While “These aren’t the droids that you are looking for” might sound like a Jedi mind trick in some cases, it would be considered a use of the Suggestion spell in Faerun.
This spell can be used in combat and is fun to use.
But how do you use it? Why are Suggestions so powerful What are the best times to use suggestions to get your enemies to do what you want?
This is our 5e Suggestion Guide for Dungeons & Dragons.
What is the Suggestion Spell?
These are the stats of the spell. We are going to break down the lengthy description into smaller pieces. Here are the stats according to the player’s manual:
- 2nd Level Enchantment
- Casting time: 1 Action
- Range: 30 feet
- Components: V M (A snake’s tongue with either honeycomb or sweet oil)
- Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours
- Classes: Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, Wizards
Let’s look at the stats. The suggestion costs one action to cast and has a range of 30 feet. A verbal and material component is required.
You will need either a snake’s mouth or honeycomb, and either sweet oil or honeycomb. The spell can be held for eight hours, which is quite a long time.
The spell is also available to Bards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks.
It can be a little tricky to find the material components of this D&D spell, but we will get there. What does the spell do?
The Effects of the Suggestion Spell
First, you must take the action. This takes about six seconds. You only have a few sentences to complete.
You can also cast the spell to influence a creature’s behavior. The spell can only be cast if the creature can hear you and understand you.
You must make the Suggestion sound reasonable. The creature cannot be asked to do any harm or to put itself in danger.
It is impossible to ask a bugbear or kobold for help. However, the spell will allow you to end the spell.
After you make the Suggestion the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. If it fails they must continue the action to their best ability.
The target can continue this action for eight hours. If the task is not completed, the spell will end. The target can be given a trigger.
You might suggest, for example, that a bandit gives his treasure chest to any commoner who sees it.
If this bandit travels around looking for commoners, the trigger will not be met and the spell will end.
The spell will also end if you or your allies do damage to the target placed under Suggestion.
Take Advantage of the Powers of Suggestion
The powers of Suggestion can be used to do a lot. Innovative players may have a lot of fun with this spell.
Cast Suggestions on any random person and say, “Hey, steal this key and throw it in the Hay Pile.”
Once the key has landed in the Hay Bale, you can grab it to unlock the jail door and rescue your friend.
The unlucky commoner will most likely take responsibility for the actions, but that’s just how it works.
The spell can be used to avoid combat situations or other problems. You can’t get out of jail without compelling reasons.
You might, for example, cast Suggestions upon a group of cultists to get them to let you go.
You might have to declare that your party is allied with the cult and need to talk to the master of this cult.
Roleplaying and roleplaying may give the Suggestion spell more authority, which could increase its chances of success.
Talk to Your DM
The Suggestion spell must have the following key points: You can’t just suggest impossible things and expect them to be implemented.
Your Suggestion should sound like something that can be reasonably done.
It is not easy to ask a knight to take their noble warhorse and give it to the first village she finds.
To make the Suggestion seem reasonable, you must be able to spin it. You might think about the fact that horses are essential for villages.
Doesn’t a knight have the right to lend his horse to those less fortunate?
However, reasonable can still be subjective. It’s best to discuss the spell with your DM privately.
You might be able to come up with reasonable ways you could use the spell and some less reasonable ones.
Communication is key to avoiding misunderstandings and conflicts later. So make sure you talk.
Where can I get the materials?
The material components of the spell are a snake’s tongue, honeycomb, or sweet oil. If you have a part pouch, all of the necessary components are likely to be in your possession.
The components can also be found if you don’t have one. If you find yourself in a battle with a huge serpent, you can locate the snake’s tongue and remove it.
You might also be able to hunt for smaller snakes if your environment is warm.
You can easily make a snake’s mouth by using a few dice and some roleplaying. Or, you can buy it at an alchemy store.
You can find sweet oil and a little honeycomb at most restaurants, taverns, general stores, and other places.
Sweet oil and honey are both very common. It won’t cost you more than a few coins to purchase. These items can be used to cast spells, but they are not consumable.
It is a bit confusing to imagine how you would use these materials for roleplaying and casting the spell.
While you speak the spell’s words, would you hold the snake tongue up and then cover it with the oil?
Wrap the honeycomb around the snake tongue, and then use it as a focal point for the spell.
Try to be creative and not wonder how holding a snake tongue feels. It’s unlikely that your character enjoys it.
How does Suggestion Affect the Target?
Now that we have focused on the spell we can now see how it affects your target. Unlike other spells that can affect the mind, the target doesn’t know the spell has been cast.
If you cast a spell to force the bandit into giving the treasure, he will not know it was cast.
He will ‘come up with’ the idea of giving away the treasure, but he won’t link the act of giving away the treasure with your character casting it.
He might instead try to retrieve the treasure, but not for you! This is very exciting because you don’t need to worry about the Suggestion spell coming back to bite your face!
Which targets can have the Spell Cast on them?
First, the target must be able to hear and understand you. The spell will fail if the target is deaf or unable to speak your language.
Also, targets such as undead and constructs cannot have Suggestion cast on them. Although Suggestion does not work like a charm spell or charm, it can be used to suggest a target if they are unable to charm themselves.
Nonetheless, the majority of humanoid foes speak common languages, so you can still charm them.
You might be able to use the languages you know to charm them if they don’t speak your language.
If you wish to suggest something, this makes it very easy to learn an additional language!
Suggestion 5e FAQs
What If Suggestions Are Cast On You?
Yes, spellcasters from enemy magic creatures and other magical creatures can cast spells. One of these spells could be a Suggestion. Your character will be affected by Suggestions if they fail their wisdom saving throw.
The wizard will then be able to give you a suggestion. This Suggestion is unlikely to be to kill your entire party as it is an unreasonable order.
You might still be asked to go someplace and do something else than the battlefield. If this is a social encounter you may be asked to leave the group or forced to do something harmful (but not fatal) to them.
What are some good ways to think of suggestions?
Sometimes the Suggestion spell’s vast array of options can seem overwhelming, even if you take out unreasonable requests.
There are some questions that you can ask to help you decide what Suggestions you should use.
Consider what the creature could reasonably do. A dumb bugbear may be more susceptible to Suggestions than a trained guard.
While you might be able to convince the bugbear that it will fall to its face in combat, a trained guard won’t experience the same effect if you say the same thing.
Guards are likely to have had some combat training and know that it is not helpful to be prone during combat.
You can roleplay the creature or person you want to suggest something to and think about how you can make it seem realistic.
It can also be fun to solve, which can make it more interesting. You can also make every interaction with Suggestion unique!
