Faerie Fire is a 1st-level evocation spell for Bards and Druids. Every creature in a 20-foot cube within 60 feet makes a Dexterity save. Those that fail glow for up to 1 minute (concentration). Attack rolls against a glowing creature have advantage if the attacker can see it, and it can't benefit from being invisible.
Faerie Fire is a 1st-level evocation spell that outlines objects and creatures in colored light. Bards and Druids can cast it from 1st level. It needs only a verbal component, so you can cast it with your hands full.
The spell does no damage. Its value is advantage. Every ally who can see an outlined creature attacks it with advantage, for as long as you keep concentration. On a typical attack that hits 55% of the time, advantage raises the hit chance to about 80% and almost doubles the chance of a critical hit.
It is also one of the cheapest answers to invisible enemies. An outlined creature can't benefit from being invisible, and the glow makes it easy to track.
The weak points are the Dexterity save, which nimble enemies pass often, and concentration. It is at its best early in a fight against a group, with a party that makes a lot of attack rolls.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | 1 |
| School | Evocation |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Components | V |
| Material | None |
| Duration | Up to 1 minute |
| Concentration | Yes |
| Ritual | No |
| Save/Attack | DEX |
| Classes | Bard, Druid |
| Metric | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Slot Efficiency | Good. A 1st-level slot can affect a whole group for up to 10 rounds. |
| Action Economy | One action that improves every ally's attacks for the rest of the fight. |
| Opportunity Cost | Concentration, which also holds your other control spells. |
When worth the slot: A group of enemies in a 20-foot cube, a party with several attackers, or any invisible enemy.
When NOT worth the slot: One evasive target with a high Dexterity save, or a party of save-based casters.
The spell gains nothing from a higher-level slot. Always cast it at 1st level.
Why it works: The outline lasts until your concentration ends, but the first round matters most. Cast it early in the round so the fighters and rogues who act after you get advantage right away.
This avoids the mistake of: Casting it after everyone has already attacked this round.
Why it works: A rogue gets Sneak Attack when it hits with advantage using a finesse or ranged weapon. Faerie Fire gives advantage to every attack against the outlined target.
This avoids the mistake of: Leaving the rogue to hunt for flanking positions or hiding spots every turn.
Why it works: An outlined creature can't benefit from being invisible. Attacks against it are not made at disadvantage, and with Faerie Fire they gain advantage instead.
This avoids the mistake of: Spending a higher slot on See Invisibility when a 1st-level slot would do.
Why it works: Faerie Fire has only a verbal component. A grappled or restrained caster with no free hands can still cast it, as long as they can speak.
This avoids the mistake of: Assuming every spell needs a hand free.
Why it's bad: The save happens only for creatures in the area when you cast the spell. The cube does not keep catching new creatures.
Do this instead: Cast it when the enemies are already grouped.
Why it's bad: Advantage only applies when the attacker can see the target. A blinded attacker gets nothing from the glow. Neither does one who can't see the target for another reason, such as the target standing inside magical darkness.
Do this instead: Keep the outlined creature where your party can see it. The glow sheds dim light in a 10-foot radius, which helps in normal darkness.
Why it's bad: If a Darkness spell's area overlaps light created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, that spell is dispelled. Faerie Fire is 1st level, so it ends.
Do this instead: Use Faerie Fire away from magical darkness, or dispel the darkness first.
Why it's bad: Advantage helps attack rolls, including spell attacks, but not saving throws. Fireball and Hold Person gain nothing.
Do this instead: Pair it with weapon attackers and spell-attack casters.
The 2024 Player's Handbook keeps Faerie Fire almost unchanged. It is still a 1st-level evocation spell for Bards and Druids, with a 20-foot cube, a Dexterity save, verbal component only, and concentration up to 1 minute.
The wording now uses the 2024 conditions. Outlined creatures can't benefit from the Invisible condition, and attack rolls against them have advantage if the attacker can see them. The 2024 Darkness spell still dispels it if the areas overlap.
In the 2024 rules, characters of the drow elf lineage learn Faerie Fire at character level 3. They always have it prepared and can cast it once per long rest without a spell slot. The 2024 Starry Wisp cantrip, for Bards and Druids, does something similar for one target: on a hit, the target can't benefit from the Invisible condition until the end of your next turn.
Faerie Fire outlines every creature in a 20-foot cube that fails a Dexterity save. For up to 1 minute, attack rolls against those creatures have advantage if the attacker can see them. The creatures shed dim light and can't benefit from being invisible.
Yes. If an invisible creature is in the cube and fails its save, it can't benefit from being invisible while the spell lasts. You only need to place the cube where it is, not see it.
Yes. It lasts up to 1 minute with concentration. Taking damage forces a Constitution save to keep it, and casting another concentration spell ends it.
Yes. It gives advantage to any attack roll against an outlined creature, melee or ranged, as long as the attacker can see the target. Spell attacks count too.
Yes. Sneak Attack needs advantage on the attack roll, and Faerie Fire gives advantage on attacks against outlined targets. The rogue still needs a finesse or ranged weapon.
The area is a 20-foot cube, which covers 16 squares on a 5-foot grid. You can place it anywhere within 60 feet.
No. Faerie Fire has no higher-level effect, so a higher slot gives no extra area, targets, or duration.
Yes, for parties that make a lot of attack rolls. One 1st-level slot can give the whole party advantage against several enemies for the fight. It is weaker against enemies with high Dexterity saves.
Citations: SRD 5.1 (2014 rules), SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules)
Includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
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