Speak with Animals is a 1st-level divination ritual for bards, druids, and rangers (and warlocks in 2024). For 10 minutes you can understand and talk with beasts. At minimum, a beast can tell you about nearby places and monsters, and anything it has seen or sensed in the past day. It does not make beasts friendly or obedient. Cast as a ritual, it takes 11 minutes and uses no spell slot.
Speak with Animals is a 1st-level divination spell that turns every beast into a possible witness. Bards and druids can cast it from 1st level, and rangers from 2nd level in the 2014 rules.
The spell does not make animals smart. How much a beast knows is limited by its intelligence. A wolf with Intelligence 3 will not describe a noble's coat of arms. But every beast can tell you about nearby locations and monsters, and what it has perceived in the past day. That makes it a strong tracking and scouting tool.
It is not a charm. Beasts keep their own attitude toward you. You might persuade one to do a small favor, but that is up to the DM. It also only works on beasts, so owlbears, worgs, and other monstrosities do not count.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | 1 |
| School | Divination |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | Self |
| Components | V, S |
| Material | None |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Concentration | No |
| Ritual | Yes |
| Save/Attack | None |
| Classes | Bard, Druid, Ranger |
| Metric | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Slot Efficiency | Free as a ritual for bards and druids. 2014 rangers must spend a slot. |
| Action Economy | One action to cast, or 11 minutes as a ritual. It is an exploration spell. |
| Opportunity Cost | A spell known for 2014 bards and rangers. For druids, a prepared spell that can be swapped daily. |
When worth the slot: Tracking, wilderness travel, investigating a scene with animals nearby, and avoiding ambushes.
When NOT worth the slot: Urban adventures with no animals around, or campaigns that rarely leave the dungeon.
Why it works: The spell promises at least what a beast has perceived within the past day. "Who came down this road since yesterday?" is a question it can answer.
This avoids the mistake of: Asking about events from last month, which the spell does not cover.
Why it works: Beasts describe what they saw, heard, and smelled. "How many smelled like smoke?" works better than "Were they cultists?"
This avoids the mistake of: Expecting human concepts like names, factions, or plans.
Why it works: The spell does not change a beast's attitude. A hungry dog is more helpful after a meal, and the DM decides whether it will do a small favor.
This avoids the mistake of: Treating every beast as a willing informant.
Why it's bad: The spell lets you talk with beasts. Owlbears and worgs are monstrosities, so the spell does not help.
Do this instead: Check creature type in the stat block. Worgs speak Goblin and Worg, so Comprehend Languages or a translator may help.
Why it's bad: A hostile or frightened animal stays hostile or frightened. Talking is not control.
Do this instead: Calm it first with Animal Handling or Animal Friendship, then talk.
Why it's bad: Knowledge is limited by intelligence. Many beasts have Intelligence 2 or 3.
Do this instead: Ask several animals the same simple question and compare answers.
The 2024 Speak with Animals keeps the same 10-minute duration and ritual tag, and adds two things. You can use any of the Influence action's skill options with beasts while it lasts. And the text now says most beasts have little to say about topics beyond survival or companionship, though every beast can still tell you about nearby places and monsters and what it perceived in the past day.
The class list adds warlocks. Druids always have it prepared through the Druidic feature. Forest gnomes always have it prepared and can cast it without a slot a number of times equal to their proficiency bonus per long rest.
Ritual rules changed too. In 2024, any caster can ritual-cast a ritual spell they have prepared. Rangers can now cast Speak with Animals as a ritual if it is prepared.
For 10 minutes, you can understand and verbally talk with beasts. At minimum, they can tell you about nearby locations and monsters, including what they perceived in the past day. It does not make them friendly or obedient.
Yes. Cast as a ritual, it takes 11 minutes and uses no spell slot. In 2014, bards and druids can ritual-cast it, but rangers cannot. In 2024, anyone with it prepared can.
No. It lasts 10 minutes without concentration.
No. It only works with beasts. Owlbears, worgs, and other monstrosities are not beasts. Giant beasts such as giant spiders and dire wolves do count.
Not in the 2014 rules, because rangers have no Ritual Casting feature. In the 2024 rules, any caster can ritual-cast a ritual spell they have prepared, so rangers can.
The spell does not force honesty or make beasts friendly. A beast's attitude, fear, or hunger can shape what it says. How a beast responds is up to the DM.
No. It only allows conversation. You might talk a beast into a small favor at the DM's discretion. For control, use Animal Friendship or Dominate Beast.
Bards, druids, and rangers in the 2014 rules. The 2024 rules add warlocks, give druids the spell always prepared, and let forest gnomes cast it for free a few times per day.
Citations: SRD 5.1 (Speak with Animals, Ritual Casting, class spell lists); SRD 5.2.1 (Speak with Animals, Influence action, Druidic, Gnomish Lineage, Rituals)
Includes SRD 5.1 and SRD 5.2.1 content per CC BY 4.0.
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