Level
Cantrip
Casting Time
1 Action
Range/Area
30 ft
Components
V, S
Duration
1 Minute
School
Conjuration
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
Utility
A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose within range. The hand lasts for the duration or until you dismiss it as an action. The hand vanishes if it is ever more than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again.
You can use your action to control the hand. You can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial. You can move the hand up to 30 feet each time you use it.
The hand can't attack, activate magic items, or carry more than 10 pounds.
What happens when a mage hand picks up ooze?
The wording of the spell implies that as long as it's within 30 ft. of the caster it can be conjured. Would it be possible to conjure it behind a barrier? For example, imagine there's a door locked on the inside but you know how the door works and are familiar with what's on the other side. Could you conjure a Mage Hand behind the door and unlock it?
From my understanding you are now carrying an ooze as long as it doesnt weight over 10 lbs. feel free to drop it of a high ledge or toss it in to some flames
Assuming both of your hands were occupied and you don't have the Subtle Spell metamagic, can an empty mage hand be able to provide somantic components to cast spells with?
Can you pick up a 10 pound rock, lift it 30 feet in the air and drop it on an opponent directly in front of you? Not an attack, per se. Can you direct the hand to carry a trap over to an closed doorway, set the trap, and then knock on the door?
Was thinking on this question and Mage Hand in general after yesterday's session where a Sorcerer with a strong prankster streak wanted to either "pants" an adversary or pull their jacket down to their elbows. In the moment I ruled no as the adversary in question was already engaged in melee with two other PCs, and the orientation of all the characters didn't allow for the line of sight to be maintained. I haven't come up with a definitive decision on whether to allow such moves if the sight line was clear, but here's what I've been thinking so far:
Re: "bombing" I think there's some allowance for it depending on what precedent the game has had in instances where a mage hand caster loses their concentration. That is, if the mage hand was carrying an object and the caster is disrupted, does the spell presume the object is set to a resting state, or does it simply "drop." That said, holding something over which you only have line of sight control directly over an object or adversary below it is no simple feat, harder than regular archery or missile projection. So it would probably at least be at disadvantage, and probably a buffed AC to the target if their moving. This may be moot though when you're talking about alchemist fire or other area of effect Molotov cocktail type equivalents.
As for transport, set and knock trap gimmicks. While I give mage hand a pass in its rogue applications (in my experience IRL, without a specialized lock picking device lock picking is a two hand job), I am firm about mage hand doing only one handed manual tasks. So carrying the trap, sure. Setting the trap? Most traps IRL are a two handed job, even something as simple as a mouse trap. I suppose it's possible to set the trap manually and try to mage hand it to the place you want it set, but that would require some real deft handling.
I think a lot of players want mage hand to be telekinesis. There's a reason telekinesis is a 5th level spell and mage hand is a cantrip. With those scales in mind, should help most DMs arbitrate.
As for the clothes pranking. I think I'd allow an attempt to tug pants or jacket, but it would be a pretty easy grapple test on the adversary to free oneself up. Tying shoes together, too sophisticated and a two hand job. Could two casters both use mage hand in concert to untie shoes and the like? Maybe but the amount of practice two minds would have to perform so that they can work like the hands of one mind might make it a bit too difficult to do on the fly unless the casters are explicitly a Penn and Teller duo who specializes in such tricks.
it doesn't say the hand is incapable of completing semantic components for spells... so long as those spells don;t require a attack or a saving throw. i don;t see why it wouldn't be able to cast spells that only require semantic components.
Or it can complete the semantic components while you perform the verbal components allowing you to cast most spells with your own personal hands full.
From the "Components" section of "Casting a Spell", emphasis mine:
Somatic (S)
Spellcasting gestures might include a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures. If a spell requires a somatic component, the *CASTER* must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures.
You are the caster, not the mage hand. Besides, it's an action to do anything with your mage hand making it useless for casting most spells even if this wasn't the case.
No. The spell specifically states it may only be used to manipulate objects. If you want to cast "Fly" go cast "Fly", that, or be a species than can fly, or even better, polymorph into a bird or something. And no, a Warforged or some other playable construct can't do it either. Otherwise they would have an intelligence of zero.
The spell specifically states it only affects inaminate objects, not "things with an intelligence of 1 or higher". Otherwise, there would be no such spell as Fly, half of polymorph's uses would be invalid, etc.
Can't do it. Ooze with instinct (no matter how basic) is not an object. Mage Hand Hand can only manipulate objects.
I'm curious if this could be used for tripping someone running by? Like if a guard is coming your way or running past a corridor, could the caster place the hand very low to the ground and simply create a "tripping hazard". I wouldn't consider that an attack, more of an object in and of itself.
Because 10lbs of force is the max force it can lift. This doesn't mean that you just apply a force to weight, you really aren't considering the major variables in a force equation. Mage hand can move up 10lbs at an unspecified velocity, you don't have the variables to determine force. You are making a load of assumptions that don't track reasonably.
BRUH DAT TOO OP!!!!!!!
beat me to it...
This is honestly a question I would expect to hear from an arcane trickster.
Mage hand can only move 3.4 miles per hour, due to only moving 30 feet in 6 seconds. There's a difference to having strength and speed.
In addition to the previously posted reasons why Mage Hand couldn't throw something at someone, it would require an attack roll to hit, and the hand doesn't get an attack roll.
i have half the mind not to accept such a thing only because bringing equations to a world where magic invisible hands move things and people shoot energies from their hands on top of undead dragons
why can't a person that can only lift 10 pounds throw an object hard enough to kill someone, because they're too weak this is the same logic that applies to mage hand
Reading the comments, I think a lot of people are missing the point of this cantrip. Instead of finding obscure ways to deal damage with the mage hand, or decry its uselessness, one should perhaps consider its original intent, which is as a almost negligent way for your spellcaster to have a raw display of arcane power. Fetching drinks from across the common room. Slamming doors and windows shut. Snatching things from distant places. Then there's utilitarian purposes like carrying the ends of a rope across a gorge. Creating distractions by tipping over an oil lamp. That kind of thing.
But where the cantrip shines is harassment at a distance. The description explicitly forbids dealing damage to an opponent with the mage hand. There are literally dozens of other options in that department which would do the job better. But there are other ways to meddle with an opponent. Consider this: The orc reaches back for an arrow, only to find his quiver empty because the mage hand has carried them off, thereby nullifying the archer. The evil mage feels wetness on his robes, because all the stoppers on his potions have been quietly plucked out, his scroll case is empty as well. A warrior's sword belt clatters to the floor, the buckle undone. A bard draws his rapier, only to be distracted at a crucial moment by discordant music blaring from his most prized possession, the lute on his back. A cleric has the cowl of his robe pulled over his face as he calls upon his god to turn the undead, breaking eye contact. The elven mage feels a sharp tug on her long elaborate braid as she's chanting, thereby breaking her concentration. None of theses actions actually hurt anyone or cause damage, but every single one would cause distraction, confusion, cause an action or attack to fail, and possibly change the outcome of a confrontation. And all without using a spell slot.