Magic Mouth
- Casting Time: 1 minute
- Range: 30 ft.
- Duration: Until dispelled
- School: Illusion
- Class: Bard, Wizard, Artificer
- Level: 2nd
- Damage/Effect: None/Communication
- Attack/Save: None
- Components: V, S, M*
- Ritual/Concentration: Ritual
You implant a message within an object in range, a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn’t being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or less, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message.
When that circumstance occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there so that the words appear to come from the object’s mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.
The triggering circumstance can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.
* – (a small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth at least 10 gp, which the spell consumes)
When Should You Cast Magic Mouth?
Magic Mouth goes all the way back to Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (DnD 2e), and even back then, it was a silly spell with loads of hidden uses.
Wizards could cast Magic Mouth on their spell book, setting conditions such as “When anyone other than me touches this book, scream loudly”.
Artificers could fill their lab with helpful messages such as “Remember to wear safety goggles,” “Hard hats only beyond this point,” and “This lab will self-destruct in 3 minutes. Have a nice day.”
Bards could cast Magic Mouth on their instrument to provide vocal harmonies during music or a particular heckle during a stand-up comedy session. Ventriloquism never had such a useful spell.When in an adventure situation, such as a dungeon crawl or a long-term traveling session, use a magic mouth as a way to make a foolproof alarm during your rests or to mark passages you’ve already explored so you don’t get lost.
Rich is an avid D&D player and DM. He has been playing since the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st and 2nd editions. He has run campaigns of various editions with family and friends for over 20 years. Playing DnD 5th Edition in person at local game stores and online with VTT’s over the past 10 years has provided a consistent connection to how the game has grown. He strongly believes in understanding the source material, but catering the games to your individual players. Feel free to ask anything in the comments or drop him an email: [email protected].
