Zone of Truth is a 2nd-level enchantment spell for Bards, Clerics, and Paladins. You create a 15-foot-radius sphere within 60 feet that lasts 10 minutes, with no concentration. A creature that enters the zone for the first time on a turn, or starts its turn there, makes a Charisma save. On a failure, it can't speak a deliberate lie while in the zone. You know who passed and who failed. Affected creatures know about the spell and can stay silent or give evasive, truthful answers.
Zone of Truth is the interrogation spell. It doesn't make anyone talk, and it doesn't read minds. It does one thing: a creature that fails its save can't say something it knows is false while it stays in the sphere.
The part that makes it useful is the second clause: "You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw." You know which answers can be trusted. A prisoner who passed the save could lie to you, and you know that too.
The limits are clear in the text. An affected creature "is aware of the spell," so it can refuse to answer or dodge with careful wording "as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth." Good questions matter more than the spell. Yes-or-no questions leave less room for evasion.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | 2 |
| School | Enchantment |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | 60 feet |
| Components | V, S |
| Material | None |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Concentration | No |
| Ritual | No |
| Save/Attack | CHA |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric, Paladin |
| Metric | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Slot Efficiency | High for an interrogation or a negotiation. 10 minutes is long enough for a real conversation. |
| Action Economy | One action, no concentration, so you can cast other spells while it runs. |
| Opportunity Cost | A 2nd-level slot. Nothing else. |
When worth the slot: Questioning a prisoner, testing a suspicious ally, or setting terms for a deal.
When NOT worth the slot: In combat, or against a creature that has every reason to say nothing.
Zone of Truth has no "At Higher Levels" entry.
Why it works: An affected creature can be evasive "as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth." A direct yes-or-no question gives it fewer true-but-misleading answers to hide behind.
This avoids the mistake of: Asking "what happened at the mill?" and getting a careful, technically true story.
Why it works: The creature is aware of the spell and can refuse to answer a question it would lie about. A refusal on one question, after answering others, tells you where the secret is.
This avoids the mistake of: Thinking the spell failed because the prisoner went quiet.
Why it works: A creature makes the save when it enters the zone for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there. A creature that passes once has to keep passing on later turns.
This avoids the mistake of: Giving up after one successful save.
Why it works: The spell has no concentration. You can cast Command, Suggestion, or Detect Thoughts in the same conversation.
This avoids the mistake of: Treating it as a concentration spell and holding back your other tools.
Why it's bad: Nothing in the text compels speech. A creature can stay silent.
Do this instead: Pair it with a reason to talk: a deal, a threat, or a spell such as Suggestion.
Why it's bad: Zone of Truth doesn't give the charmed condition. Immunity to being charmed doesn't protect against it, and advantage on saves against charm doesn't apply.
Do this instead: Check for magic resistance or spell immunity instead.
Why it's bad: Knowing who passed is half the spell's value. Without it, you can't tell trusted answers from possible lies.
Do this instead: Ask the DM for each creature's result as soon as it saves.
Why it's bad: The spell blocks "a deliberate lie." A creature that believes something false can say it.
Do this instead: Ask how the creature knows, not just what it knows.
Worked example: save odds at DC 13. A 3rd-level cleric with 16 Wisdom has spell save DC 13 (8 + 2 proficiency + 3 Wisdom). These numbers use 2014 SRD stat blocks.
| Creature | Cha save | Fails on | Chance to fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noble | +3 | 9 or lower | 45% |
| Spy | +3 | 9 or lower | 45% |
| Bandit captain | +2 | 10 or lower | 50% |
| Cult fanatic | +2 | 10 or lower | 50% |
| Veteran | +0 | 12 or lower | 60% |
The 2024 SRD keeps Zone of Truth almost word for word. It is a level 2 enchantment for Bards, Clerics, and Paladins, with a 60-foot range, a 15-foot-radius sphere, a 10-minute duration without concentration, and a Charisma save on entering the zone or starting a turn there.
The changes are in wording. "Evasive in its answers as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth" becomes "can be evasive yet must be truthful." The meaning is the same.
The 2024 general saving-throw rules let any creature choose to fail a save without rolling. A willing witness can accept the zone on purpose.
Oath of Devotion paladins still get it always prepared at paladin level 5, alongside Aid. Glibness is now an 8th-level enchantment spell (it was transmutation in 2014) with the same truth-detection clause.
It creates a 15-foot-radius sphere for 10 minutes. A creature that fails a Charisma save in the zone can't speak a deliberate lie while it stays there. You know who passed and who failed.
Only if you pass the Charisma save. A creature that fails can't speak a deliberate lie, but it can stay silent or give evasive answers that are still true.
No. It lasts 10 minutes without concentration, so you can cast other spells while it runs.
Yes, if it is affected. The text says an affected creature "is aware of the spell." That's why it can choose to stay silent.
Yes. The spell doesn't compel speech. It only stops deliberate lies.
When you enter the zone for the first time on a turn and when you start your turn there. Staying in the zone means more saves.
No. It's an enchantment spell, but it doesn't give the charmed condition. Immunity to being charmed doesn't stop it.
Bards, Clerics, and Paladins. Oath of Devotion paladins always have it prepared from 5th level. Among SRD monsters, the 2014 androsphinx and, in 2024, the sphinx of valor and adult and ancient gold and silver dragons can cast it.
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.
This page includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Loreify is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Melf's Acid Arrow (Acid Arrow) in D&D 5e: 4d4 acid plus 2d4 later, half on a miss. Damage math, upcasting, and how it compares to Scorching Ray.
Acid Splash (D&D 5e): conjuration cantrip (1 action, 60 feet) for Sorcerer, Wizard. How it works, best uses and mistakes to avoid.
Aid (D&D 5e): 2nd-level abjuration spell (1 action, 30 feet) for Cleric, Paladin. How it works, best uses and mistakes to avoid.
Alarm (D&D 5e): 1st-level abjuration spell (1 minute, 30 feet) for Ranger, Wizard. How it works, best uses and mistakes to avoid.
Lesser Restoration 5e: end blinded, deafened, paralyzed or poisoned, or a disease in 2014. Ghoul, otyugh and death dog examples, 2024 bonus action.
Hold Person 5e: Wisdom save or a humanoid is paralyzed, and melee hits become crits. Save odds, upcasting, what counts as a humanoid, and 2024 changes.
Calm Emotions (D&D 5e): 2nd-level enchantment spell (1 action, 60 feet, concentration). How it works, best uses and mistakes to avoid.
Blindness/Deafness (D&D 5e): 2nd-level necromancy spell (1 action, 30 feet). How it works, best uses and mistakes to avoid.