Clairvoyance
Clairvoyance creates a distant magical sensor for sight or hearing. Modern D&D uses the shorter name; PF1e and D&D 3.5e retain the older Clairaudience/Clairvoyance title.
At a Glance
| 2024 | Bard 3, Cleric 3, Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Bard 3, Cleric 3, Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3 |
| PF1e | Bard 3, Sorcerer/Wizard 3 |
| D&D 3.5e | Bard 3, Knowledge 3, Sorcerer/Wizard 3 |
| Modern range | 1 mile |
| Legacy range | Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) |
Choose Your Edition
Clairvoyance — 5.5e / 2024
| Level | 3rd |
|---|---|
| School | Divination |
| Casting Time | 10 minutes |
| Range | 1 mile |
| Components | V, S, M (a focus worth 100+ GP, either a jeweled horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing) |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 10 minutes |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard |
You create an invisible, intangible and invulnerable sensor at a familiar location within range, or at an obvious unfamiliar location such as beyond a door or around a corner.
Choose seeing or hearing when you cast the spell. You perceive through the sensor as though you occupied its space. You can switch between seeing and hearing with a Bonus Action.
A creature able to perceive invisible things sees the sensor as a luminous orb about the size of your fist.
Clairvoyance — 5e / 2014
| Level | 3rd |
|---|---|
| School | Divination |
| Casting Time | 10 minutes |
| Range | 1 mile |
| Components | V, S, M (a focus worth at least 100 gp, either a jeweled horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing) |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 10 minutes |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard |
The 2014 spell creates the same fixed invisible sensor at a familiar or obvious location within 1 mile. Choose seeing or hearing when casting.
You can switch between the sensor’s two senses with your Action. This is the main action-economy difference from the 2024 spell.
A creature benefiting from effects such as See Invisibility or Truesight can perceive the sensor as a luminous, intangible orb.
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Divination (Scrying) |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 3, Sorcerer/Wizard 3 |
| Components | V, S, F/DF |
| Casting Time | 10 minutes |
| Range | Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) |
| Effect | Magical sensor |
| Duration | 1 minute/level (D) |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
Create an invisible magical sensor at a known or obvious location. Choose sight or hearing when casting. The sensor does not move, but a visual sensor can look in any direction from its fixed point.
Enhanced senses do not function through the sensor. Magical darkness blocks vision; natural darkness still allows sight within 10 feet of the sensor. The spell functions only on your current plane.
Arcane focus: a small horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing.
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance — D&D 3.5e
| School | Divination (Scrying) |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 3, Knowledge 3, Sorcerer/Wizard 3 |
| Components | V, S, F/DF |
| Casting Time | 10 minutes |
| Range | Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) |
| Effect | Magical sensor |
| Duration | 1 minute/level (D) |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
The 3.5e version uses the same fixed-sensor structure as PF1e. Choose hearing or sight at casting, place the sensor at a familiar or obvious location, and perceive the area as though you were there.
Magically or supernaturally enhanced senses do not transmit through the sensor, and the effect cannot cross planes.
Arcane focus: a small horn for hearing or a glass eye for seeing.
What Changed?
- 2024 versus 2014: switching between sight and hearing is now a Bonus Action instead of an Action.
- Modern versus legacy d20: modern range is fixed at 1 mile and the spell uses Concentration; PF1e/3.5e use long range and a duration of 1 minute per level.
- Name: modern rules use Clairvoyance; PF1e and 3.5e retain Clairaudience/Clairvoyance.
Using Clairvoyance
Use the spell before entering a dangerous room, crossing a guarded threshold or committing to a route whose far side cannot be seen. The ten-minute casting time makes it planning magic rather than an emergency combat trick.
A familiar location is ideal: a room previously visited, a known courtyard, a corridor mapped earlier or a chamber described accurately enough to identify. An obvious location can be simpler — beyond a door, around a corner or inside a visible structure.
The sensor is fixed. Choose its position carefully before the spell is completed.
Related Magic
- Detect Magic — identifies magical auras locally rather than observing a distant location.
- Scrying — observes a creature rather than a chosen place.
- See Invisibility — can reveal a modern Clairvoyance sensor.
- Bard Spells — modern and legacy Bard access.
- Sorcerer and Wizard Spells — modern and legacy arcane access.
Sources and Licensing
- D&D 2024 Basic Rules — Clairvoyance. SRD 5.2 material is available under CC BY 4.0.
- D&D 2014 Basic Rules — Clairvoyance. SRD 5.1 material is available under CC BY 4.0.
- Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook — Clairaudience/Clairvoyance. Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a.
- D&D 3.5 SRD — Clairaudience/Clairvoyance. Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a.