Sleep 5e D&D Guide

A classic, the Sleep spell has been around as long as the game itself. It is an ultimate crowd control spell at lower levels and can turn a battle in the players’ favor with one cast.

The rules for Sleep can be found in the Players Handbook on page 276.

Sleep 5e

1st-level Enchantment

Casting Time: 1 Action

Range: 90 feet

Components: V, S, M (A pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket)

Duration: 1 minute

This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8, the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect.

Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures).

Starting with the creature that has the lowest current hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake.

Subtract each creature’s hit points from the total before moving on to the creature with the next lowest hit points.

A creature’s hit points must be equal to or less than the remaining total for that creature to be affected. Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by this spell.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each slot level above 1st.

The rules for Sleep indicate that it is excellent crowd control, best used on small enemies. It does have the option to be up-cast; however, the number of creatures affected is still variable based on the die roll. This can make sleep a very risky play.

Is Sleep Good?

Sleep is the ultimate crowd-control spell at low levels. This is based on the concept that the enemies earlier on have significantly fewer hit points per creature.

The average hit points affected roll is slightly above 20. This equates to multiple smaller enemies, such as rats, kobolds, goblins, and wolves, succumbing to its effects.

It is generally safe to use around your allies as well since it starts affecting the lowest amount of hit points first.

Your allies will still go down, but they should be some of the last creatures impacted and don’t take any damage. An action can be used to wake them up if they do go down.

At higher levels, there is still an opportunity to use the spell since it has a range and the ability to be up-cast.

The total on the die roll plays a significant part in how effective each will be each cast and leaves a lot to chance. However, when it does work, a good roll on an upcast sleep spell can buy some much-needed time for healing or a hasty escape.

How Does Sleep Work?

Rolling 5d8 gives you a total amount of hit points that can be affected by the spell that is in the 20 ft range. Starting with the lowest hit point, creatures in the zone subtract their hit points from the total, and they fall asleep. Leftovers are lost and have no effect.

For example:

The wizard casts sleep. He rolls 5d8 and comes up with 24. The 20-foot radius gets six kobolds and his ally, who is a fighter.

Each kobold has 5 hit points, and the fighter has 12 hit points. Starting with kobold one, he subtracts 5 hit points from the 24-hit point total.

This affects 5 kobolds for a total of 20 leaving 4 hit points left over. The last kobold has 5 hit points, which is greater than the 4 remaining points, so he is unaffected. The fighter is also above the remaining hit points, so he is also unaffected.

What Classes Get Sleep?

Sleep is available to three main classes – the Bard, Sorcerer, and Wizard. It is also available to numerous subclasses -the Eldritch Knight, Arcane Trickster, Twilight Cleric, Redemption Paladin, and the Archfey Warlock.

The Dimir Guild of Ravnica and The Dragonmark: Mark of Hospitality also have the spell available.

What Conditions Are Caused by Sleep?

The Sleep spell is a charm spell and should be treated as such. Creatures immune to charm, such as undead, cannot be affected by this spell. A sleeping creature is unconscious. Unconscious creatures are incapacitated.

They also drop anything they are holding and fall prone. These creatures automatically fail strength and dexterity-based saving throws. Attack rolls have advantage against these creatures. Also, any hit from an attacker within 5 feet is a critical hit.

Sleep 5e FAQs

Are Elves Immune To Sleep in 5e?

Elves aren’t immune to all non-magical sleep or magical unconsciousness; however, if it is a spell that uses the term sleep, it can be thought of as a sleep-like effect, which Elves are immune to.

In other words, they are not immune to some conditions stating they are unconscious, as the ability/spell might not specify that it forces the target to “sleep.”

Finally, Elves are, in fact, immune to Sleep since the spell does state that creatures who are immune to being charmed cannot be affected by Sleep, and Elves are immune to being charmed.

Are Undead Immune To Sleep in 5e?

In the description of Sleep, it states, “Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by this spell.”

While other spells like Eyebite or Symbol don’t state this and can be used to cause sleep, they have similar use and will most likely have the same condition if you get technical with your DM.

You should also consider the fact that the Undead don’t sleep anyway, and most are immune to being charmed anyway.

How Do You Wake Up From Sleep in 5e?

Sleep lasts only 1 minute, so waiting a minute can lift the spell, but remember that a minute is quite long while in a battle.

Another way to wake up from Sleep would be to take damage or be woken up by another creature who used their action to do so.

Final Thoughts

The Sleep spell is not as strong as it was in previous editions but is a staple spell of the game.

It maintains usefulness with the ability to be up-cast, though it does drift off above mid-levels in terms of usefulness.

Creatures that are immune to charm are completely immune to sleep, which does make it a little more situational.

The bread and butter of crowd control spells that don’t differentiate between friend and foe, Sleep is a fun way to create some chaos without doing any damage to friends.