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| Description |
You weave a distracting string of words, causing creatures of your choice that you can see within range and that can hear you to make a wisdom saving throw. Any creature that can’t be charmed succeeds on this saving throw automatically, and if you or your companions are fighting a creature, it has advantage on the save. On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to perceive any creature other than you until the spell ends or until the target can no longer hear you. The spell ends if you are incapacitated or can no longer speak. |
|---|---|
| Source | Player’s Handbook 🛒 |
| Level | 2 |
| School | Enchantment |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | 1 minute |
| Concentration | No |
| Ritual | No |
| Classes | Bard, Warlock |
| Full rules | open5e.com ↗ |
Sometimes the best defense is a good distraction. The spell Enthrall from the school of enchantment does exactly that – it draws your enemies’ complete attention to you while making them overlook everything else around them. This clever 2nd-level spell is available to bards and warlocks and can become a powerful tactical tool in the right hands.
How Enthrall Works
The spell works through a captivating sequence of words that forces selected creatures within range to succeed on a Wisdom saving throw. If they fail, they suffer disadvantage on Perception rolls to notice any creatures other than the spellcaster. This effect lasts for a full minute – or until you become incapacitated or can no longer speak.
Particularly interesting is the spell’s limitation: creatures immune to being charmed automatically resist. Additionally, enemies in combat have advantage on the saving throw, which significantly reduces effectiveness in direct confrontations.
Tactical Applications
Infiltration and Stealth: Enthrall especially shines outside of combat. While you draw a guard’s complete attention to yourself, your companions can sneak past unnoticed or steal important items. The disadvantage on Perception makes it practically impossible to notice other party members.
Social Encounters: In negotiations or interrogations, Enthrall can ensure that important people are focused only on you. This gives other characters the opportunity to act unnoticed or gather important information while you have their full attention.
Combat Support: Although the advantage on saving throws reduces the success rate in combat, Enthrall can still be useful. Successfully charmed enemies might overlook the rogue positioning for an ambush or the wizard preparing a powerful spell.
Synergies and Combinations
Bards especially benefit from Enthrall, as it fits perfectly with their role as supporters and the face of the group. The Player’s Handbook 🛒 shows how bards can combine their natural social abilities with this spell. Warlocks, on the other hand, use their Charisma power to make the spell particularly effective.
A particularly nasty combination emerges with spells like Suggestion or other enchantments. While the targets are completely focused on you, allies can cast additional mental influences unnoticed.
Tips for Dungeon Masters
As a Dungeon Master, you should consider that Enthrall is a creative problem-solving spell. Let players experiment with their targets’ complete attention. Perhaps charmed guards don’t just overlook other characters, but also obvious traps or dangers in their surroundings.
Remember that the spell explicitly requires speaking. In situations where silence is required or the spellcaster is silenced, the enchantment ends immediately. This creates interesting tactical considerations and countermeasures for clever enemies.
This article was created using AI, based on data from the 5e-database project (D&D 5e System Reference Document, licensed under CC BY 4.0).
