Mirror Image
- Level: 2
- School: Illusion
- Class: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: Self
- Components: V, S
- Duration: 1 minute
Three illusory duplicates of yourself appear in your space. Until the spell ends, the duplicates move with you and mimic your actions, shifting position so it's impossible to track which image is real.
Each time a creature hits you with an attack roll during the spell's duration, roll a d6 for each of your remaining duplicates. If any of the d6s rolls a 3 or higher, one of the duplicates is hit instead of you, and the duplicate is destroyed. The duplicates otherwise ignore all other damage and effects. The spell ends when all three duplicates are destroyed.
A creature is unaffected by this spell if it has the Blinded condition, Blindsight, or Truesight.
Tactical Usage
Mirror Image serves as an exceptional defensive spell that dramatically increases survivability for fragile spellcasters and other vulnerable characters. Cast this at the beginning of combat or when anticipating danger to maximize the protection duration and defensive benefit throughout encounters.
Target selection prioritization becomes critical when enemies can see through the illusion. Characters with high AC benefit less than those with poor physical defenses, making this spell ideal for wizards, sorcerers, and other classes that rely on avoiding rather than absorbing damage.
The probability mechanics favor caster survival significantly - with three duplicates, incoming attacks have only a 25% chance of hitting the real target initially. This percentage increases as duplicates are destroyed, but even with one remaining duplicate, 50% protection provides substantial defensive value.
Spell Combinations
Mirror Image synergizes excellently with offensive spellcasting by providing protection while maintaining full action economy for damaging magic. Combine with concentration spells like Haste or Greater Invisibility to maintain powerful ongoing effects while benefiting from defensive protection.
Defensive layering works well with Mage Armor, Shield, and Blur to create comprehensive protection packages. Displacement and Blink provide additional miss chances that stack with Mirror Image's duplicate protection for nearly untouchable defensive combinations.
Positioning enhancement comes through combining with movement spells like Misty Step or Dimension Door. The duplicates move with the caster, maintaining protection while enabling tactical repositioning that capitalizes on improved survivability and battlefield control.
Material Component Details
Mirror Image requires only verbal and somatic components, making it extremely accessible without material cost restrictions. The component simplicity ensures reliable availability even in challenging circumstances where equipment might be compromised or unavailable.
Quick casting with a standard action allows reactive use when combat begins unexpectedly or when danger becomes apparent. The immediate protection provided makes this spell valuable for emergency defensive responses and tactical preparation.
No concentration requirement means Mirror Image provides passive protection that doesn't interfere with other magical effects or require ongoing mental effort to maintain. This allows full tactical flexibility while benefiting from continuous defensive enhancement.
Creator Notes
Mirror Image provides excellent defensive options without overwhelming encounter balance or creating invincible characters. The probability-based protection means lucky rolls can still result in hits, maintaining tension and uncertainty during combat encounters.
Visual description opportunities abound with duplicate creation and destruction, adding dramatic flair to combat encounters. Creative narration of near-misses, duplicate destruction, and final hits can enhance combat excitement and player engagement with defensive magic.
Creature limitations through blindsight and truesight provide necessary counterplay options that prevent the spell from trivializing all encounters. Intelligent enemies might develop tactics specifically for dealing with illusion-protected targets.
Environmental Interactions
Mirror Image duplicates move with the caster and adapt to environmental conditions automatically. Difficult terrain affects all images equally, while environmental hazards that target specific locations might affect duplicates and the real caster differently based on positioning.
Lighting conditions can affect how convincing the duplicates appear to observers. Dim light might make detection more difficult, while bright illumination could reveal subtle differences that aid in identifying the real target among the images.
Spatial restrictions in confined areas might cause duplicates to overlap or cluster more tightly, potentially making individual targeting more difficult but also concentrating the protective effect within smaller tactical zones.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Attack resolution requires rolling separate d6s for each remaining duplicate when attacks hit, with any result of 3 or higher indicating duplicate destruction rather than damage to the real target. Multiple duplicates can be destroyed by single attacks if multiple dice succeed.
Blindsight and truesight allow creatures to automatically target the real caster rather than duplicates, effectively negating the spell's protective benefits. Blinded creatures cannot distinguish between duplicates and the real target, ironically making them more affected by the illusion.
Duplicate behavior includes moving with the caster and mimicking actions convincingly enough to maintain the illusion. Spellcasting gestures, weapon attacks, and movement patterns are replicated across all images simultaneously.
Spell end conditions occur when all three duplicates are destroyed through successful attacks or when the 1-minute duration expires naturally. The spell cannot be extended through normal means but can be recast for renewed protection.
Alternative Applications
Social deception scenarios can benefit from Mirror Image during negotiations or confrontations where multiple apparent targets create psychological pressure or confusion among hostile parties. Intimidation effects might be enhanced through apparent numerical superiority.
Investigation and exploration applications include using duplicates to test dangerous areas or trigger traps safely. While duplicates ignore most damage, they can reveal environmental hazards through interaction attempts and movement testing.
Performance applications provide entertainment value through magical displays that showcase illusion capabilities. Street performances, magical demonstrations, and theatrical effects can benefit from temporary duplicate creation for dramatic enhancement.
Related Spells
Defensive illusions like Blur, Displacement, and Greater Invisibility provide alternative miss chance mechanics with different advantages and limitations. Sanctuary offers protection through different mechanical approaches that prevent targeting entirely.
Duplicate magic connects to Simulacrum for permanent duplicate creation and Project Image for remote duplicate manifestation. Mislead combines invisibility with duplicate creation for enhanced tactical options.
Protection spells like Shield, Mage Armor, and Stoneskin provide damage reduction or AC enhancement that complements Mirror Image's attack redirection through completely different defensive mechanisms.
Scaling Analysis
Mirror Image maintains consistent utility throughout character progression due to its percentage-based protection that remains equally valuable against both weak and powerful attacks. Early-level characters benefit from affordable protection, while high-level characters appreciate reliable defense against devastating attacks.
Encounter scaling shows increased value against multiple attackers who can quickly eliminate duplicates through focused fire. Single powerful enemies might find their attacks occasionally thwarted, but sustained assault will eventually penetrate the protection.
Campaign utility varies with enemy intelligence and tactical sophistication. Mindless creatures remain fully affected throughout character progression, while intelligent enemies might develop counter-strategies or prioritize targets with dispelling capabilities.
Narrative Flavor
Mirror Image manifestation should emphasize the sudden multiplication of the caster into identical copies that move in perfect synchronization. Visual confusion becomes immediate as observers struggle to distinguish which figure represents the real target among the identical images.
Duplicate destruction provides dramatic moments as near-hits reveal themselves through image dissolution rather than blood and injury. Weapon passes, spell effects, and environmental hazards that contact duplicates should create brief shimmering dispersal effects that maintain combat excitement.
Movement coordination among duplicates creates opportunities for describing tactical complexity as multiple images execute identical actions simultaneously. Spellcasting, combat maneuvers, and social interactions become choreographed performances featuring perfect synchronization among apparently identical participants.