Spells you can't cast while blinded
Plenty of spells say "a creature you can see within range". While blinded you can't target anyone with those. Examples include Hold Person, Healing Word, Charm Person and Banishment. Spells that target a point, like Fireball, or that target yourself still work.
What causes blinded
Spells
- •Blindness/Deafness (2nd level): Constitution save or blinded for 1 minute; the target repeats the save each turn.
- •Color Spray (1st level). In 2014 it blinds creatures in a 15-foot cone using a 6d10 hit point pool, no save. In 2024 it's a Constitution save, and the blindness lasts until the end of your next turn.
- •Sunbeam (6th level) and Sunburst (8th level).
- •Prismatic Spray and Prismatic Wall.
- •Contagion (2014): Blinding Sickness.
Environment
- •Heavily obscured areas: darkness, thick fog and magical darkness. In 2024 you have the blinded condition while trying to see something in a heavily obscured space. In 2014 a heavily obscured area "effectively" blinds you.
Monsters
- •Darkmantle: attaches over a Medium or smaller target's head, blinding it.
- •Swallowed creatures (purple worm, behir, kraken, tarrasque) are blinded and restrained while inside.
How to end blinded
- •Lesser Restoration (2nd level): ends blinded in both editions.
- •Heal (6th level): ends blinded.
- •Repeat the save against Blindness/Deafness at the end of each of your turns.
- •Leave the darkness or fog if that's what's blinding you.
- •Paladin, level 14 (2024): Restoring Touch removes blinded through Lay On Hands.
Common rulings and edge cases
- •Blindsight ignores it. A creature with blindsight can perceive within its blindsight range even while blinded. The 2024 glossary says so directly.
- •Two blind creatures cancel out. If both attacker and target are blinded, the attacker has disadvantage (blinded) and advantage (target is blinded). They cancel, so it's a straight roll.
- •Blinded isn't invisible. Other creatures can still see you, so they can target you with spells normally.
- •Darkness plus Devil's Sight is the classic warlock trick: you can see in magical darkness, and enemies inside it are effectively blinded.
- •You still know where things are. Being blinded doesn't hide sounds. Your DM may let you guess a target's location; if you guess wrong, you miss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does blinded do in 5e?
You can't see, you automatically fail ability checks that need sight, attacks against you have advantage, and your attacks have disadvantage.
Can you cast spells while blinded?
Yes, but not spells that require you to see the target. Spells that target a point in space, an area or yourself still work.
Does blindsight work while blinded?
Yes. Blindsight lets a creature perceive within a set range without relying on sight, so the blinded condition doesn't stop it there.
Is darkness the same as being blinded?
In a heavily obscured area such as magical darkness, you effectively suffer from the blinded condition when trying to see something there. In 2024 the rules say you have the condition.
What cures blindness in 5e?
Lesser Restoration ends the blinded condition. Heal also cures it, and saves against effects like Blindness/Deafness end it on a success.
Rules checked against the D&D 5e SRD 5.1 (2014) and SRD 5.2.1 (2024).