Enchantment • Compulsion Rune
Symbol of Strife
Symbol of Strife places a powerful magical rune that drives creatures in its area to attack the nearest conscious creature. This published ninth-level Pathfinder 1e spell follows the symbol rules but replaces lethal damage with compulsive violence. There is no direct spell with this name in the 2024 or 2014 core rules, nor the D&D 3.5e SRD.
Symbol of Strife at a Glance
| 5.5e / 2024 | No separate spell by this name in SRD 5.2.1 |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | No core spell by this name |
| Pathfinder 1e | Witch 9, Cleric/Oracle 9, Sorcerer/Wizard 9 |
| D&D 3.5e | Not a named core SRD spell; use the original Symbol rules instead |
Spell Rules by Edition
Symbol of Strife — D&D 2024
Status: no individual spell of this name in SRD 5.2.1. Use the 2024 edition’s own Symbol or mind-affecting spell rules, not this Pathfinder compulsion.
Symbol of Strife — D&D 2014
Status: no separate spell by this name in the 2014 core list. The fifth-edition Symbol spell has its own triggering, saving throw and conditions.
Symbol of Strife — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting] |
|---|---|
| Level | Cleric/Oracle 9, Sorcerer/Wizard 9, Witch 9 |
| Components | V, S, M: mercury and phosphorus, plus powdered diamond and opal worth 15,000 gp |
| Casting Time | 10 minutes, as Symbol of Death |
| Effect | One magical symbol |
| Duration | Symbol as the common symbol rules; once triggered it remains active 10 minutes/level |
| Saving Throw | Will negates |
| Spell Resistance | Yes |
When triggered, any affected creature must attack the nearest conscious creature for 1 round per caster level, even after leaving the symbol’s area. If no other creature is visible, the subject can act normally. Keep the triggering, detection, inscription and symbol protections of Pathfinder’s Symbol of Death separate from the compulsion itself. Making the symbol permanent requires Permanency, caster level 18 or higher and an additional 25,000 gp under its printed rules.
Symbol of Strife — D&D 3.5e
Status: no separate spell named Symbol of Strife in the D&D 3.5e SRD. The Symbol of Death provides related runic mechanics but is not this Pathfinder 1e compulsion. Do not copy the Pathfinder gold costs, effect or Witch class access into 3.5e without an explicit conversion.
What Changed Between Editions?
This is a Pathfinder spell with an independently defined mind-affecting effect. Fifth-edition Symbol and the 3.5e symbol family do not provide a same-named equivalent. The presence of Witch 9 in the legacy archive is consistent with its Pathfinder Witch listing, but the mechanics remain those of Pathfinder only.
Using Symbol of Strife in Play
Inscribe the rune near a dangerous threshold or an apparently safe negotiation room. Its threat is not damage dealt by a trap, but the ruin of a trusted alliance. A player might discover that witnesses fought one another without remembering a reason or that guards attacked comrades after crossing a painted mark.
Counterplay and GM Rulings
- Separate effects: use the generic symbol rules for placing and triggering the mark; use Strife for the resulting attack compulsion.
- Defences: each creature uses the listed Will save and spell resistance. Apply mind-affecting immunity according to Pathfinder 1e.
- After leaving: the attack compulsion continues for the printed rounds even if a creature escapes the symbol’s immediate area.
- Permanent magic: Permanency preserves the symbol under its costly condition; do not accidentally lengthen the target’s individual compulsion.
Original Legacy Reference
Read the preserved original table, component cost and description
Symbol of Strife
| Symbol of Strife |
| School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level Cleric/oracle 9, Sorcerer, Wizard 9, Witch 9 |
| CASTING |
| Components V, S, M (mercury and phosphorous, plus powdered diamond opal worth a total of 15,000 gp) |
| EFFECT |
| Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes |
| DESCRIPTION |
This spell functions as symbol of death, except all creatures within the radius of a symbol of strife are compelled to attack the nearest conscious creature for 1 round per caster level (similar to the attack nearest creature result of the confusion spell), even after leaving the symbol’s area of effect. If no other creatures are visible, an affected creature can act normally. Once triggered, the symbol remains active for 10 minutes per caster level.
Symbol of strife can be made permanent with a permanency spell by a caster of 18th level or higher for the cost of 25,000 gp.
Related Magic
Mythical Context
Eris, Greek personification of discord, throws the apple that helps set the events of the Trojan War in motion. Symbol of Strife similarly turns a small mark into a crisis that spreads through a whole company as friends attack one another. See the classical sources for Eris.
Historical Context
An ancient Greek red-figured vessel shows Achilles and Hector fighting as divine figures look on. This is evidence of how war and rivalry were pictured, not of a rune that forced bystanders into violent conflict. See the British Museum’s painted vessel of Achilles and Hector.
Rules Sources and Licensing
Pathfinder 1e: Ultimate Magic, original Paizo rules released as Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a. The original illustration and legacy entry remain available above. Modern edition panels are status notes, not conversions.
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