Fear

Level 3 Illusion spell available to Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. A 9m cone that makes enemies drop their weapons and run. Disarming half an encounter for one slot is not a subtle effect, and it is one of the most underrated spells at this level.

Spell description: Hostile targets drop everything and become Fearful: they have Disadvantage on Ability Checks and Attack Rolls.

Spell properties

• Range: Self
• Area: 9m (30ft) cone
• Duration: 2 turns
• Concentration spell
• Save: WIS save
• Conditions applied: Fearful; Weapon Dropped
• Cost: Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Casting Fear at higher levels provides no additional benefits.

How to obtain Fear

• Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard at Class level 5

Source item: Servitor of the Black Hand Gloves

When to cast Fear

The weapon drop is the part people miss. A Frightened enemy does not just run, it throws its sword on the floor, and it has to spend an Action picking it up again afterwards. Two turns of Fear is often three or four turns of an enemy doing nothing useful.

Then steal the weapon. Fear a group, walk over, and pick their swords up off the ground while they are running. They come back unarmed. It is deeply unsporting and it works.

The cone comes out of you, which for a squishy caster means walking towards the people you are afraid of. Position first, cast second, and remember the cone is wide enough to catch a whole approaching line.

Two turns is short and it is a Wisdom save, so it fails against the disciplined enemies you most want it to land on. It is a crowd tool, not a boss tool.