Crown of Madness

Level 2 Enchantment spell available to Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. Fails a Wisdom save and a creature spends three turns attacking whatever is closest to it, even its own friends, so long as that is not you. It is a mind control spell with a great many strings attached.

Spell description: Instill madness in a humanoid enemy, making them attack the creature closest to them (other than you), even if it’s allied.

Spell properties

• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Duration: 3 turns
• Concentration spell
• Save: WIS save
• Conditions applied: The enemy attacks the creature closest to them, other than you, even if it is allied.
• Cost: Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Casting Crown of Madness at higher levels provides no additional benefits.

How to obtain Crown of Madness

• Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard at Class level 3

Source item: Scroll of Crown of Madness

CROWN OF MADNESS

Level 2 Enchantment Spell

Instill madness in a humanoid enemy, making them attack the creature closest to them (other than you), even if it’s allied.

Range: 18m (60ft) Save: WIS save Duration: 3 turns

Action Level 2 Spell Slot

CONDITION: CROWNED MADNESS

Duration: 3 turns

Condition: Crowned Madness

• On its turn the creature must attack the nearest creature other than the caster, including allies.
• The creature repeats the Wisdom Saving Throw at the end of each of its turns.

When to cast Crown of Madness

The dream is the big enemy brute turning round and clubbing his own mates for three turns. When it happens it is glorious. The reality is that it lasts three turns, it is Concentration, it is a Wisdom save, and the target attacks whoever is closest, which the AI will occasionally decide is your Rogue.

So positioning is everything. It only works if the target is standing in a crowd of its own side and nowhere near yours. A frontline brute in the middle of the enemy pack is the right target. An enemy already in your face is a wasted slot and a self-inflicted wound.

Compare it to Hold Person. Same save, same slot, same Concentration, and Hold Person removes the enemy from the fight entirely and hands out critical hits. Crown of Madness is the fun option. Hold Person is the correct one.