Plane Shift 5e D&D Guide

Plane Shift is a 7th-level teleportation/banishment spell used to shift between planes. It is available on the Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard spell lists.

Plane Shift enables mere mortals to traverse the endless expanse known as the Planes of Existence. Seek your answers wherever they may lie, in the Positive or Negative Plane.

The Player’s Handbook description says the following:

Plane Shift 5e

7th-level Conjuration

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (one forked metal rod worth at least 250 GP, that is attuned to a particular plane of existence)

Duration: Instantaneous

You, as well as up to eight willing creatures that link hands in a circle, will be transported to a different plane of existence.

You may specify a target destination in general terms, such as the City of Brass residing on the Elemental Plane of Fire or even the palace of Dispater built on the second level of the Nine Hells, and you then appear in or near that destination.

Suppose you are trying to reach the City of Brass, for example. You might arrive in the Street of Steel, before the Gate of Ashes, or looking at this magnificent city from beyond the Sea of Fire, at the DM’s discretion.

Teleportation Circles

Alternatively, if you have memorized the sigil sequence of a teleportation circle on a plane of existence, this spell can teleport you to that circle.

If the teleportation circle isn’t big enough to hold all the creatures you transported, they will appear in the closest unoccupied space next to the circle.

Banishment

You can use this spell to banish one unwilling creature to another plane.

Simply choose a creature within your reach and then make a melee spell attack against it. If you hit, the creature must complete a Charisma saving roll.

If the creature fails the save, it will be transported to a random location on your specified plane of existence.

A creature transported in this manner must find its way back to your current plane of existence.

Which Classes Can Pick Plane Shift?

Traditional classes like a Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard can freely unlock this spell.

The Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock (using Mystic Arcanum), and Wizard can all use this spell at level 13.

No subclasses freely unlock Plane Shift.

Is Plane Shift Good in 5e?

Plane Shift is a spell that can be extremely powerful or very underwhelming. Different DMs will have different ways of dealing with it, and if they find it overpowered, good luck trying to cast it.

Advantages – Plane Shift

Class Availability

Plane Shift is available to five classes, which means there is a chance at least one of your party members will be able to unlock this spell.

Disadvantages – Plane Shift

Material Component

The biggest disadvantage Plane Shift has, is its Material component.

It isn’t only expensive (starting at 250 GP), but the DM will probably make it more difficult to obtain.

In extreme cases, the DM might even limit the number of rods, which means you can only use this spell a handful of times.

While this forces players to make clever decisions, it can also frustrate them.

Note: Not all DMs do this. Some DMs might be more lenient and allow the use of this spell, but with tweaked rules to balance it out.

Low Range (Touch)

If you use this spell offensively, you better hope it doesn’t fail. Because if it does, you’ll be face to face with whatever monster you tried to banish.

Spells Similar To Plane Shift

Spells like Banishment, Teleportation Circle and Teleport are all similar to Plane Shift.

Plane Shift Compared to Teleport

Comparing these two spells is difficult since their benefits and drawbacks are very specific.

While Plane Shift doesn’t have the chance to fail and do damage, finding another Material component might take a while.

On the other hand, Teleport is a lot easier to use but can also almost kill players if it were a mishap.

Ultimately, it comes down to preference and how risk-averse you are.

When or How Should I Use Plane Shift?

Travel To Different Planes

Traveling to different planes seems obvious, but some campaigns or quests demand players to do so. Having Plant Shift will just help players complete these quests faster.

Banishing Powerful Creatures

Some creatures can threaten an entire party. It makes sense that you want to get rid of them first.

Using Plane Shift can also work if you don’t have the Banishment spell.

Note: Be very careful when attempting this. You must enter the creature’s attack range, as Plane Shift is a touch spell!

Mind Flayers (DM)

DMs occasionally put players at immense risk for their storytelling and sadistic enjoyment. So starting a rescue quest by having a Mind Flayer teleport a party member away could add to a campaign!

Note: Be sure to tweak the rules of Plane Shift if you want to use it like this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Plane Shift to the Feywild 5e?

You can easily cross into the Feywild’s territory if you have a tuning fork with a frequency attuned to it.

Can You Plane Shift to the Same Place 5e?

It specifies that you travel to a “different plane of existence.”

However, even if you could use it to travel on the same plane of existence, it would be a waste of a 7th-level spell slot.

You should instead use Tepelortation Circle or Teleport if you want to travel around in your current plane of existence.

Can You Plane Shift to a Demiplane 5e?

Players can use Plane Shift to carry themselves to a Demiplane. The problem lies in finding an accurate frequency for the tuning fork.

Knowing the risk, using the Gate spell would be safer. Just make sure you know which location you want to teleport to.

Final Thoughts

Plane Shift shares similarities to other spells. However, the fact that players can use it in so many different ways makes it a target for DMs.

If you are lucky enough to have your DM rule this spell leniently, you should try using it to its full potential. You never know when they might change their mind!