spell Hold Monster
Hold Monster
Hold Monster stops a dangerous opponent without dealing damage. The opening save matters, but keeping Concentration and anticipating the target’s repeat saves matter just as much. Undead eligibility and higher-slot targeting differ by edition.
At a Glance
| Spell Level | 5th in 2024 and 2014; Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e use their own class lists |
|---|---|
| 2024 / 2014 | Enchantment; Action; 90 feet; Concentration up to 1 minute; Wisdom save |
| Legacy | Enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting; living creature; Will save; see respective edition |
Hold Monster — D&D 2024
5th-level Enchantment. Action; range 90 feet; components V, S, M (straight piece of iron); Concentration up to 1 minute. Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard. Other classes may gain it through an explicitly granted subclass or feature.
Choose one creature within range that you can see. A failed Wisdom saving throw gives it the Paralyzed condition for the duration. The target repeats the save at the end of each of its turns; a success ends its paralysis from this casting. A slot above 5th permits one extra target per slot level. The 2024 spell does not contain the 2014 blanket exclusion for Undead.
Table ruling: a 2024 caster making multiple targets follows that edition’s range and targeting text; do not silently borrow the 2014 requirement that targets lie within 30 feet of each other.
Hold Monster — D&D 2014
5th-level Enchantment. Action; range 90 feet; components V, S, M (small straight piece of iron); Concentration up to 1 minute. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock and Wizard spell lists; certain subclasses add it.
A creature you see within range makes a Wisdom saving throw. On failure it is Paralyzed while the spell lasts, but this 2014 version does not affect Undead. It makes another Wisdom save at the end of each turn, ending the spell on itself on success.
Using a spell slot of 6th level or higher permits an extra target for every slot level above 5th, but the targets must be within 30 feet of one another when you choose them.
Hold Monster — Pathfinder 1e
Published Pathfinder Core Rulebook spell. Enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting; Bard 4, Sorcerer/Wizard 5. Components V, S, M/DF; target one living creature. It operates like that edition’s Hold Person, except that the subject need not be humanoid. It must fail a Will save to be paralyzed; the Pathfinder saving-throw and duration rules govern. Undead and other targets immune to mind-affecting effects are not valid victims under the source rules.
Do not import fifth-edition Concentration or 5e end-of-turn save timing into this edition. Pathfinder Core rules.
Hold Monster — D&D 3.5e
Published 3.5e SRD spell. Enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting; Bard 4, Law domain 6, Sorcerer/Wizard 5. Components V, S, M/DF; target one living creature. As Hold Person, but a living creature of any creature type may be targeted if not otherwise immune. A failed Will save causes paralysis under 3.5e’s duration and repeat-save rules. The arcane material component is a small hard-metal bar or rod.
Unlike 2024, 3.5e uses the game’s own mind-affecting and paralysis rules; it cannot simply target Undead. 3.5e SRD reference.
What Changed?
The key rules difference is which creatures can be held: 2024 omits 2014’s explicit Undead exemption, while Pathfinder and D&D 3.5e both limit the spell to living, susceptible creatures. The two fifth-edition versions also differ in how higher-slot targets are grouped. If an opponent passes its repeated save, it is released; there is no automatic full-minute paralysis.
Using Hold Monster in a Game
Use it against a single dangerous combatant whose allies can still threaten Concentration. A paralysed guardian can be bypassed or restrained; a spellcaster who loses Concentration releases the target. Don’t present this as an instant execution: spell immunity, a successful initial save and the repeat saves are meaningful counterplay.
Related: Hold Person · Law Domain · War Domain.
Rules Sources
D&D 2024 Basic Rules · D&D 2014 Basic Rules · Pathfinder 1e · D&D 3.5e SRD. For group paralysis, continue to Mass Hold Monster. The original 3.5e source record is retained below.
This material is Open Game Content, and is licensed for public use under the terms of the Open Game License v1.0a.
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level Bard 4, Law 6, Sorcerer/Wizard 5
Components V, S, M/DF
Target One living creature
This spell functions like hold person, except that it affects any living creature that fails its Will save.
Arcane Material Component One hard metal bar or rod, which can be as small as a three-penny nail.
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