Suggestion
Level 2 · Enchantment
- Concentration
- Save
- Control
Listed under enchantment, Suggestion costs a 2nd-level slot for bard, sorcerer, warlock, and wizard casters. Cast time: Action. Range 30 feet, components V/M, duration up to 8 hours. Material: a drop of honey. Marked concentration. Effect: You suggest a course of activity—described in no more than 25 words—to one creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you.
Stat Block
- Level
- 2
- School
- Enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, M
- Duration
- up to 8 hours
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Material
- a drop of honey
Description
You suggest a course of activity—described in no more than 25 words—to one creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you. The suggestion must sound achievable and not involve anything that would obviously deal damage to the target or its allies. For example, you could say, "Fetch the key to the cult's treasure vault, and give the key to me." Or you could say, "Stop fighting, leave this library peacefully, and don't return." The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Charmed condition for the duration or until you or your allies deal damage to the target. The Charmed target pursues the suggestion to the best of its ability. The suggested activity can continue for the entire duration, but if the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends for the target upon completing 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
Suggestion is Enchantment — a verbal suggestion that magically compels the target to follow it for up to 8 hours, provided the suggestion is plausibly something the target could rationally choose to do. Wis save negates; concentration; one target.
Class Fit
- Bard: Bards take Suggestion at level 3 as their canonical mid-tier social-control spell. Phrasing matters — the suggestion has to be plausibly rational from the target's perspective.
- Sorcerer: Sorcerers take Suggestion at level 3. Subtle Spell makes it cast without verbal components — the suggestion still requires speech for the target to hear, but the spell-casting itself becomes invisible.
- Warlock: Warlocks add Suggestion at level 3. Pact Magic at the always-at-highest slot means Suggestion grows in slot-level effect as the Warlock levels.
- Wizard: Wizards add Suggestion to the spellbook at level 3 and prep it for any campaign with significant social-combat or negotiation arcs.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Concentration; convince a target to do something reasonable. Most flexible mind-affecting spell in tier 2.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Suggestion
- What level spell is Suggestion?
- The spell Suggestion is a level 2 spell in the Enchantment school. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard all have access to it.
- What save does Suggestion require?
- Targets of Suggestion make a Wisdom saving throw against the caster's spell save DC. On a success, the spell's effect is reduced or negated; see the description for exact terms.
- What is the range of Suggestion?
- Suggestion has a range of 30 feet from the caster.
- Is Suggestion a concentration spell?
- Suggestion is a concentration spell. Maximum duration is up to 8 hours. The caster can only maintain one concentration spell at a time, and damage forces a Con save to keep it active.
- What components and casting time does Suggestion need?
- Note: the spell uses V, M components. Beyond that — Material component: a drop of honey.