Can the Minor Illusion spell be cast without line of sight?












5














Can minor illusion be cast without line of sight?



For example, could you cast it behind a wall or through a closed door? Or do you need to see where it’s being manifested? I can't seem to find any threads on this.










share|improve this question





























    5














    Can minor illusion be cast without line of sight?



    For example, could you cast it behind a wall or through a closed door? Or do you need to see where it’s being manifested? I can't seem to find any threads on this.










    share|improve this question



























      5












      5








      5







      Can minor illusion be cast without line of sight?



      For example, could you cast it behind a wall or through a closed door? Or do you need to see where it’s being manifested? I can't seem to find any threads on this.










      share|improve this question















      Can minor illusion be cast without line of sight?



      For example, could you cast it behind a wall or through a closed door? Or do you need to see where it’s being manifested? I can't seem to find any threads on this.







      dnd-5e spells illusion line-of-sight line-of-effect






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      share|improve this question













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      edited Dec 16 '18 at 20:40









      V2Blast

      19.8k357123




      19.8k357123










      asked Dec 16 '18 at 14:25









      JaafaJaafa

      282




      282






















          1 Answer
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          10














          You don't have to see the target but you must have a clear path to it



          If a spell requires that you must be able to see the target to cast it, it says so. Minor illusion does not say so:




          You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration.




          All it requires is that the target area be within range.



          However, there is a more general restriction that you have to meet that affects all spells: you must have a clear path to the target (from the PHB section on Targets):




          To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.




          And, from the description of Total Cover:




          A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or
          a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it
          in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely
          concealed by an obstacle.




          So, if the wall or door completely conceals the area you want to target with the spell, you cannot cast minor illusion.






          share|improve this answer





















          • A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
            – L0neGamer
            Dec 16 '18 at 20:26












          • Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 17 '18 at 15:51






          • 1




            @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
            – Rubiksmoose
            Dec 17 '18 at 17:50











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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          10














          You don't have to see the target but you must have a clear path to it



          If a spell requires that you must be able to see the target to cast it, it says so. Minor illusion does not say so:




          You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration.




          All it requires is that the target area be within range.



          However, there is a more general restriction that you have to meet that affects all spells: you must have a clear path to the target (from the PHB section on Targets):




          To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.




          And, from the description of Total Cover:




          A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or
          a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it
          in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely
          concealed by an obstacle.




          So, if the wall or door completely conceals the area you want to target with the spell, you cannot cast minor illusion.






          share|improve this answer





















          • A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
            – L0neGamer
            Dec 16 '18 at 20:26












          • Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 17 '18 at 15:51






          • 1




            @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
            – Rubiksmoose
            Dec 17 '18 at 17:50
















          10














          You don't have to see the target but you must have a clear path to it



          If a spell requires that you must be able to see the target to cast it, it says so. Minor illusion does not say so:




          You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration.




          All it requires is that the target area be within range.



          However, there is a more general restriction that you have to meet that affects all spells: you must have a clear path to the target (from the PHB section on Targets):




          To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.




          And, from the description of Total Cover:




          A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or
          a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it
          in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely
          concealed by an obstacle.




          So, if the wall or door completely conceals the area you want to target with the spell, you cannot cast minor illusion.






          share|improve this answer





















          • A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
            – L0neGamer
            Dec 16 '18 at 20:26












          • Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 17 '18 at 15:51






          • 1




            @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
            – Rubiksmoose
            Dec 17 '18 at 17:50














          10












          10








          10






          You don't have to see the target but you must have a clear path to it



          If a spell requires that you must be able to see the target to cast it, it says so. Minor illusion does not say so:




          You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration.




          All it requires is that the target area be within range.



          However, there is a more general restriction that you have to meet that affects all spells: you must have a clear path to the target (from the PHB section on Targets):




          To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.




          And, from the description of Total Cover:




          A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or
          a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it
          in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely
          concealed by an obstacle.




          So, if the wall or door completely conceals the area you want to target with the spell, you cannot cast minor illusion.






          share|improve this answer












          You don't have to see the target but you must have a clear path to it



          If a spell requires that you must be able to see the target to cast it, it says so. Minor illusion does not say so:




          You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration.




          All it requires is that the target area be within range.



          However, there is a more general restriction that you have to meet that affects all spells: you must have a clear path to the target (from the PHB section on Targets):




          To target something, you must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.




          And, from the description of Total Cover:




          A target with total cover can't be targeted directly by an attack or
          a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it
          in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely
          concealed by an obstacle.




          So, if the wall or door completely conceals the area you want to target with the spell, you cannot cast minor illusion.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Dec 16 '18 at 17:05









          RubiksmooseRubiksmoose

          49.1k6243370




          49.1k6243370












          • A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
            – L0neGamer
            Dec 16 '18 at 20:26












          • Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 17 '18 at 15:51






          • 1




            @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
            – Rubiksmoose
            Dec 17 '18 at 17:50


















          • A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
            – L0neGamer
            Dec 16 '18 at 20:26












          • Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 17 '18 at 15:51






          • 1




            @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
            – Rubiksmoose
            Dec 17 '18 at 17:50
















          A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
          – L0neGamer
          Dec 16 '18 at 20:26






          A possible expansion that could be explored: could minor illusion (and similar) be casted via keyhole or some such?
          – L0neGamer
          Dec 16 '18 at 20:26














          Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
          – MarkTO
          Dec 17 '18 at 15:51




          Another point, could a creature inside a closed off opaque paper tent hear an illusory sound? It would have 'total cover' and by RAW, the illusion of yelling next to the tent could not be heard inside, but an actual yell could be.
          – MarkTO
          Dec 17 '18 at 15:51




          1




          1




          @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
          – Rubiksmoose
          Dec 17 '18 at 17:50




          @MarkTO depends on the spell, in the case of minor illusion, the creature isn't a target, the area the illusion is cast on is. So there shouldn't be a direct path issue.
          – Rubiksmoose
          Dec 17 '18 at 17:50


















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