Conjuration • Temporary Objects and Crafted Matter
Minor Creation
Minor Creation forms a temporary, nonmagical object from nonliving plant matter. Rope, wood, cloth, hemp and wicker may be conjured for an hour or a day’s work, but nothing made by the spell is permanent. The Pathfinder and D&D 3.5e versions are established fourth-level spells; separate optional adaptations are provided for the two fifth-edition rulesets.
Minor Creation at a Glance
| 5.5e / 2024 | Optional 4th-level Conjuration for Sorcerer, Wizard or campaign Witch; 10 cubic feet of nonliving plant matter; 8 hours |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | Optional 4th-level conjuration for Sorcerer, Wizard or campaign Witch; same reduced material limit, 8-hour duration |
| Pathfinder 1e | Official Witch 4, Sorcerer/Wizard 4; Conjuration (Creation); 1 cubic foot per caster level, 1 hour per caster level |
| D&D 3.5e | Official Sorcerer/Wizard 4; Conjuration (Creation); 1 cubic foot per caster level, 1 hour per caster level |
| Browse | Witch Spell Lists • Creation • Major Creation |
Rules distinction: the official fifth-edition Creation spell is a 5th-level Illusion with different materials and casting components. The 2024 Prestidigitation cantrip has a tiny effect also named “Minor Creation”; it is not the 4th-level spell developed here. The modern fourth-level panels are clearly labelled optional adaptations rather than official rules.
Spell Rules by Edition
Minor Creation — 5.5e / 2024
Optional 2024 conversion, not a published spell. A lower-level, plant-matter-only companion to the official Creation spell (5th-level Illusion). Games Master approval is required to add it to a class list.
| Level and School | 4th-level Conjuration |
|---|---|
| Suggested Classes | Sorcerer, Wizard; optional Witch |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 30 feet |
| Components | V, S, M (a small sample of the plant matter you intend to create; not consumed) |
| Duration | 8 hours; no Concentration |
| Effect | One unattended, nonmagical object of nonliving plant matter, up to 10 cubic feet and contained in a 5-foot Cube |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Damage | None directly |
| Complex Workmanship | DC 15 Intelligence check with appropriate Artisan’s Tools; see effect |
| Spell Components | Any created item used as another spell’s Material component causes that spell to fail |
Effect. You create one nonmagical, unattended object of nonliving plant matter (such as wood, linen, hemp, cotton, rope or a wicker basket) in an unoccupied space within range. Its total volume can be no greater than 10 cubic feet, and it must fit wholly within a 5-foot Cube. You must have seen the object’s general form and material before. The object has the ordinary physical properties of its material, but is not magical, alive or permanently valuable. You cannot create metal, stone, gems, food that nourishes, a creature, a magical item, or more than one separate item with one casting. An object formed from several pieces assembled as one functional item counts as a single object at the GM’s discretion.
Workmanship. A simple wooden wedge, rope, crate or cloth needs no check. For a complicated crafted item, make a DC 15 Intelligence check using suitable Artisan’s Tools if proficient. On failure, the casting creates a crude unusable version; the slot is spent. The object vanishes immediately when the spell ends. If it has been moved, sold, burned or broken, any surviving pieces still vanish at that time.
Spell-component restriction. Using anything created by this spell as the Material component of another spell causes that other spell to fail. The creation cannot be sold as permanent merchandise or used to create an enduring structure. An object is subject to normal nonmagical object rules until it disappears; it does not automatically attack or act on your behalf.
Ending and counterplay. The object lasts 8 hours unless the spell is ended early by Dispel Magic or a similar appropriate effect. This adaptation does not require Concentration, a saving throw, or an attack roll. The GM can rule that an object without enough support falls or collapses like any ordinary object.
Official distinction: the 2024 Creation spell is 5th-level Illusion and can create mineral materials as well as plant-based goods, with a different size limit, duration schedule and Material component. The optional Minor Creation above does not replace it. The 2024 Prestidigitation cantrip also contains a tiny effect called “Minor Creation”; that short-lived trinket effect is not this fourth-level spell.
Minor Creation — 5e / 2014
Optional 2014 conversion, not a published spell. A lower-level, plant-matter-only companion to the official Creation spell (5th-level Illusion). Games Master approval is required to add it to a class list.
| Level and School | 4th-level conjuration |
|---|---|
| Suggested Classes | Sorcerer, Wizard; optional Witch |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 30 feet |
| Components | V, S, M (a small sample of the plant matter you intend to create; not consumed) |
| Duration | 8 hours; no Concentration |
| Effect | One unattended, nonmagical object of nonliving plant matter, up to 10 cubic feet and contained in a 5-foot Cube |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Damage | None directly |
| Complex Workmanship | DC 15 Intelligence check with appropriate Artisan’s Tools; see effect |
| Spell Components | Any created item used as another spell’s Material component causes that spell to fail |
Effect. You create one nonmagical, unattended object of nonliving plant matter (such as wood, linen, hemp, cotton, rope or a wicker basket) in an unoccupied space within range. Its total volume can be no greater than 10 cubic feet, and it must fit wholly within a 5-foot Cube. You must have seen the object’s general form and material before. The object has the ordinary physical properties of its material, but is not magical, alive or permanently valuable. You cannot create metal, stone, gems, food that nourishes, a creature, a magical item, or more than one separate item with one casting. An object formed from several pieces assembled as one functional item counts as a single object at the GM’s discretion.
Workmanship. A simple wooden wedge, rope, crate or cloth needs no check. For a complicated crafted item, make a DC 15 Intelligence check using suitable Artisan’s Tools if proficient. On failure, the casting creates a crude unusable version; the slot is spent. The object vanishes immediately when the spell ends. If it has been moved, sold, burned or broken, any surviving pieces still vanish at that time.
Spell-component restriction. Using anything created by this spell as the Material component of another spell causes that other spell to fail. The creation cannot be sold as permanent merchandise or used to create an enduring structure. An object is subject to normal nonmagical object rules until it disappears; it does not automatically attack or act on your behalf.
Ending and counterplay. The object lasts 8 hours unless the spell is ended early by Dispel Magic or a similar appropriate effect. This adaptation does not require Concentration, a saving throw, or an attack roll. The GM can rule that an object without enough support falls or collapses like any ordinary object.
Official distinction: the 2014 Creation spell is 5th-level Illusion and can create mineral materials as well as plant-based goods, with a different size limit, duration schedule and Material component. The optional Minor Creation above does not replace it.
Minor Creation — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Conjuration (Creation) |
|---|---|
| Level | Witch 4, Sorcerer/Wizard 4 |
| Components | V, S, M (a tiny piece of the same type of material to be created) |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 0 ft. |
| Effect | One unattended, nonmagical object made from nonliving plant matter; up to 1 cubic foot per caster level |
| Duration | 1 hour/level (D) |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
The Pathfinder spell creates a temporary object of vegetable matter, not metal, stone, living matter or a magical item. A complex item requires an appropriate Craft skill check. The object cannot serve as a material component for another spell; attempting to do so causes that spell to fail.
Pathfinder sources: Core Rulebook — Minor Creation; Advanced Player’s Guide — Witch spell list (Witch 4).
Minor Creation — D&D 3.5e
| School | Conjuration (Creation) |
|---|---|
| Level | Sorcerer/Wizard 4 |
| Components | V, S, M |
| Casting Time | 1 minute |
| Range | 0 ft. |
| Effect | One unattended nonmagical object of nonliving plant matter, up to 1 cubic foot/level |
| Duration | 1 hour/level (D) |
| Saving Throw | None |
| Spell Resistance | No |
The created object’s volume cannot exceed 1 cubic foot per caster level. A complex item requires an appropriate Craft or other skill check under the legacy rules.
A created object cannot be used as a material component for another spell. The material component is a tiny sample of the same type of matter you intend to create.
What Changed Between Editions?
- 5.5e / 2024: the optional 4th-level Conjuration creates only nonliving plant matter, up to 10 cubic feet in a 5-foot Cube, for 8 hours. It has its own full casting procedure and no Concentration. The published Creation is 5th-level Illusion, uses a paintbrush and has broader materials.
- 5e / 2014: the separately formatted optional 4th-level conjuration has the same restricted plant-matter design. Official Creation is a 5th-level illusion with a material sample, a 5-foot Cube and duration varying by material.
- Pathfinder 1e: Witch 4 and Sorcerer/Wizard 4, with 1 minute to cast, an unattended nonmagical plant object of up to 1 cubic foot per caster level, and 1 hour per caster level; complex items require a Craft skill check.
- D&D 3.5e: the same legacy quantity and duration formula, but listed as Sorcerer/Wizard 4 rather than a standard 3.5e Witch spell. Complex work needs an appropriate skill check.
- All versions: the item is temporary and cannot provide a working Material component for another spell. The object itself is not enchanted, alive or permanent.
Worked Example: A Bridge Before Nightfall
Explorers reach a flooded gully without enough rope to secure their equipment. The caster wants to conjure a coil of hemp rope rather than conjuring an entire bridge. The created item must be a single, unattended, nonliving object of plant material; the party still needs to fasten it and cross safely by ordinary means.
5.5e / 2024 — optional conversion
A 7th-level Wizard casts the optional 4th-level Conjuration in 1 minute, using a sample of hemp fibre. The rope appears at an unoccupied point within 30 feet. Its volume is much less than the 10-cubic-foot maximum, and it lasts 8 hours. It is ordinary nonmagical rope and supports only what ordinary rope can support. The spell does not require Concentration, and the rope cannot serve as a Material component for a further spell.
5e / 2014 — optional conversion
The same 7th-level Wizard can use the 2014-adapted spell with its own 1-minute casting, 30-foot range, 8-hour duration and nonliving vegetable-matter limits. The fifth-level 2014 Creation spell is not silently substituted: it lasts up to one day for plant matter and permits additional materials that this lesser conversion does not.
Pathfinder 1e — official Witch spell
An 8th-level Witch can create up to 8 cubic feet of nonliving vegetable matter because the limit is 1 cubic foot per caster level. The object remains for 8 hours (1 hour per caster level), unless dismissed. A simple rope needs no elaborate Craft work; a finely made lockable wicker container would require an appropriate Craft check. The spell has no saving throw or spell resistance.
D&D 3.5e — official Sorcerer/Wizard spell
An 8th-level Wizard has the same 8-cubic-foot maximum and 8-hour duration. The item is unattended, nonliving, temporary and nonmagical. An intricate article requires an appropriate skill check. Even a beautifully made wooden object disappears when the spell ends, so a permanent bridge or sold commodity cannot be obtained by this magic.
Games Master’s Rulings and Counterplay
Visible clue. The object appears during a deliberate casting rather than being carried from a workshop. Its sudden origin may be witnessed, but the completed object has the ordinary feel and behaviour of its plant material.
Material restriction. A wooden wedge, linen bandage, length of rope or wicker basket is eligible. Living branches, a breathing animal, metal armour, gemstones and enchanted equipment are not. Mixing plant matter with metal fittings requires replacing those parts with an eligible material or rejecting the item.
Workmanship. The caster must know the object’s intended shape. Pathfinder and 3.5e require appropriate Craft or other skill checks for a complex item. The optional modern versions use the specifically listed DC 15 Intelligence check with suitable Artisan’s Tools.
Not a spell component. If an item created by Minor Creation is used as the Material component of another spell, that attempted spell fails. No amount of apparent value turns this temporary matter into a valid component.
Removal. Dispel Magic can end a persistent magical creation when the chosen edition’s rules allow it. An ordinary observer can cut, burn or move the item as normal. The surviving creation disappears at its expiry time, regardless of where the pieces have been taken.
Counterplay and Limits
The object is nonmagical once created but remains tied to the spell’s duration. Dispel Magic can end the ongoing magic where the edition allows. The spell cannot create mineral, metal, living or magical material.
Mythical Context
The craft of bringing a useful form out of ordinary fibre belongs to Athena in her aspect as patron of weaving and skilled work. In Ovid’s account of Arachne, a mortal weaver challenges the goddess to a contest, each producing extraordinary cloth from thread. Arachne’s fate becomes a tale about pride, craftsmanship and the delicate threads that join created things. Minor Creation is not recorded as an ancient spell, but its sudden production of rope, cloth or carved wood belongs to the same imaginative world of perfected craft.
Arachne and Athena — ancient Greek and Roman sources · Athena and the weaving contest in Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Historical Context
Weaving, carpentry and basket-making demanded specialised tools and considerable time. Archaeological and artistic evidence shows those crafts in detail: an Egyptian tomb scene at Beni Hasan depicts women spinning linen thread and weaving at a ground loom. The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves a 1931 facsimile of this Middle Kingdom scene, whose original dates to approximately 1897–1878 BCE. It illustrates how laborious the manufacture of cloth could be—work that the magical spell compresses into a minute.
The Met: Weavers, Tomb of Khnumhotep — historical textile production · The Met: Fragmentary Model of a Weavers Shop, Middle Kingdom
Related Magic
- Major Creation — expands the range of temporary materials.
- Creation — the broader later-edition temporary-object spell where available.
- Fabricate — transforms existing material rather than conjuring temporary matter.
Rules Sources and Licensing
5.5e / 2024: the official Creation is a 5th-level Illusion. The same 2024 rules contain a small Prestidigitation option labelled “Minor Creation”, which creates only a brief trinket or illusory image. The 4th-level Minor Creation adaptation on this page is neither of these official features.
5e / 2014: the published Creation is a 5th-level Illusion spell; there is no separate 4th-level core spell by the name Minor Creation. Both fifth-edition conversion panels are newly authored, optional game mechanics and are not represented as published source text. See SRD 5.2.1 and SRD 5.1 (source documents under CC BY 4.0) for the official edition frameworks.
Pathfinder 1e: Minor Creation — Core Rulebook and Witch 4 — Advanced Player’s Guide. D&D 3.5e: Minor Creation — d20 System Reference Document. Both printed legacy spells use a 1-minute casting time and the 1-cubic-foot-per-caster-level limit. These game mechanics are Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a, reproduced with the full licence and the appropriate inherited Section 15 copyright notices below. This page’s artwork, new optional conversions, examples and contextual prose are not designated as new third-party Open Game Content.
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