🤔Question🧐: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura add or remove resistances to creatures when it comes to spells? For instance, if I cast NMA on a human and mask them as an elf, does that mean they are immune to sleep and charm spells for the duration?
Are there any other applications for NMA other than this that I am not thinking of?
🧀Cheese Tray🧀: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura effectively remove Legendary Resistances from a big bad monster by changing their “aura” to human?
For reference:
2nd LevelIllusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range/Area: Touch
Components: V, S, M(a small square of silk)
Duration: 24 hours
Source: Player’s Handbook, pg. 302
With a touch, you place an illusion on a willing creature or an object that isn’t being worn or carried. A creature gains the Mask effect below, and an object gains the False Aura effect below. The effect lasts for the duration. If you cast the spell on the same target every day for 30 days, the illusion lasts until dispelled.
Mask (Creature). Choose a creature type other than the target’s actual type. Spells and other magical effects treat the target as if it were a creature of the chosen type.
False Aura (Object). You change the way the target appears to spells and magical effects that detect magical auras, such as Detect Magic. You can make a nonmagical object appear magical, make a magic item appear nonmagical, or change the object’s aura so that it appears to belong to a school of magic you choose.
🤔Question🧐: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura add or remove resistances to creatures when it comes to spells? For instance, if I cast NMA on a human and mask them as an elf, does that mean they are immune to sleep and charm spells for the duration?
No. It's not that sleep magic has a built-in exception for elves, it's that elves are immune to magical sleep. The Aura sticks a post-it on them saying "elf", but that doesn't give them any of the actual attributes of an elf. It's entirely possible for there to be elves that aren't immune to sleep.
🧀Cheese Tray🧀: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura effectively remove Legendary Resistances from a big bad monster by changing their “aura” to human?
No. See above. Also, LRs have even less to do with creature type than elves' sleep immunity. They are a mechanical contrivance to make sure boss fights don't end turn one. If you want to get rid of them with a second-level spell, try Hold Person.
No, you can only maal a creature's "Creature Type", like Humanoid, Undead, Construct, etc.
"Elf" is not a Creature Type (it's just a kind of humanoid) - and even if it was, the masking grants no abilities or features like an elf's immunities, it just tricks all other spells into treating the creature as if it had the new Type. You should be able to make a Construct healable, or an undead creature unaffected to turn undead, wherever the spell or effect calls out a creature type the aura can trick it.
You could use it to change a creature's type to Undead and make them immune to Hold Person which only affects Humanoids. Or you could cast it on a Monstrosity to change the creature type (for spells) to Humanoid in order to allow it to be affected by Hold Person.
Any effects that are not magical are not affected. Using the spell to change a Creature's type to Undead:
Would allow it to be sensed by a Paladin's Divine Sense Channel Divinity (magical effect)
Would not allow it to gain a bonus from an Oathbreaker Paladin's Aura of Hate (not a spell or magical effect).
Any Immunities, Resistances, Vulnerabilities, Traits, Speeds, Attributes, Actions, Bonus Actions, Reactions, Legendary Actions, or anything else other than a creature's type are affected and even the creature's type is only affected conditionally.
This could potentially lead to odd effects. For example, Scissors of Shadow Weaving from Wild Beyond the Witchlight requires attunement by a Fey or Spellcaster. If attunement is considered a Magical Effect (I don't really see a basis for this), then changing a non-spellcaster wielder's creature type from Fey to something else could end attunement. I don't see this coming up normally.
[...] You should be able to make a Construct healable [...]
Sorry for snipping your very good answer. I just wanted to add that under the 2024 rules, healing spells like Cure Wounds, Heal or Healing Word work on any creature type.
[...] This could potentially lead to odd effects. For example, Scissors of Shadow Weaving from Wild Beyond the Witchlight requires attunement by a Fey or Spellcaster. If attunement is considered a Magical Effect (I don't really see a basis for this), then changing a non-spellcaster wielder's creature type from Fey to something else could end attunement. I don't see this coming up normally.
While not official ruling, this is from the Dev:
@Jaycon356 Can you use Nystul's Magic Aura to circumvent attunement requirements on items such as the Dwarven Thrower? @JeremyECrawford When cast on a creature, Nystul's magic aura can't be used to bypass a creature type requirement in a magic item, feat, or the like.
[...] This could potentially lead to odd effects. For example, Scissors of Shadow Weaving from Wild Beyond the Witchlight requires attunement by a Fey or Spellcaster. If attunement is considered a Magical Effect (I don't really see a basis for this), then changing a non-spellcaster wielder's creature type from Fey to something else could end attunement. I don't see this coming up normally.
While not official ruling, this is from the Dev:
@Jaycon356 Can you use Nystul's Magic Aura to circumvent attunement requirements on items such as the Dwarven Thrower? @JeremyECrawford When cast on a creature, Nystul's magic aura can't be used to bypass a creature type requirement in a magic item, feat, or the like.
I don't really see Attunement being a magical effect. It's not created by a spell and it is not stated as being a magical effect. It is something you create during a short rest with a magic item. If you consider it an effect that the magic item creates, it would be a magical effect. However, I think that it is an effect created by the creature attuning the item and therefore not a magical effect.
However, there may odd cases like that, whether because of strange rules interactions or table rulings.
Another example would be using this on an Oath of the Watchers Paladin and to mask them as an Aberration, Celestial, Elemental, Fey, or Fiend and they will have to make a save if they use Abjure the Extraplanar, potentially locking themselves into only taking Dash actions for 1 minute.
But Crawford's answer supports your ruling, right?
Yes, but I don't think there was a definition of magical effects in 2014. There is a Sage Advice, but the 2024 definition is stricter than the old rule. For example, being fueled by a spell slot no longer automatically makes something magical. Eldritch Smite is not a magical effect in 2024. It was in 2014 because the definition was different.
I'd like to add an additional detail I don't see mentioned about why the tactics wouldn't work (specifically the removal of Legendary Resistance, if that were a thing): Magic Aura requires a willing creature. You couldn't force the change no matter what.
As written, Nystul's Magic Aura is somewhat useful to PCs (change your creature type, be immune to 'person' spells like charm person or hold person) and really broken for monsters (there are a ton of spells that only work on Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends, or Undead (and sometimes Aberration), as well as special abilities like Turn Undead, all of which get negated by NMA).
I suspect RAI is that it's a replacement for 3e Undetectable Alignment -- it's the same spell level and duration -- in which case it should only apply to divination.
But Crawford's answer supports your ruling, right?
Yes, but I don't think there was a definition of magical effects in 2014. There is a Sage Advice, but the 2024 definition is stricter than the old rule. For example, being fueled by a spell slot no longer automatically makes something magical. Eldritch Smite is not a magical effect in 2024. It was in 2014 because the definition was different.
[...] The Paladin for example have class features that uses this mechanic.
Holy Nimbus
As a Bonus Action, you can imbue your Aura of Protection with holy power, granting the benefits below for 10 minutes or until you end them (no action required). Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of it by expending a level 5 spell slot (no action required).
I'd like to add an additional detail I don't see mentioned about why the tactics wouldn't work (specifically the removal of Legendary Resistance, if that were a thing): Magic Aura requires a willing creature. You couldn't force the change no matter what.
Correct! Thank you. That at least dispenses with the cheese tray. So NMA cannot be used on unwilling creatures. I guess the next thing to define is what constitutes "willing." For instance, if an NPC is charmed, or under the Command spell, could you get them to "be willing" just for the casting?
Additionally, let's say a friendly character "is willing" but then changes their mind 30 minutes later. Would the withdrawal of consent cancel out the effects of the spell? Or is it simply that it takes too much energy to cast on an unwilling person? Because my next follow up would be if you could cast it on a sleeping person that could not be "unwilling" because they are asleep?
This crosses some ethical boundaries in real life, but in a tabletop situation . . . if you put a monster to sleep could you then cast NMA on it? That is where I think it gets fuzzy. Because they don't really define "willing" that well.
[...] This could potentially lead to odd effects. For example, Scissors of Shadow Weaving from Wild Beyond the Witchlight requires attunement by a Fey or Spellcaster. If attunement is considered a Magical Effect (I don't really see a basis for this), then changing a non-spellcaster wielder's creature type from Fey to something else could end attunement. I don't see this coming up normally.
While not official ruling, this is from the Dev:
@Jaycon356 Can you use Nystul's Magic Aura to circumvent attunement requirements on items such as the Dwarven Thrower? @JeremyECrawford When cast on a creature, Nystul's magic aura can't be used to bypass a creature type requirement in a magic item, feat, or the like.
I don't really see Attunement being a magical effect. It's not created by a spell and it is not stated as being a magical effect. It is something you create during a short rest with a magic item. If you consider it an effect that the magic item creates, it would be a magical effect. However, I think that it is an effect created by the creature attuning the item and therefore not a magical effect.
However, there may odd cases like that, whether because of strange rules interactions or table rulings.
Another example would be using this on an Oath of the Watchers Paladin and to mask them as an Aberration, Celestial, Elemental, Fey, or Fiend and they will have to make a save if they use Abjure the Extraplanar, potentially locking themselves into only taking Dash actions for 1 minute.
I hadn't even thought of the attunement issue. That is very interesting.
For instance if you had a special helm that could only be worn by a Dwarf, could you wear it if you cast NMA on yourself and made a "dwarf mask"?
And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you change your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? For instance, if I change my mask/aura to "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" would I then be able to use your spellbook or your attuned artificer gear?
There are so many strange possibilities with NMA my head is swirling. I have some creative players at my table (myself included) and all of these are going to come up if I introduce the concept at all.
I hadn't even thought of the attunement issue. That is very interesting.
For instance if you had a special helm that could only be worn by a Dwarf, could you wear it if you cast NMA on yourself and made a "dwarf mask"?
And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you chance your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? For instance, if I change my mask/aura to "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" would I then be able to use your spellbook or your attuned artificer gear?
With House Rules, anything is possible. The attunement issue I mentioned has tenuous, if any, rules basis. Changing to a specific creature is definitely house rules only territory.
For instance if you had a special helm that could only be worn by a Dwarf, could you wear it if you cast NMA on yourself and made a "dwarf mask"?
And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you chance your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? For instance, if I change my mask/aura to "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" would I then be able to use your spellbook or your attuned artificer gear?
I think the very important thing you're missing here is that Nystul's Magic Aura very specifically changes your creature type, not anything else about you. Creature Type is a term with a specific definition in D&D rules, not just a general concept. "Dwarf" and "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" are not creature types, so you can't use the spell to make yourself appear to be either of those things.
For reference, the extant creature types are: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, and Undead. Dwarves and (I'm assuming) SmiteMakesRight_3_5 would both fall under Humanoid.
[...] And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you chance your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? [...]
This is to me similar to how Shapechange or True Polymorph work, where you choose a kind or sort of creature, but not a specific individual or named one.
For instance if you had a special helm that could only be worn by a Dwarf, could you wear it if you cast NMA on yourself and made a "dwarf mask"?
And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you chance your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? For instance, if I change my mask/aura to "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" would I then be able to use your spellbook or your attuned artificer gear?
I think the very important thing you're missing here is that Nystul's Magic Aura very specifically changes your creature type, not anything else about you. Creature Type is a term with a specific definition in D&D rules, not just a general concept. "Dwarf" and "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" are not creature types, so you can't use the spell to make yourself appear to be either of those things.
For reference, the extant creature types are: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, and Undead. Dwarves and (I'm assuming) SmiteMakesRight_3_5 would both fall under Humanoid.
🤯 Well that narrows its usage for sure. So you really could only use the broad categories, not species…….
🤯 Well that narrows its usage for sure. So you really could only use the broad categories, not species…….
Correct. And it only applies to magical effects. Everyone still recognizes the Pit Fiend is a fiend, but Divine Smite doesn't deal extra damage because it thinks the Fiend is a Fey, for example. There are no changes to the appearance of the target so it can be powerful if the enemy casts a spell or uses a magical effect that has restricted or enhanced effectiveness by creature type.
Settle a Debate:
🤔Question🧐: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura add or remove resistances to creatures when it comes to spells? For instance, if I cast NMA on a human and mask them as an elf, does that mean they are immune to sleep and charm spells for the duration?
Are there any other applications for NMA other than this that I am not thinking of?
🧀Cheese Tray🧀: Can Nystul’s Magic Aura effectively remove Legendary Resistances from a big bad monster by changing their “aura” to human?
For reference:
Casting Time: 1 action
Range/Area: Touch
Components: V, S, M(a small square of silk)
Duration: 24 hours
Source: Player’s Handbook, pg. 302
With a touch, you place an illusion on a willing creature or an object that isn’t being worn or carried. A creature gains the Mask effect below, and an object gains the False Aura effect below. The effect lasts for the duration. If you cast the spell on the same target every day for 30 days, the illusion lasts until dispelled.
Mask (Creature). Choose a creature type other than the target’s actual type. Spells and other magical effects treat the target as if it were a creature of the chosen type.
False Aura (Object). You change the way the target appears to spells and magical effects that detect magical auras, such as Detect Magic. You can make a nonmagical object appear magical, make a magic item appear nonmagical, or change the object’s aura so that it appears to belong to a school of magic you choose.
No, class features and similar are not "spells and other magical effects".
No. It's not that sleep magic has a built-in exception for elves, it's that elves are immune to magical sleep. The Aura sticks a post-it on them saying "elf", but that doesn't give them any of the actual attributes of an elf. It's entirely possible for there to be elves that aren't immune to sleep.
No. See above. Also, LRs have even less to do with creature type than elves' sleep immunity. They are a mechanical contrivance to make sure boss fights don't end turn one. If you want to get rid of them with a second-level spell, try Hold Person.
No, you can only maal a creature's "Creature Type", like Humanoid, Undead, Construct, etc.
"Elf" is not a Creature Type (it's just a kind of humanoid) - and even if it was, the masking grants no abilities or features like an elf's immunities, it just tricks all other spells into treating the creature as if it had the new Type. You should be able to make a Construct healable, or an undead creature unaffected to turn undead, wherever the spell or effect calls out a creature type the aura can trick it.
You could use it to change a creature's type to Undead and make them immune to Hold Person which only affects Humanoids. Or you could cast it on a Monstrosity to change the creature type (for spells) to Humanoid in order to allow it to be affected by Hold Person.
Any effects that are not magical are not affected. Using the spell to change a Creature's type to Undead:
Any Immunities, Resistances, Vulnerabilities, Traits, Speeds, Attributes, Actions, Bonus Actions, Reactions, Legendary Actions, or anything else other than a creature's type are affected and even the creature's type is only affected conditionally.
This could potentially lead to odd effects. For example, Scissors of Shadow Weaving from Wild Beyond the Witchlight requires attunement by a Fey or Spellcaster. If attunement is considered a Magical Effect (I don't really see a basis for this), then changing a non-spellcaster wielder's creature type from Fey to something else could end attunement. I don't see this coming up normally.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Sorry for snipping your very good answer. I just wanted to add that under the 2024 rules, healing spells like Cure Wounds, Heal or Healing Word work on any creature type.
Some related threads:
- How can a Threadborn heal?
- New Healing Spells (Works on anything?)
- Does healing magic/potions harm undead creatures?
While not official ruling, this is from the Dev:
I don't really see Attunement being a magical effect. It's not created by a spell and it is not stated as being a magical effect. It is something you create during a short rest with a magic item. If you consider it an effect that the magic item creates, it would be a magical effect. However, I think that it is an effect created by the creature attuning the item and therefore not a magical effect.
However, there may odd cases like that, whether because of strange rules interactions or table rulings.
Another example would be using this on an Oath of the Watchers Paladin and to mask them as an Aberration, Celestial, Elemental, Fey, or Fiend and they will have to make a save if they use Abjure the Extraplanar, potentially locking themselves into only taking Dash actions for 1 minute.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
But Crawford's answer supports your ruling, right?
Yes, but I don't think there was a definition of magical effects in 2014. There is a Sage Advice, but the 2024 definition is stricter than the old rule. For example, being fueled by a spell slot no longer automatically makes something magical. Eldritch Smite is not a magical effect in 2024. It was in 2014 because the definition was different.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
I'd like to add an additional detail I don't see mentioned about why the tactics wouldn't work (specifically the removal of Legendary Resistance, if that were a thing): Magic Aura requires a willing creature. You couldn't force the change no matter what.
As written, Nystul's Magic Aura is somewhat useful to PCs (change your creature type, be immune to 'person' spells like charm person or hold person) and really broken for monsters (there are a ton of spells that only work on Celestials, Elementals, Fey, Fiends, or Undead (and sometimes Aberration), as well as special abilities like Turn Undead, all of which get negated by NMA).
I suspect RAI is that it's a replacement for 3e Undetectable Alignment -- it's the same spell level and duration -- in which case it should only apply to divination.
Yeah, I remember that example and others posted in Glamour Bard - Mantle of Majesty Question.
Correct! Thank you. That at least dispenses with the cheese tray. So NMA cannot be used on unwilling creatures. I guess the next thing to define is what constitutes "willing." For instance, if an NPC is charmed, or under the Command spell, could you get them to "be willing" just for the casting?
Additionally, let's say a friendly character "is willing" but then changes their mind 30 minutes later. Would the withdrawal of consent cancel out the effects of the spell? Or is it simply that it takes too much energy to cast on an unwilling person? Because my next follow up would be if you could cast it on a sleeping person that could not be "unwilling" because they are asleep?
This crosses some ethical boundaries in real life, but in a tabletop situation . . . if you put a monster to sleep could you then cast NMA on it? That is where I think it gets fuzzy. Because they don't really define "willing" that well.
I hadn't even thought of the attunement issue. That is very interesting.
For instance if you had a special helm that could only be worn by a Dwarf, could you wear it if you cast NMA on yourself and made a "dwarf mask"?
And I think my follow up question for NMA would be, can you change your aura so that you are not just a different creature but a SPECIFIC creature? For instance, if I change my mask/aura to "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" would I then be able to use your spellbook or your attuned artificer gear?
There are so many strange possibilities with NMA my head is swirling. I have some creative players at my table (myself included) and all of these are going to come up if I introduce the concept at all.
With House Rules, anything is possible. The attunement issue I mentioned has tenuous, if any, rules basis. Changing to a specific creature is definitely house rules only territory.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
I think the very important thing you're missing here is that Nystul's Magic Aura very specifically changes your creature type, not anything else about you. Creature Type is a term with a specific definition in D&D rules, not just a general concept. "Dwarf" and "SmiteMakesRight_3_5" are not creature types, so you can't use the spell to make yourself appear to be either of those things.
For reference, the extant creature types are: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, and Undead. Dwarves and (I'm assuming) SmiteMakesRight_3_5 would both fall under Humanoid.
pronouns: he/she/they
This is to me similar to how Shapechange or True Polymorph work, where you choose a kind or sort of creature, but not a specific individual or named one.
🤯 Well that narrows its usage for sure. So you really could only use the broad categories, not species…….
Correct. And it only applies to magical effects. Everyone still recognizes the Pit Fiend is a fiend, but Divine Smite doesn't deal extra damage because it thinks the Fiend is a Fey, for example. There are no changes to the appearance of the target so it can be powerful if the enemy casts a spell or uses a magical effect that has restricted or enhanced effectiveness by creature type.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.