Mending 5e D&D Guide

Mending is a utility Cantrip available in the Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard spell lists.

‘Wandering through the woods, you tear your pouching. Its contents fall to the ground as you scramble forward, picking everything up without hesitation.

Without delay, your Bard lays his hand on your pouch and casts Mending. The tear magically vanishes, and all you two can do is laugh.’

The Players Handbook states the following:

Mending 5e

Transmutation Cantrip

Casting Time: 1 minute

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (two lodestones)

Duration: Instantaneous

This spell will repair a single break or tear in an object you touch, a leaking wineskin, two halves of a broken key, a torn cloak, or a broken chain link.

As long as the tear or break isn’t bigger than 1 foot in any dimension, you can mend it, leaving no trace of any former damage.

This spell can physically repair a construct or magic item, but the spell can’t restore magic to such an object.

Which Classes Can Pick Mending?

Traditional classes, such as the Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard, and Artificer, can freely unlock Mending.

All traditional classes can unlock this spell at level 1.

No subclasses can freely unlock this spell.

Is Mending Good in 5e?

Mending is a good spell, but it is very campaign and player specific. It requires players to deal effectively with spying, hiding and relaying information.

If your campaign has all of this or you are playing a character that excels in these things. Then you should consider using Mending to your advantage.

Advantages – Mending

No Concentration

Concentration spells are difficult to justify as they remove many spells players could have cast instead.

They are also easier to cancel, as taking damage will completely dispel your current active spell.

For most Concentration spells, there is a time and place to cast them. Taking a gamble leaves a chance for the spell to be canceled.

No Action Used

Mending doesn’t use an action to cast it. Instead, it uses a casting time of 1 minute. After that, the spell will start working and repair the item.

You’ll also save an action to use in combat, as not having an action in combat can be extremely risky.

Class Availability

Mending is available to six traditional classes. There is a high likelihood that at least one player in your party can unlock it freely.

It is also a Cantrip and can be unlocked by each class at level 1. Players will also not have to prepare the spell and can cast it without a spell slot.

Disadvantages – Mending

Cursed Material Components

Mending requires two lodestones to be able to cast it. These stones are classified as Wondrous items and are pretty rare.

Their price is around 150 GP, which is expensive for Cantrips, especially since players are only starting.

Lodestones are also cursed. You will activate the curse using the Disengage or Dash action while the stone is on you.

Your speed will be reduced by 5 feet, halving your maximum lift and load. You’ll also not want to part with the stone willingly.

A Remove Curse spell will break the curse, but carrying something like this isn’t wise.

Very Low Range

Repairing objects are only possible if you are within range of touching them. In combat, this is extremely risky as enemies can target you for 1 minute.

This is why you should instead use this spell when out of combat or when it’s safe. Using it at a questionable time might endanger you and your party’s lives.

When or How Should I Use Mending?

Mending should be used when essential objects your party needs are damaged. You can only use it for various spying, thievery, and information concealment.

Diplomatic Campaigns

Some campaigns have players play a more diplomatic role. Having them spend their time in larger cities caught up with guilds, industries, nobles, and royals.

As you probably know, there’s a lot of corruption within these inner circles.

Generals taking bribes, industries targeting certain race groups, and nobles planning to assassinate or frame other nobles are ordinary in cities.

Repair Documents

Many documents naming these fraudulent activities are to be found and brought to light by your party. The problem is that you can’t trust anyone, not even your party.

Keeping these documents is a risk. But, tearing them up and keeping them places you under no suspicion, as nobody can do anything with torn papers.

You’ll have to use Mending and repair the torn pages. In this way, you keep the information entirely under the radar.

Rogues Can Break Into Buildings Without Detection

Rogues are experts at breaking into buildings. The only problem is that they usually leave a broken or open lock, showing the owner of the house how they got in.

You can fix this by sending someone with Mending with your Rogue and allowing them to use mending on the lock.

It clears the tracks of the Rogue and enables them to do everything secretly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Mending Be Used on a Corpse?

Jeremy Crawford explained that a corpse is an object, while an unconscious creature is a creature. So since it’s an object, as long as the tear or break is 1 foot or less, you can use Mending on it.

Can Mending Fix Armor and Weapons?

If the break or tear is one foot or less, Mending can fix the armor and weapons. The only problem arises when the item is magical, as the magic disappears and cannot be restored.

Does Dispel/Detect Magic Work on Mending?

Suppose you have finished casting Mending. It cannot be detected or dispelled by these two spells.

Final Thoughts

Mending isn’t a spell that you can use in all campaigns. It has a specific use and can easily be outclassed if a character sow holes shut.

So before choosing Mending, try and understand your campaign and the character you are playing.

Choosing a spell and not getting any use out of it can sour your D&D experience.