See Invisibility, “Ethereal Sight”
See Invisibility is a divination spell that allows its caster to perceive creatures and objects hidden by magical invisibility and to look into the neighbouring Ethereal Plane. It does not dispel the magic, make the target visible to everyone, or grant universal supernatural sight. It changes what the caster can see.
The spell reveals without removing. An assassin concealed by Invisibility may remain invisible to every other adventurer in the chamber. A duellist protected by Greater Invisibility continues to possess that spell. An ethereal creature remains on another plane. The caster simply gains the perception needed to see what ordinary eyes cannot.
Game Statistics
See Invisibility — D&D 5.5e / 2024
For the duration, the caster sees creatures and objects that have the Invisible condition as though they were visible. The caster can also see into the Ethereal Plane, where creatures and objects appear ghostly.
Invisible Condition
See Invisibility does not remove the Invisible condition. Instead, it allows the caster to see the creature, overcoming those parts of the condition that depend upon the observer being unable to see it.
- The caster can visually perceive the creature.
- The caster can target it with effects that require sight, provided every other targeting requirement is satisfied.
- The Invisible creature does not gain its normal invisibility-based attack-roll benefit against the caster.
- The caster does not suffer the corresponding invisibility-based attack-roll penalty against that creature.
- Other creatures that still cannot see the target continue to resolve the Invisible condition normally.
See Invisibility and Hide
In the 2024 rules, a successful Hide action can grant the Invisible condition. See Invisibility can therefore overcome that condition as a visual barrier once the hidden creature occupies a position where an ordinarily visible creature could be seen.
The spell does not provide sight through walls, total cover or independent visual obstructions.
No Concentration
The one-hour duration requires no Concentration, making See Invisibility particularly effective when cast before entering an area where invisible creatures, magical spies or ethereal observers are expected.
Counterspell
Because Counterspell can depend upon seeing the creature casting a spell, See Invisibility can be particularly valuable against an invisible enemy spellcaster.
See Invisibility — Pathfinder 1e
The caster sees invisible objects and beings within normal vision and perceives ethereal creatures as translucent shapes. The caster can distinguish ordinarily visible, invisible and ethereal creatures.
The spell does not reveal the method used to obtain invisibility, expose unrelated illusions, penetrate opaque objects or automatically reveal creatures that are merely hiding or concealed.
Ordinary Stealth Remains Stealth
Pathfinder does not use the 2024 Hide rule in which successfully hiding grants the Invisible condition. A creature using ordinary Stealth is therefore not automatically exposed by See Invisibility merely because it is hidden.
Permanency
Permanency can make See Invisibility permanent on the caster. The standard Pathfinder requirement is caster level 10th and 5,000 gp of diamond dust.
See Invisibility — D&D 3.5e
The caster can see invisible creatures and objects and perceive ethereal beings. Such creatures appear as translucent forms distinguishable from normally visible creatures.
The spell does not reveal the source of invisibility, expose unrelated illusions, see through opaque objects or automatically reveal creatures that are merely hiding or concealed.
Legacy Detection Rules
D&D 3.5e uses Hide, Spot, Listen, concealment and its own invisibility rules. Do not import the 2024 Hide/Invisible-condition interaction into this edition.
Permanency
Permanency can make See Invisibility permanent on the caster at caster level 10th. The standard D&D 3.5e cost is 1,000 XP.
What See Invisibility Reveals
Invisible Creatures
Creatures concealed by Invisibility, Greater Invisibility, innate invisibility or another qualifying effect can be visually perceived by the caster.
Invisible Objects
Objects rendered invisible can also be seen. This can expose concealed equipment, magically hidden objects and other objects covered by the edition’s invisibility rules.
Ethereal Creatures
The caster can look into the Ethereal Plane and perceive creatures and objects there in the ghostly manner described by the relevant edition.
Planar Observers
This makes the spell useful against creatures such as the Ethereal Filcher, whose movement between the Material and Ethereal Planes can otherwise let it approach, observe or escape beyond ordinary sight.
What See Invisibility Does Not Do
See Invisibility is specialised revelation magic. Its limitations are as important as its benefits.
It Does
- Reveal invisible creatures to the caster.
- Reveal invisible objects to the caster.
- Permit sight into the Ethereal Plane.
- Allow visual targeting when all other targeting requirements are met.
- Remove sight-dependent invisibility advantages against the caster where the edition says seeing the target does so.
It Does Not
- Dispel or end the invisibility effect.
- Make the subject visible to everybody else.
- Automatically identify the source of invisibility.
- Reveal every illusion.
- See through walls or opaque barriers.
- Automatically defeat fog, darkness or other independent visual obstruction.
- Grant Truesight.
- Bring an ethereal creature onto the Material Plane.
- Automatically permit attacks to cross planar boundaries.
See Invisibility Does Not Counter Blur
Blur and invisibility are different effects.
In Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e, Blur expressly remains effective against See Invisibility. In the 2024 rules, Blur likewise does not depend upon the Invisible condition: it distorts the creature’s visible form rather than making the creature invisible.
Invisibility, Hiding and Location
Invisible Does Not Mean Intangible
An invisible creature can still make noise, move objects, disturb dust, leave tracks, displace water and interact physically with its surroundings. Adventurers may therefore discover evidence of an unseen creature even without See Invisibility.
2024: Hide Can Grant the Invisible Condition
The 2024 rules require special care because the Hide action can grant the Invisible condition. See Invisibility can therefore interact directly with magically invisible creatures and creatures benefiting from that condition through Hide.
The spell still obeys ordinary geometry and sight. A hidden creature behind an opaque wall is no more visible than an ordinary visible creature behind that wall.
Pathfinder and 3.5e: Ordinary Hiding Remains Hiding
The legacy spell descriptions distinguish invisibility from simply hiding, concealment and other difficulty to see. Use Pathfinder’s Stealth and Perception rules or D&D 3.5e’s Hide, Spot and Listen rules instead.
Seeing into the Ethereal Plane
The ability to see into the Ethereal Plane is not a secondary curiosity. It is one of the defining purposes of See Invisibility.
An apparently empty dungeon can change completely when the spell takes hold. Ghostly figures stand where ordinary eyes saw bare stone. Something watches from an overlapping corridor that does not quite belong to the Material world. A creature preparing to cross the planar boundary may become visible before it appears.
Ethereal Is Not the Same as Incorporeal
Do not treat ethereal and incorporeal as interchangeable rules terms. An ethereal creature occupies the Ethereal Plane. An incorporeal creature follows its edition’s incorporeal rules. See Invisibility reveals an incorporeal creature automatically only when another applicable rule — such as invisibility — makes the spell relevant.
Sight Does Not Automatically Cross the Planar Boundary
The spell lets the caster perceive ethereal creatures. Whether a weapon, spell or supernatural ability can affect them remains a separate rules question.
Ways to Counter Invisibility
See Invisibility is one answer to an unseen opponent, but it is not always the best one. Other magic can reveal, outline, suppress or remove invisibility in different ways.
| Counter | What It Does | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| See Invisibility | Lets the caster personally perceive invisible creatures and objects and see into the Ethereal Plane. | Does not make the target visible to allies and does not end the effect. |
| Faerie Fire | Uses visible magical outlining to undermine invisibility according to the edition. | Uses its own area, duration and edition-specific mechanics. |
| Glitterdust | A classic legacy-edition method of coating and visibly outlining invisible creatures. | Primarily a Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e comparison. |
| Invisibility Purge | Negates invisibility within its surrounding area in the legacy rules. | Primarily a Pathfinder 1e / D&D 3.5e counter and operates only within its area. |
| Dispel Magic | Attempts to terminate the magical effect instead of seeing through it. | Does not help against every innate or non-dispellable form of invisibility. |
| Blindsight | Allows perception within its stated range without ordinary sight. | Range is limited and the sense does not automatically duplicate Ethereal sight. |
| Truesight / True Seeing | Provides broader supernatural perception capable of defeating invisibility and other visual deception. | Broader and usually more powerful than See Invisibility; exact mechanics differ by edition. |
See Invisibility or Dispel Magic?
Dispel Magic and See Invisibility solve different problems.
- Use See Invisibility when the threat may be innate, repeated, unknown, long-lasting or ethereal.
- Use Dispel Magic when ending a known ongoing spell is more valuable than merely perceiving its subject.
- Use See Invisibility first when locating or visually targeting the invisible creature is necessary before another tactic can be employed.
Best Uses and Tactics
Pre-Cast before Danger
The spell’s long duration makes preparation one of its strongest uses. In 2024 especially, the one-hour duration requires no Concentration.
Invisible Assassins
Against an opponent depending on Invisibility or Greater Invisibility, the spell removes much of the uncertainty that makes the attacker dangerous.
Counter-Magic
In 2024 play, seeing an invisible spellcaster can be crucial for sight-dependent reactions such as Counterspell.
Secure Meetings
Courts, vaults, guild councils and secret negotiations are natural places for invisible observers. See Invisibility turns magical security into active inspection.
Dungeon Exploration
Use the spell when invisible guardians, hidden magical objects or ethereal creatures may occupy apparently empty passages and chambers.
Planar Exploration
Near ethereal crossings, haunted sites and places where the planes overlap, Ethereal sight can matter even when no creature is using an invisibility spell.
Useful Spell Combinations
- Invisibility : an invisible scout using See Invisibility can watch for other unseen creatures without surrendering their own magical concealment.
- Greater Invisibility : in a magical duel, See Invisibility can deny an opposing invisible combatant the assumption that ordinary sight cannot follow them.
- Counterspell : in 2024 play, See Invisibility can restore the visual requirement needed to react to an invisible enemy caster.
- Glitterdust : in legacy play, one caster can identify an invisible target before an outlining effect makes its position easier for the rest of the party to exploit.
- Dispel Magic : seeing the creature resolves the immediate perception problem before the party decides whether the magical effect itself should be removed.
GM Adjudication
Does the Caster Know the Creature Is Invisible?
In the legacy versions, invisible and ethereal creatures are described as translucent and distinguishable from ordinarily visible creatures. In 2024, the spell sees Invisible creatures as though visible while Ethereal creatures appear ghostly. Do not automatically import every legacy visual detail into the modern effect.
Does the Spell Reveal the Source of Invisibility?
No. Seeing the creature does not tell the caster whether the effect came from a spell, magic item, innate ability, supernatural trait or another source unless some other rule provides that information.
Can Allies Attack What the Caster Sees?
Yes, if they can identify or correctly infer where to attack, but they do not gain the caster’s magical sight. Apply the relevant edition’s rules for attacking or targeting something the attacker cannot personally see.
Can the Caster Point Out the Creature’s Location?
Yes. A caster who can see the creature can communicate its position. That information does not cause allies to see the creature and may become outdated when the target moves.
Does See Invisibility Reveal a Hidden Rogue?
D&D 5.5e / 2024: it can reveal a creature benefiting from the Invisible condition gained through Hide once that creature is in a position where an ordinarily visible creature could be seen.
Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e: no. Their versions distinguish magical invisibility from ordinary hiding and concealment.
Does It See through Fog?
Not merely because the caster has See Invisibility. If an independent fog or obscuring effect would prevent an ordinary visible creature from being seen, See Invisibility does not automatically remove that obstruction.
Does It See through Walls?
No. The spell does not provide x-ray vision.
Does It Counter Blur?
No. Blur is a different visual defence. Legacy rules explicitly state that See Invisibility does not counter it.
Does It Reveal All Illusions?
No. Broader illusion-piercing belongs to more powerful forms of supernatural sight such as Truesight or True Seeing.
Can the Caster Attack an Ethereal Creature?
Seeing the creature is only the first requirement. The attack or effect must also be capable of affecting a creature across the relevant planar boundary.
See Invisibility in the World
Learned magicians classify See Invisibility among the practical arts of corrected perception. The spell does not compel the hidden creature to appear and does not unmake the enchantment concealing it. Instead, it alters the observer so that an otherwise inaccessible category of sight becomes possible.
That makes the spell valuable far beyond adventuring. Court magicians use it before private councils. Guild treasurers employ it when inspecting vaults. Watch officers call for it after impossible thefts. Planar scholars use it where the Ethereal boundary grows thin. Wealthy rulers who understand invisibility magic do not trust locked doors and ordinary guards alone.
The older use of talc and silver reflects a learned magical tradition in which prepared substances, reflective materials and classified natural properties are used to train perception toward things normally inaccessible to the senses.
Historical and Folkloric Parallel: Second Sight
See Invisibility should not be treated as a direct representation of any single historical belief. A useful parallel, however, is the much broader idea of second sight: supernatural perception beyond ordinary vision.
Scottish traditions use the term for an alleged capacity to perceive distant, future or supernatural events unavailable to ordinary observers. Such beliefs are broader and more prophetic than the RPG spell, but they illustrate the enduring idea that gifted sight can reveal another layer of reality.
Historical references: Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue — “Second Sight” ; John Gregorson Campbell, Witchcraft & Second Sight in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland .
Related Spells, Rules and Creatures
- Magic – Fantasy RPG Reference
- Invisibility
- Greater Invisibility
- Blur
- Faerie Fire
- Glitterdust
- Invisibility Purge
- Dispel Magic
- Counterspell
- Permanency
- Ethereal Plane
- Ethereal Filcher
- Bard Spell List
- Sorcerer/Wizard Spell List
- World Bestiary
See Invisibility FAQ
Does See Invisibility remove invisibility?
No. The target remains invisible. The caster simply gains the ability to see it.
Do the caster’s allies also see the invisible creature?
No. See Invisibility affects the caster’s perception. Allies need their own appropriate sense or must act on the caster’s directions.
Does See Invisibility require Concentration in D&D 5.5e / 2024?
No. The modern version lasts for one hour without Concentration.
Which classes receive See Invisibility in D&D 5.5e / 2024?
The spell appears on the Bard, Sorcerer and Wizard spell lists.
Does See Invisibility remove the attack benefits of the 2024 Invisible condition?
Against the caster, yes. Those attack-roll benefits depend upon the opposing creature being unable to see the Invisible creature.
Does See Invisibility remove the Invisible condition itself?
No. The condition remains unless another rule or effect ends it.
Can See Invisibility reveal a creature hidden with the 2024 Hide action?
It can overcome the Invisible condition gained through Hide once the creature is in a position where an ordinarily visible creature could be seen. It does not see through walls, total cover or unrelated visual obstructions.
Can See Invisibility reveal an ordinarily hiding Pathfinder or D&D 3.5e rogue?
No. The legacy spell descriptions distinguish magical invisibility from ordinary hiding, concealment and similar difficulty to see.
Does See Invisibility reveal illusions?
Not generally. It is specialised against invisibility. Broader illusion-revealing magic belongs to more powerful forms of supernatural sight.
Does See Invisibility counter Blur?
No. Blur is a different form of visual distortion and is not ordinary invisibility.
Does See Invisibility see through walls?
No. The spell does not provide x-ray vision.
Can See Invisibility detect creatures on the Ethereal Plane?
Yes. Seeing into the Ethereal Plane is a core part of the spell.
Does seeing an ethereal creature allow the caster to attack it?
Not automatically. Perception and cross-planar interaction are separate rules questions.
Can See Invisibility be made permanent?
In Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e, yes, through Permanency. Pathfinder requires caster level 10th and 5,000 gp of diamond dust. D&D 3.5e requires caster level 10th and 1,000 XP. The 2024 version has no equivalent core Permanency interaction.
Rules Sources and Licensing
D&D 5.5e / 2024
The modern mechanics on this page use System Reference Document 5.2.1 .
This work includes material from System Reference Document 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence .
Pathfinder 1e
Pathfinder mechanics were checked against the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook See Invisibility reference and the Archives of Nethys Permanency reference .
D&D 3.5e
Legacy mechanics were checked against the D&D 3.5 System Reference Document See Invisibility entry and the D&D 3.5 Permanency entry .
The Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e sections are SpiralWorlds editorial summaries of their respective rules references. Edition-specific terminology and mechanics are kept separate to prevent rules drift.
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Original SpiralWorlds editorial text, rulings, comparisons, encounter guidance, folklore discussion and page design © 2026 SpiralWorlds.