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Disambiguation icon This page is about the wizard version of the spell. For the priest version, see Hold Person (priest).

Hold Person holds humans, demihumans, or humanoid creatures rigidly immobile and in place for the duration of the spell.

Description[]

This spell holds 1d4 humans, demihumans, or humanoid creatures rigidly immobile and in place for five or more rounds. The Hold Person spell affects any bipedal human, demihuman, or humanoid of mansize or smaller, including brownies, dryads, dwarves, elves, gnolls, gnomes, goblins, half-elves, halflings, half-orcs, hobgoblins, humans, kobolds, lizard men, nixies, orcs, pixies, sprites, troglodytes, and others. Thus, a 10th-level fighter could be held, while an ogre could not. The effect is centered on the victim selected by the caster. Every enemy within 4 ft. of the target is also affected. Those who save vs. Spell at -1 are totally unaffected by the spell. Undead creatures cannot be held.


Held creatures cannot move or speak, but they remain aware of events around them and can use abilities not requiring motion or speech. Being held does not prevent the worsening of the subjects' condition due to wounds, disease, or poison.

Gameplay[]

  • The spell implements the Held status effect on specific IDS target types, e.g.; humanoid - general.
  • Magic resistance can block it.
  • Dispel Magic has a chance to remove the effects. See the status effect link for additional prevention and cure methods.
  • Attacks against held enemies always hit as the affected creatures are Helpless.
  • While the spell only affects hostile humanoids, it may be centered on any creature, regardless of type or allegiance.
  • Any creature in the AoE will be protected if protected by at least a Minor Globe of Invulnerability.
  • The original intended targeted creature can deflect this spell with a Minor Spell Deflection. Others in the AoE without this protection may be affected by the spell.

Where to obtain its scroll[]

The Black Pits[]

Sold by[]

Baldur's Gate[]

Shadows of Amn[]

Throne of Bhaal[]

Notes[]

Hold Person ISCRL1I00000 Item icon (unused) BG1

Gallery[]

Mod content[]

Mods icon This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, revising its saving throw. See below for description:
Hold Person
Level: 3
School: Enchantment
Range: Long
Duration: 1 turn
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: Target, and enemies within 5’
Saving Throw: Spell negates

This spell holds one or more humans, demihumans, or humanoid creatures rigidly immobile and in place for one turn. The effect is centered on the victim selected by the caster. Every enemy within 5 feet of the target is also affected. Those who succeed at a saving throw vs. spell at -2 are totally unaffected by the spell. Undead creatures cannot be held with this spell.

Held creatures cannot move or speak, but they remain aware of events around them even though they are helpless to change them. Time passes at a normal rate for the targets and hence being held does not stop any worsening of their condition due to wounds, disease, or poison.

External links[]

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