Friends 5e Spell

Friends is an Enchantment cantrip that allows the spellcaster to influence a target’s mood. This spell is one of many ways to influence characters in 5e DnD. This spell has some uses but there may be better spells available in 5e DnD.

Friends 5e Spell Description

From the Player’s Handbook:

For the duration, you have advantage on all Charisma checks directed at one creature of your choice that isn’t hostile toward you.

When the spell ends, the creature realizes that you used magic to influence its mood and becomes hostile toward you. A creature prone to violence might attack you. Another creature might seek retribution in other ways (at the DM’s discretion), depending on the nature of your interaction with it.

Friends 5e Spell Stats

• Enchantment cantrip
• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self
• Components: S, M (a small amount of makeup applied to the face as this spell is cast)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Spell Lists. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

What is Friends 5e Spell?

Friends spell is an enchantment cantrip for Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. The caster casts this spell on themself while applying a small amount of makeup. With concentration, this spell can last up to a minute.

While being cast, the magic user receives advantage on all CHA checks on non-hostile creatures. Once the spell ends, the creature realizes it has been tricked and becomes hostile.

The Player’s Handbook does not specify a duration for hostility. It does not have to be a permanent condition unless the DM wants it to be. 

When to cast Friends in 5e DnD?

The Friends spell functions as an enhanced intimidation cantrip. It is best to use Friends when your character doesn’t care how the target regards them after the spell wears off. 

The Friends cantrip has out-of-battle uses, especially when the party only plans to have a short interaction with an NPC. If the party is in the market haggling with a vendor, someone can cast Friends and get a better price. They can then walk away from that vendor, knowing they will be hostile but unable to leave their shop in a few minutes. 

Casters can use the Friends spell to bypass a guard quickly. The guard will become hostile after the minute, but that doesn’t mean the guard will take action, just that they hate the caster. This might cause future problems for the party, but many parties don’t consider long-term goals. 

Casting the Friends cantrip may also help if all other attempts to influence a target have failed.  If everyone in the party fails persuasion checks, the Friends spell might be the last effort to get crucial information. Friends would be the nuclear option because the target will resist future cooperation.

All targets of Friends become hostile after the spell ends. Hostility doesn’t mean they become violent; the target won’t want to engage with the party anymore. Friends can be useful depending on when players use it. 

Is Friends a good spell?

Many spells in 5e DnD are good and bad for many different reasons. It depends on your perspective. Some people will claim that Friends is a useless cantrip others will say the Friends spell is incredibly powerful.

The Friends spell is a cantrip. Because it does not cause damage, an altered state, or affliction, Friends can be cast on any creature by anyone with the spell.  A level 1 Wizard could cast Friends on a god and have an advantage on CHA checks when interacting with the god. 

Unfortunately, a condition of the Friends spell is that creature knows the player manipulated them and then becomes hostile. A player may be able to cast Friends on a god and gain their blessing or favor. However, there is a good chance the god will smite the player after one minute once they realize what has happened. In this way, the Friends spell is powerful but only sometimes useful. 

Friends is not really a good spell. This spell is more effective as a comic device than a helpful cantrip because the target creature automatically becomes hostile after the spell. There are better enchantment cantrips that don’t end up with a party member running from a jilted potential lover. 

Friends Spell 5e DnD as a DM

DMs should understand the Friends spell. Ensure your players know that a target will become hostile after one minute. This spell does not induce a Charmed Condition. The player will have to do CHA checks every time they interact with the target.  

The DM may use Friends to make the party hostile to a creature without a skill check. DMs might also use this spell to provoke a fight. Most DMs want to avoid influencing organic roleplay. DMs could use the Friends spell as a plot device. 

The DM could explain that they suddenly hate the face of the person they just met at the bar. The party may think they are a powerful Sorcerer, or they all have advanced powers of perception. In reality, the drunk at the bar just wanted to pick a fight.

Additionally, if the party chooses to cast Friends, the DM could create a side plot where that one jilted creature seek retribution. They could minorly sabotage missions or track and finally confront the party months after the innocuous interaction. 

It is up to the DM to decide how to work that action into the story. When the PCs cast Friends, DMs ultimately decide how an interaction goes. 

Are there better spells in 5e DnD than Friends?

Better is a relative term in DnD. Some spells will cause the Charmed Condition for larger or do damage. 

It is better to cast Vicious Mockery or Mind Sliver and damage your target. Attempting a regular CHA check and rolling a critical fail would also be funnier.

Charm Person may also be a better spell if the party aims to control or gain something from an NPC. The target does get a saving throw. However, if they fail, the target is Charmed for up to one hour. When the spell ends, the creature knows it was Charmed but doesn’t necessarily become hostile. Charm Person also allows the caster to Charm multiple creatures at higher levels. 

Friends 5e Spell FAQs