Phantom Steed

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• Level: 3
• School: Illusion
• Class: Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 minute or Ritual
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 hour

A Large, quasi-real, horselike creature appears on the ground in an unoccupied space of your choice within range. You decide the creature's appearance, and it is equipped with a saddle, bit, and bridle. Any of the equipment created by the spell vanishes in a puff of smoke if it is carried more than 10 feet away from the steed.

For the duration, you or a creature you choose can ride the steed. The steed uses the Riding Horse stat block (see "Monsters"), except it has a Speed of 100 feet and can travel 13 miles in an hour. When the spell ends, the steed gradually fades, giving the rider 1 minute to dismount. The spell ends early if the steed takes any damage.

Tactical Usage

Enhanced Travel Speed. Phantom Steed provides exceptional overland movement with 100-foot speed and 13 miles per hour travel rate, far exceeding normal mounts and most magical transportation options available to mid-level characters.

Expendable Mount Strategy. The steed's vulnerability to any damage makes it unsuitable for combat but excellent for rapid repositioning, retreat scenarios, and non-combat travel where speed matters more than durability.

Ritual Flexibility. The ritual casting option eliminates spell slot costs during downtime travel, making this an economical choice for regular transportation needs when time allows for the extended casting.

Spell Combinations

Protection Synergy. Combining with defensive spells like Shield or Misty Step helps protect both rider and mount from opportunistic attacks during movement, as any damage ends the spell prematurely.

Communication Enhancement. Message or telepathic abilities allow coordination with party members who cannot keep pace, maintaining tactical unity despite speed differences during travel or pursuit scenarios.

Detection Avoidance. Pass Without Trace or Invisibility can help concealed travel on phantom steeds, though the mount's quasi-real nature might interact unpredictably with certain detection methods.

Material Component Details

Component-Free Casting. Phantom Steed requires no material components, making it accessible and repeatable without resource concerns or component availability limitations in remote locations.

Somatic Requirements. The spell requires verbal and somatic components but can be cast as a ritual, allowing careful timing and positioning during the extended casting period for optimal deployment.

Equipment Integration. The spell creates saddle, bit, and bridle as part of the manifestation, eliminating need for additional equipment while ensuring proper riding comfort and control.

Creator Notes

Travel Pacing Tool. Phantom Steed provides excellent solutions for overland travel pacing, allowing parties to cover significant distances without overshadowing other transportation methods or trivializing journey challenges.

Fragility Balance. The mount's destruction from any damage prevents abuse in combat while maintaining utility for exploration, pursuit, and escape scenarios where careful positioning matters.

Economic Consideration. As a ritual spell with no material costs, Phantom Steed offers sustainable transportation that doesn't drain party resources during extended travel periods.

Environmental Interactions

Terrain Independence. The quasi-real nature allows travel over most terrain types without the limitations of living mounts, though difficult terrain might still affect movement as determined by the Creator.

Weather Resistance. Unlike living mounts, phantom steeds don't suffer from weather effects, exhaustion, or environmental hazards that would affect normal animals during extended travel.

Magical Interaction. Anti-magic fields and similar effects immediately end the spell, while the quasi-real nature might interact uniquely with plane-shifting or dimensional effects during travel.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Damage Sensitivity. Any damage to the steed ends the spell immediately, including area effects, environmental hazards, or incidental contact with harmful substances or effects.

Passenger Limitation. Only one rider can use the steed effectively, though interpretation might allow small passengers or equipment within reason based on the riding horse stat block foundation.

Dismount Grace Period. When the spell ends, riders have one minute to dismount safely as the steed gradually fades, preventing sudden falls or abandonment in dangerous locations.

Equipment Disappearance. Saddle, bit, and bridle vanish if carried more than 10 feet from the steed, preventing removal and separate use of the conjured equipment.

Alternative Applications

Reconnaissance Missions. Fast, quiet movement allows rapid scouting of large areas or pursuit of fleeing enemies, though combat vulnerability requires careful route planning and escape preparation.

Emergency Response. Rapid transportation to distant emergencies, delivery of urgent messages, or evacuation of individuals from dangerous situations benefits from exceptional speed capabilities.

Supply Line Support. Moving lightweight, high-value cargo across distances quickly, though weight limitations and damage vulnerability require careful consideration of transported materials.

Related Spells

Mount Alternatives. Find Steed provides more durable combat-capable mounts, while Find Greater Steed offers flying options with enhanced capabilities for higher-level applications.

Transportation Magic. Teleportation Circle, Dimension Door, and similar spells provide instant travel options, while Phantom Steed excels at sustained overland movement.

Speed Enhancement. Longstrider and Expeditious Retreat offer personal speed increases, while Phantom Steed provides mount-based movement that doesn't require concentration maintenance.

Scaling Analysis

Non-Scaling Design. Phantom Steed provides consistent benefits regardless of spell slot level, making it efficient resource use throughout character progression without diminishing returns.

Campaign Relevance. Utility scales with travel distance requirements and terrain challenges in specific campaigns, remaining valuable for exploration-heavy adventures but less relevant in urban or dungeon-focused games.

Resource Efficiency. Ritual casting eliminates spell slot costs during downtime, making this spell increasingly attractive as higher-level slots become more valuable for combat applications.

Narrative Flavor

Ethereal Manifestation. The phantom steed appears as a translucent, quasi-real horse with otherworldly beauty and perfect temperament, responding intuitively to rider commands and showing no fear or hesitation.

Customized Appearance. Casters can design unique visual characteristics reflecting personal style, magical tradition, or thematic elements that enhance storytelling and character development through mount appearance.

Gradual Dissolution. When the spell ends, the steed doesn't vanish instantly but fades slowly over one minute, allowing emotional connection and dramatic timing for narrative effect during important scenes.