Sleep is the low-level encounter eraser. You send creatures within range into a magical slumber by spending a pool of hit points — starting with the lowest current HP — until the pool runs out.
This Sleep 5E guide covers targeting order, what unconscious means, and when the spell stops being worth a slot.
- Spell Level
- 1st
- Spell Type
- Enchantment
- Casting Time
- 1 Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Component Requirements
- Verbal, Somatic, Material (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket)
- Duration
- 1 minute
- Class
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- At Higher Levels
- Larger HP pool per slot above 1st
How does Sleep work?
Choose a point within range. Creatures within 20 feet of that point are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures). You subtract each creature’s hit points from the spell’s HP pool until the pool cannot cover the next creature.
Affected creatures fall unconscious until the spell ends, they take damage, or someone uses an action to wake them.
Undead and creatures immune to being charmed typically ignore Sleep — confirm your print.
Best uses
- Opening room of goblins / bandits at levels 1–4
- Shutting down the last bloody enemy without spending more damage slots
- Upcasting early to keep the “delete the trash mobs” fantasy alive a bit longer
Why it falls off
Hit point totals rise faster than the pool. By mid-tier, Sleep becomes situational. Hold Person / Hypnotic Pattern style effects take over for control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sleep require a saving throw?
No. It is a flat HP pool effect — that is why it feels so oppressive at level 1.
Can you Sleep a boss?
Only if its current HP fits the remaining pool after smaller creatures. Full-health bosses rarely qualify.
Does waking spend an action?
Yes — another creature can use its action to shake the sleeper awake.
