illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 120 feet (20-foot cube)
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 10 minutes
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Material
- a bit of fleece
Description
You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot Cube. The image appears at a spot that you can see within range and lasts for the duration. It seems real, including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to the thing depicted, but it can't deal damage or cause conditions. If you are within range of the illusion, you can take a Magic action to cause the image to move to any other spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking. Similarly, you can cause the illusion to make different sounds at different times, even making it carry on a conversation, for example. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, for things can pass through it. A creature that takes a Study action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and its other sensory qualities become faint to the creature.
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 magic is the school of the unfair fight — unfair in the caster's favour, by way of misdirection rather than damage. Major Image reads as Illusion the moment you see the effect — the spell creates a perceptual fiction the target's senses report as real. 3rd-level slots become common enough that Major Image can be cast in two or three encounters per long rest.
Class Fit
- Bard: College of Valor and College of Swords Bards lean toward melee — Major Image earns its slot if it works inside or around weapon-attack turns. Concentration on Major Image forces the caster to choose between this spell and the next big concentration play.
- Sorcerer: Sorcerers know very few spells. Major Image is a permanent decision — the spell stays on the sheet unless the Sorcerer pays a level-up swap. Major Image has an at-higher-levels rule; the spell's per-slot scaling makes upcasting worthwhile in the right context.
- Warlock: On a Warlock sheet, Major Image competes with Hex (the early concentration default) and with whatever upcast pact slot the build prioritises. The 120-foot range on Major Image leaves room for the caster to stay in the back line.
- Wizard: At tier 1 Wizards have small prepared lists. Major Image earns its place by either being always-relevant (Shield, Mage Armor) or by being the right answer to a known problem. Note that Major Image requires concentration; switching to a second concentration spell ends it.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Major Image
- What level spell is Major Image?
- Major Image is a level 3 spell from the Illusion school. The classes that can prepare it: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard.
- What is the range of Major Image?
- From the caster's position, Major Image reaches 120 feet.
- Is Major Image a concentration spell?
- Yes — Major Image requires concentration, lasting up to 10 minutes. Casting another concentration spell ends this one; damage taken triggers a Constitution save (DC 10 or half the damage, whichever is higher) to maintain it.
- What components and casting time does Major Image need?
- Note: Major Image is cast with V, S, M. Beyond that — Material component: a bit of fleece.
- Can Major Image be upcast?
- Yes — The spell lasts until dispelled, without requiring Concentration, if cast with a level 4+ spell slot.