Levitate
- Level: 2
- School: Transmutation
- Class: Sorcerer, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: 60 feet
- Components: V, S, M (a metal spring)
- Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
One creature or loose object of your choice that you can see within range rises vertically up to 20 feet and remains suspended there for the duration. The spell can levitate an object that weighs up to 500 pounds. An unwilling creature that succeeds on a Constitution saving throw is unaffected.
The target can move only by pushing or pulling against a fixed object or surface within reach (such as a wall or a ceiling), which allows it to move as if it were climbing. You can change the target's altitude by up to 20 feet in either direction on your turn. If you are the target, you can move up or down as part of your move. Otherwise, you can take a Magic action to move the target, which must remain within the spell's range.
When the spell ends, the target floats gently to the ground if it is still aloft.
Tactical Usage
Battlefield Control: Levitate provides excellent positioning control by moving creatures or objects up to 20 feet vertically. Use it to remove enemies from combat range, position allies advantageously, or create tactical elevation.
Escape and Rescue: The spell offers excellent escape options for reaching safe heights or rescuing allies from ground-based threats. The gentle descent ensures safety when concentration ends.
Unwilling Target Control: Against enemies who fail Constitution saves, Levitate effectively removes them from ground-based combat while limiting their movement options to pushing against fixed surfaces.
Spell Combinations
Ranged Attack Synergy: Levitated creatures become sitting ducks for ranged attacks while having limited movement options. Coordinate with archers and spellcasters for focused fire opportunities.
Wall of Force Combo: Use Wall of Force to remove surfaces that levitated enemies could push against, leaving them completely stranded in mid-air with no movement options.
Telekinesis Enhancement: Combine with Telekinesis for comprehensive object manipulation - Levitate for vertical positioning and Telekinesis for horizontal movement and fine control.
Material Component Details
Metal Spring Symbolism: The metal spring component represents elasticity and vertical motion, symbolically connecting to the spell's ability to overcome gravity and provide controlled vertical movement.
Component Accessibility: Metal springs are commonly available from mechanical devices, clockwork, or manufactured goods, making the component easy to obtain in civilized areas.
Reusable Component: Unlike consumable components, the spring can be reused indefinitely, making Levitate economically sustainable for regular casting without ongoing component costs.
Creator Notes
Weight Limitations: The 500-pound limit restricts usage to medium-sized creatures and moderate equipment loads. Large creatures or heavily burdened targets might exceed the weight threshold.
Constitution Save: Unwilling creatures get Constitution saves rather than more common Dexterity or Wisdom saves, targeting a different defensive statistic that might catch some enemies off-guard.
Concentration Vulnerability: As a concentration spell, Levitate can be disrupted by damage or other concentration-breaking effects, potentially dropping levitated creatures at inopportune moments.
Environmental Interactions
Ceiling Considerations: Indoor environments with low ceilings limit vertical movement options. The 20-foot maximum altitude might be restricted by architectural constraints.
Surface Availability: The spell's movement mechanics depend on available surfaces to push against. Open areas with no walls, trees, or other fixed objects severely limit levitated movement.
Fall Damage Prevention: The gentle descent when concentration ends prevents fall damage, making Levitate safer than other forced movement effects that might result in harmful falls.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Vertical Movement Only: The spell specifically provides vertical movement - horizontal positioning requires pushing against surfaces or external forces rather than direct magical control.
Magic Action Control: Moving unwilling targets requires a Magic action, competing with other spell casting and limiting your tactical options during the spell's duration.
Range Limitation: Targets must remain within the 60-foot range throughout the duration, or the spell ends automatically, potentially dropping them unexpectedly.
Alternative Applications
Construction Work: Levitate workers or materials for construction, maintenance, or repair projects involving elevated positions that would otherwise require scaffolding or ladders.
Performance Art: Entertainers can use Levitate for dramatic aerial performances, magical displays, or theatrical effects that amaze audiences with apparent defiance of gravity.
Rescue Operations: Lift trapped individuals from dangerous situations like floods, fires, or collapsed structures where conventional rescue methods might be impossible.
Related Spells
Fly: Provides complete aerial mobility rather than limited vertical movement. Use Fly for comprehensive aerial capability and Levitate for specific vertical positioning needs.
Telekinesis: Offers broader object manipulation including horizontal movement and fine control. Compare based on whether vertical positioning or general object control better serves tactical needs.
Feather Fall: Prevents fall damage but doesn't provide controlled movement. Use Feather Fall for emergency protection and Levitate for strategic positioning.
Scaling Analysis
Early Levels (3-6): Levitate provides unique tactical options when flight is unavailable and vertical positioning can dramatically alter encounter dynamics.
Mid Levels (7-12): Remains valuable for specific tactical situations, though flying creatures and flight magic become more common, reducing the spell's unique positioning advantage.
High Levels (13+): While less revolutionary, Levitate retains utility for specific scenarios where controlled vertical movement serves tactical or utility purposes.
Narrative Flavor
Gravity Defiance: The target begins to rise slowly and steadily as magical force overcomes gravitational pull. They float with controlled grace, neither falling nor ascending beyond the spell's limits.
Magical Suspension: Invisible force cradles the levitated subject, creating the sensation of floating in thick, supportive liquid. Movement requires effort against this supernatural buoyancy.
Spring Resonance: The metal spring component vibrates with magical energy that extends to the target, creating a mystical connection that maintains the levitation effect through sympathetic resonance.