Greater Planar Binding

D&D 5.5e / 2024 rules

Planar Binding cast with an 8th-level spell slot

Rules status: Greater Planar Binding is a useful page title and legacy name, but the official 2024 rules use the 5th-level Planar Binding spell with an 8th-level slot. The higher slot changes its duration to 180 days.

Resolution procedure

1. Place an eligible creature within 60 feet. The spell does not summon it. The creature must be a Celestial, Elemental, Fey or Fiend. Undead are not eligible.
2. Keep the creature within range for the full hour. An inverted Magic Circle is the usual way to confine a hostile or summoned creature throughout the casting.
3. Maintain the longer casting. A spell with a casting time of one minute or longer requires the Magic action on each turn and Concentration throughout the casting. If Concentration breaks, the casting fails, the spell slot is not expended and the caster must start again.
4. Resolve the Charisma saving throw at completion. On a success, the creature is not bound. On a failure, it serves for 180 days.
5. Extend the originating spell when applicable. If another spell summoned or created the creature, that spell’s duration extends to match the binding.
6. Issue commands. The creature follows them to the best of its ability. A Hostile creature actively seeks interpretations that advance its own objectives.
7. Resolve completion. If it finishes a command before the binding ends, it travels to report when on the same plane. If it is on another plane, it returns to the binding location and remains there until the spell ends.

Commands, communication and truth

• The spell grants service, not friendship, the Charmed condition, telepathy or a shared language.
• Use a language, telepathic method or interpreter the creature understands if precise orders matter.
• The spell does not make statements truthful. A command to answer questions does not reveal what the creature does not know or prevent evasive phrasing.
• The modern spell does not use an opposed Charisma bargain or the legacy reasonable-demand procedure.

Dispel Magic and separate effects

The completed binding is an ongoing 8th-level spell. An 8th-level or higher Dispel Magic ends it automatically. A lower-level casting requires a spellcasting ability check against DC 18. Dispel Magic may target a creature, object or magical effect; resolve every ongoing spell affecting that chosen target according to the spell’s rules. The surrounding Magic Circle remains a separate magical effect.

Optional SpiralWorlds conversion: Dimensional Anchor is presented on SpiralWorlds as an independent 2024-compatible conversion rather than a core 2024 spell. Apply that page’s wording only when the campaign uses it.

Pathfinder 1e rules

Planar Binding, Greater

This is a separate legacy calling spell. It transports the actual creature or creatures into a prepared trap; containment and service are not automatic merely because the initial call succeeds.

When the called creature has the air, chaotic, earth, evil, fire, good, lawful or water quality, the spell gains the corresponding descriptor for that casting.

Calling procedure

1. Prepare an alignment-appropriate inward-facing magic circle. The linked Magic Circle Against Evil procedure contains a nongood called creature; another alignment version may be required for a different target. State the kind of elemental or outsider to be called. Calling a particular individual requires that creature’s proper name.
2. Begin the ten-minute binding. Begin casting Planar Binding during the round after completing the inward circle. The calling completes after its normal ten-minute casting time.
3. Resolve each Will save. Success prevents that creature from being called. Spell Resistance does not prevent the initial calling.
4. Place each failed target in the trap. When several creatures are called, they must be of the same kind, their total Hit Dice cannot exceed 18, and no two can be more than 30 feet apart when they appear.
5. Resolve escape attempts separately. Once per day, each prisoner can try Spell Resistance against the caster-level check, dimensional travel and a Charisma check against DC 15 + half the caster level + the caster’s Charisma modifier.
6. Negotiate separately. Describe the service and any reward, then make an opposed Charisma check against each creature. The caster’s check receives a +0 to +6 modifier based on the service and reward.
7. Release after service. A creature that completes the agreed service can report completion and immediately return whence it came. It may remember the coercion and seek revenge.

Ordinary trap and reinforced diagram

An inward circle can contain a called creature for no more than 24 hours per caster level. The creature must fit within the trap; if it is too large, the specialised inward containment does not hold it. The prisoner cannot directly or indirectly disturb its own silver boundary, but another creature can break or contaminate the circle.

Refusal, new offers and open-ended service

• A creature that wins the opposed Charisma check refuses the offer but is not automatically dismissed.
• New offers, rewards or repeated terms can be attempted every 24 hours.
• Impossible or unreasonable demands are never accepted.
• An open-ended task the creature cannot complete through its own actions lasts no longer than 1 day per caster level and grants an immediate new chance to break free.
• A clever creature can subvert poorly worded instructions.

Calling, death and Dispel Magic

A calling spell transports the actual creature. If killed, it truly dies rather than disappearing and reforming as a summoned creature would. Because the call is instantaneous, Dispel Magic cannot reverse the completed calling. It can still end the ongoing Magic Circle or Dimensional Anchor, removing containment without sending the creature home.

D&D 3.5e rules

Planar Binding, Greater

The D&D 3.5e spell uses the original legacy calling structure: an inward-facing circle, a Will save against arrival, daily escape methods and an opposed Charisma negotiation for service.

When the called creature has the air, chaotic, earth, evil, fire, good, lawful or water quality, the spell gains the corresponding descriptor for that casting.

Resolution procedure

1. Prepare the trap. Focus an alignment-appropriate magic circle inward. The linked Magic Circle Against Evil procedure contains a nongood called creature; another alignment version may be required for a different target. State the kind of elemental or outsider, and use a proper name to call a specific individual.
2. Begin the ten-minute casting. Begin casting Planar Binding during the round after completing the inward circle. The calling completes after its normal ten-minute casting time.
3. Resolve each Will save. A success resists the call. Spell Resistance does not stop the initial transport.
4. Resolve each prisoner independently. Every called creature makes its own escape attempts and must be persuaded separately.
5. Check daily escape routes. Each creature may test Spell Resistance against the caster-level check, attempt dimensional travel and make the Charisma escape check once per day.
6. Negotiate service. Oppose the caster’s Charisma check against the creature’s Charisma check, applying the +0 to +6 service-and-reward modifier.
7. Complete and return. After the agreed service, the creature can report completion and return to its home plane. Future retaliation remains possible.

Escape, bargaining and the diagram

• Charisma escape DC: 15 + half the caster level + the caster’s Charisma modifier.
• Daily attempts: Spell Resistance, dimensional travel and the Charisma escape check can each be attempted once per day.
• Dimensional Anchor: prevents dimensional escape when successfully applied under the circle or diagram procedure.
• Calling diagram: takes 10 minutes and a secret DC 20 Spellcraft check. The caster can take 10 when unpressured or take 20 by spending 3 hours 20 minutes. A successful diagram blocks the prisoner’s attacks and abilities from crossing, prevents Spell Resistance from defeating the circle and raises the Charisma escape DC by 5, but any outside disturbance releases the prisoner.
• Negotiation: impossible or unreasonable demands are never accepted. Refused offers can be renewed after 24 hours.
• Natural 1: releases the creature immediately, allowing it to flee or attack.
• Open-ended task: maximum 1 day per caster level when the creature cannot complete the task through its own actions, with an immediate chance to break free.

The inward circle contains the creature for no more than 24 hours per caster level. A creature too large to fit is not held by the specialised inward trap. The prisoner cannot disturb its own boundary directly or indirectly, but an outside creature can break the line or disturb a diagram.

Calling is not summoning

The called creature is physically transported from another plane. It actually dies if killed, and the instantaneous calling cannot be dispelled. A summoned creature instead disappears when its summoning effect ends or when it is defeated. Keep that distinction intact when adjudicating death, treasure, resurrection and planar retaliation.

Dispel Magic

A targeted Dispel Magic can end the ongoing Magic Circle or Dimensional Anchor through the D&D 3.5e caster-level procedure. It cannot undo the completed instantaneous calling. If the trap ends, the called creature remains present and free.