Longstrider
- Level: 1
- School: Transmutation
- Class: Bard, Druid, Ranger, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: Touch
- Components: V, S, M (a pinch of dirt)
- Duration: 1 hour
You touch a creature. The target's Speed increases by 10 feet until the spell ends.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level above 1.
Tactical Usage
Mobility Enhancement: Longstrider provides consistent 10-foot speed increase for 1 hour without concentration, making it excellent for extended travel, exploration, or maintaining tactical positioning throughout encounters.
Party Coordination: The spell's upcast ability allows enhanced mobility for the entire party, creating coordinated movement advantages during group activities or tactical scenarios.
Resource Efficiency: As a 1st-level spell with substantial duration and no concentration requirement, Longstrider provides exceptional value for sustained mobility enhancement.
Spell Combinations
Jump Synergy: Combine with Jump for comprehensive mobility enhancement. Longstrider provides base movement increase while Jump enables vertical movement options for complete maneuverability.
Expeditious Retreat Coordination: While both provide movement benefits, Longstrider offers sustained enhancement while Expeditious Retreat provides emergency escape options.
Pass without Trace Layering: Enhanced movement speed combines excellently with stealth enhancement, allowing faster travel while maintaining concealment during infiltration operations.
Material Component Details
Dirt Symbolism: The pinch of dirt represents connection to the earth and natural movement, symbolically grounding the spell in elemental earth magic and natural enhancement.
Universal Availability: Dirt is available virtually everywhere, making Longstrider one of the most reliable spells in terms of component accessibility regardless of environment.
Elemental Connection: The earth component connects to stability and endurance, reflecting the spell's enhancement of natural walking ability rather than magical flight or teleportation.
Creator Notes
Non-Concentration Benefit: Unlike many enhancement spells, Longstrider doesn't require concentration, allowing simultaneous use with other concentration effects for comprehensive magical enhancement.
Duration Value: The 1-hour duration covers most exploration sessions, travel periods, or extended encounters without requiring reapplication, making spell slot investment highly efficient.
Stacking Considerations: Longstrider provides a flat speed increase that stacks with other movement enhancements, creating potential for significant mobility when combined with other effects.
Environmental Interactions
Terrain Independence: The speed increase applies to all movement types, benefiting walking, climbing, and swimming equally for comprehensive mobility enhancement across varied terrain.
Travel Efficiency: Enhanced movement speed reduces travel time for overland journeys, potentially allowing parties to cover more ground or reach destinations ahead of schedule.
Combat Mobility: The speed increase improves positioning options during encounters, allowing better tactical movement and escape options throughout combat situations.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
All Movement Types: The speed increase applies to walking, climbing, swimming, and other movement modes equally, providing universal mobility enhancement.
Multiple Targets: Upcast versions affect additional creatures, allowing party-wide enhancement that maintains group cohesion during travel or tactical movement.
Speed Stacking: Longstrider stacks with other movement enhancements, creating cumulative benefits when combined with class features, magic items, or other spells.
Alternative Applications
Athletic Performance: Enhance performance in competitive events, races, or physical challenges where movement speed provides competitive advantages.
Labor Efficiency: Workers can accomplish tasks requiring movement more quickly, improving productivity for jobs involving travel between work sites or physical activity.
Emergency Response: First responders, messengers, or emergency personnel gain improved response times and coverage area through enhanced movement capabilities.
Related Spells
Expeditious Retreat: Provides doubled movement but requires concentration and bonus action activation. Use Longstrider for sustained enhancement and Expeditious Retreat for emergency speed.
Misty Step: Offers teleportation instead of speed enhancement. Choose based on whether sustained movement or instant repositioning better serves tactical needs.
Haste: Higher-level spell providing comprehensive enhancement including speed, but with concentration requirement and exhaustion risk. Compare resource costs and benefit scope.
Scaling Analysis
Early Levels (1-4): Longstrider provides excellent utility when movement speed significantly impacts exploration efficiency and tactical positioning options.
Mid Levels (5-10): Upcast versions enable party-wide enhancement, making the spell valuable for group coordination during travel and tactical scenarios.
High Levels (11+): While individual speed increases become less significant, the spell remains useful for specific applications where movement efficiency provides strategic value.
Narrative Flavor
Earth Connection: As dirt dissolves in your hands, your legs feel lighter and more responsive. Each step covers more ground with the same effort as earthen energy enhances your natural stride.
Enhanced Stride: Your walking gait becomes more efficient and ground-covering. You feel a spring in your step that makes distances feel shorter while maintaining natural movement rhythm.
Sustained Endurance: The magical enhancement feels like natural athleticism rather than supernatural speed. Your movement becomes more efficient without feeling rushed or artificially accelerated.