Mirror Image
Level 2 · Illusion
- Utility
Listed under illusion, Mirror Image costs a 2nd-level slot for bard, sorcerer, warlock, and wizard casters. Cast time: Action. Range Self, components V/S, duration 1 minute. Effect: Three illusory duplicates of yourself appear in your space.
Stat Block
- Level
- 2
- School
- Illusion
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 1 Minute
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Material
- —
Description
Three illusory duplicates of yourself appear in your space. Until the spell ends, the duplicates move with you and mimic your actions, shifting position so it's impossible to track which image is real. Each time a creature hits you with an attack roll during the spell's duration, roll a d6 for each of your remaining duplicates. If any of the d6s rolls a 3 or higher, one of the duplicates is hit instead of you, and the duplicate is destroyed. The duplicates otherwise ignore all other damage and effects. The spell ends when all three duplicates are destroyed. A creature is unaffected by this spell if it has the Blinded condition, Blindsight, or Truesight.
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. The school fit for Mirror Image comes from the spell creates a perceptual fiction the target's senses report as real. At level 2, Mirror Image sits in the mid-tier slot competition.
Class Fit
- Bard: College of Lore Bards have the easiest case for Mirror Image: Magical Secrets means the class can reach outside the standard list to grab adjacent picks.
- Sorcerer: Metamagic is the angle for Mirror Image on a Sorcerer. Twin, Quicken, Subtle, Heightened, and Extended each change what the spell does at the table.
- Warlock: Tier 1 Warlocks have a single slot; tier 2 have two. Mirror Image only earns its known-spell slot if the build casts it most short rests.
- Wizard: Arcane Recovery returns one or two slots on a short rest. Mirror Image's slot cost is therefore not exactly what the slot column says.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Mirror Image
- What level spell is Mirror Image?
- The spell Mirror Image is a level 2 spell in the Illusion school. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard all have access to it.
- What is the range of Mirror Image?
- The range on Mirror Image is Self; no other creature can be the target.
- How long does Mirror Image last?
- Mirror Image lasts 1 minute. It does not require concentration, so the caster can run other concentration spells alongside it.
- What components and casting time does Mirror Image need?
- To cast Mirror Image: Mirror Image requires V, S with a standard Action.