Illusion

Illusions are magical effects that alter perception, causing creatures to see, hear or otherwise sense something that does not exist or misinterpreting what is real. Unlike physical transformations or conjured objects, an illusion has no true substance; it is a deception of the senses rather than a change in the world itself. It can fool individuals, groups or even entire regions depending on its power and complexity, but its effectiveness depends on the observer's ability to perceive and interact with it. Illusions fall into two broad categories: those that create something entirely false and those that distort reality. The first includes phantasmal images, sounds and sensations that have no physical presence. The second alters existing sights and textures, hiding or disguising things rather than inventing them.

A creature subject to an illusion experiences it as real until they have reason to doubt it. Some illusions end when their false nature is exposed — if an illusory bridge is stepped upon, the illusion fails because it provides no support. Others persist even when disbelief is strong, continuing to affect those who cannot overcome their own senses. Spells and abilities that enhance perception or provide supernatural sight may reveal illusions, but not all magic can easily unravel them.

Illusions do not affect the physical world. A false wall blocks sight but not movement. An illusory monster roars and charges but does not strike or leave footprints. Even powerful illusions that include sound and scent cannot produce true force, only the convincing image of it. However, illusions are not always harmless — if an illusion compels a victim to react in fear, confusion or self-harm, the consequences may be just as real as if the illusion were tangible.

Spell Examples

Spells that create illusions vary in purpose, cast for the purpose of producing sights, sounds or sensations that exist only in the mind of the observer. Some conceal, making objects or creatures appear different, while others generate entirely false images or sounds. Though illusions have no true substance, they can influence behaviour, tricking creatures into acting on what they perceive as real. The strength of an illusion often depends on the target's ability to recognise the deception, with disbelief or magical insight revealing the truth. Examples include Nystul's magic aura, blindness, two d'llusion, rainbow, mask, croak, invisibility to undead, change self, audible glamer and hallucinatory terrain. This list is not exhaustive.

Nystul's Magic Aura cloaks an object or creature with a false magical signature, misleading divination spells and those who rely on magical detection. Blindness overwhelms a creature's vision with an illusionary effect, rendering them unable to see while leaving their other senses intact. Two d’llusion creates a flat two-dimensional image, which appears real from one point of view. Rainbow produces a shifting cascade of illusionary light, dazzling the eyes and obscuring vision in a small area. Mask alters the minor details of a creature's appearance, such as changing hair colour or softening features, to make them harder to recognise. Croak emits a sustained croaking sound that sounds like multiple frogs. Invisibility to Undead causes the caster to appear as an indistinct presence, preventing most mindless undead from perceiving them. Change Self allows the caster to disguise their appearance entirely, assuming the form of another creature of similar size and shape. Audible Glamer generates illusionary sound, from a single voice to a full cacophony, seemingly originating from a chosen point. Hallucinatory Terrain transforms the appearance of an area, making barren ground appear lush, disguising roads as wild terrain or even creating the illusion of impassable obstacles.