Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 ft
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Concentration
, up to 1 minute
Save: Wisdom
Conditions: Paralyzed
Choose a humanoid that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the spell ends on the target.
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional humanoid for each slot level above 2nd. The humanoids must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
Material Component:
a small, straight piece of iron
Verbal Component:
Capto Homenum
Verbal Component (Alternative):
Held in place, can't run or walk, frozen still, solid as a rock.
Classes: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Rogue
Tags: Compulsion
Source: Player's Handbook [5th Edition] (page 251)
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Spell FAQs
Below are commonly asked questions about this spell. Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to spell questions. If you have a FAQ about this spell that you feel other DM's may wish to know, please send us the message!
Can you cast Hold Person on an undead humanoid? Or a giant or fey?
The spell specifically states
Choose a humanoid that you can see within range.
Undead, even humanoid undead, are not classified as "humanoids". Therefore,
Hold Person will not work on undead.
Giants and Fey are also not humanoids, even though some resemble many humanoid races. Therefore, they are not affected by
Hold Person.
Example: Eladrin are officially classified as "Fey (elf)". Elf is a tag, not a creature type. As described in the introduction section of the Monster Manual:
The parenthetical tags provide additional categorization for certain creatures. The tags have no rules of their own, but something in the game, such as a magic item, might refer to them.
In game terms, Eladrin are elves that have not yet lost their fey nature. Humanoid elves are elves that have. Therefore Eladrin are Fey, and not humanoids and would not be affected by
Hold Person. Of course, it is always up for the DM to make the final decision if they disagree with any rules.
Other Planes and Effects
Below is information about this spell as it relates to other planes and area of effects (i.e. underwater). Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to handle spell effects.
Underwater - Verbal Component
Official rules have been verified by Jeremy Crawford - "No rule prohibits verbal components from working underwater. Keep in mind that if you're talking, you're not holding your breath." Hence, while submerged underwater and holding its breath, a creature can cast a spell that requires a verbal component. After casting the spell, if the creature can't breathe underwater, it immediately runs out of breath. The creature can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round).
