Minor Illusion

Cantrip Illusion spell available to Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. It plants a distracting illusion that pulls enemies over to investigate, and you can cast it without breaking Stealth.

Spell description: Create an illusory image that distracts nearby creatures, compelling them to investigate. You can remain hidden while casting this spell.

Spell properties

• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Duration: 10 turns
• Cost: Action
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

This cantrip does not scale. Illusion School Wizards can cast Improved Minor Illusion as a Bonus Action, lasting 20 turns.

How to obtain Minor Illusion

• Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard at Class level 1
• Eldritch Knight (Fighter), Arcane Trickster (Rogue), and Way of Shadow (Monk) at Class level 3
• High Elf and High Half-Elf at Character level 1
• Granted by features: Magic Initiate: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, or Wizard

Minor Illusion

Illusion Cantrip

Create an illusory image that distracts nearby creatures. You can remain hidden while casting this spell.

Range: 18m (60ft) Duration: 10 turns

Action

When to cast Minor Illusion

This is a stealth-run staple. Drop the illusion in a corner and the guards wander over to look at it, opening a path for your party to slip past, or clustering enemies together for an opening Fireball.

Because you stay hidden when you cast it, you can reposition an entire encounter before it starts. It is quietly one of the best setup tools a sneaky party has, and it costs nothing but a cantrip.