Guide to Enthrall 5e: Commanding Attention, Distracting Enemies

Have you ever wanted to be the center of attention; the spotlight performer everyone can’t take their eyes off?

Maybe you’re playing a bard who just can’t resist hogging the stage or a warlock who thrives on being the most interesting figure in the room.

Enthrall is a 2nd-level enchantment spell in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, designed to captivate and distract your enemies, turning them into mere onlookers.

But is Enthrall worth your precious spell slots, or is it better left as a cool idea on paper? Today, we’re dissecting everything about this curious spell, from its scary-good flavor for role-playing to its niche (but potentially game-changing) utility in combat scenarios. Whether you’re a bard ready to dazzle or a warlock stirring up trouble, let’s unravel what Enthrall brings to the table.

What Exactly Is Enthrall?

First things first, let’s break down the spell itself. Enthrall is a 2nd-level spell from the enchantment school available to bards and warlocks. It’s designed to make you the center of attention (literally). Picture yourself weaving a string of mesmerizing, magical words or performing an otherworldly spectacle, forcing everyone to hang on your every move.

Spell Mechanics at a Glance:

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: Verbal, Somatic (fancy way of saying you’ll need to use words and gestures like a true performer)
Duration: 1 minute (concentration required)
Target: Creatures of your choice within range that can hear you

Here’s the kicker—targets must make a Wisdom saving throw to resist your overwhelming charm. If they fail, they’ll have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to notice anyone but you.

Essentially, their focus gets laser-locked on you, making it harder to perceive anything else going on. However, creatures that can’t be charmed automatically succeed against the spell, so it won’t work on undead, constructs, or creatures with specific resistances.

Oh, and if you or your companions are hostile toward the target, they get advantage on their saving throws. All eyes on you, but that spotlight is a tad slippery in combat situations.

Strategic Uses for Enthrall in Combat

At first glance, Enthrall’s combat potential might feel underwhelming compared to flashier crowd-control spells. After all, it doesn’t directly stop enemies from attacking you or force them to walk into a pit of lava. Instead, it creates an indirect opportunity—buying time and distracting opponents in key scenarios.

Distracting Guards or Enemies:

Picture this—you’re attempting to break into a heavily guarded fortress. Instead of bashing down the front door or trying to sneak past every guard, you cast Enthrall on the majority of the room. Suddenly, all eyes are on you and not your rogue friend sneaking around to pick the lock or your druid summoning a bear for backup. Guards that fail their Wisdom saves won’t catch the rogue shimmying behind them, giving your party the time they need to execute their plan.

Combating Perception-Heavy Threats:

Certain enemies make heavy use of Perception checks (we’re looking at you, paranoid NPCs and spot-happy guards). Enthrall can be the perfect counter in situations where keeping your stealth team hidden or concealing other actions is key. Disadvantage on Perception checks can create wiggle room for sneaking, misdirection, or setting traps.

Making Yourself a Lightning Rod:

For characters who love risk and attention, Enthrall is like screaming, “Pick me!” Enemies hyper-focused on you may hesitate to attack your allies, making it a potential lifesaver when the squishy wizard in your group needs a breather. The spell doesn’t guarantee safety, but enemies targeting you might miss something crucial elsewhere on the battlefield. Who’s paying attention to the paladin charging in when you’re doing interpretative dance?

Enthrall in Role-Playing Scenarios

If combat’s not your focus, Enthrall absolutely shines as a flavorful tool for role-play. It’s a spell made for charismatic shenanigans! Whether it’s your bard unleashing their inner rock star or your warlock weaving sinister whispers, Enthrall thrives when it’s less about mechanics and more about moments of flair.

Stealing the Spotlight

Think of Enthrall as your “main character” button. Having trouble at the tavern getting people’s attention? Trying to stand out in a crowd? Enthrall ensures everyone suddenly notices you. Better yet, it comes with built-in storytelling potential.

“You can’t hear anything else but me” is a powerful metaphor, especially in the hands of a bard who knows how to pour emotion into their performance.

For Warlocks, this could manifest in unsettling ways. Maybe your words carry a hypnotic cadence, echoing faint whispers from the Realm of Shadows, or your gestures seem unnaturally fluid, like reality warps around you. No matter your flavor, Enthrall’s the go-to spell for turning heads.

Duping NPCs

Narratively, Enthrall is a sneaky way to tilt the scene in your favor. Distract an interrogator while your party sneaks in intel, or buy yourself time with overwhelming charm mid-negotiation. Creatures fixated on you are less likely to notice your subtle lies, and obstacle-heavy role-play encounters can take a whole new direction if the NPC’s attention is glued to you.

Best Paired With Performances

Why stop at a distracting monologue or magical speech? If your bard is already the bandleader type, Enthrall can boost the visuals of an in-game performance. While the DM might not require a spell for impressive in-character song and dance, Enthrall adds mechanical weight to the performance and ensures nobody interrupts your “show.”

Comparing Enthrall to Similar Spells

Enthrall certainly isn’t the only utility-based enchantment spell. Spells like Charm Person, Suggestion, and even Fog Cloud often compete for the same niche in your arsenal. The question isn’t “is Enthrall the best?” but rather, “when is Enthrall the right tool?”

Charm Person: Charm Person is great for swaying one creature at a time, especially in social settings. However, where it charms and befriends, Enthrall creates distraction and misdirection. They’re complementary, not interchangeable.
Suggestion: Both are 2nd-level spells, but Suggestion makes creatures obey commands within reason, which can feel like a strict upgrade. However, Enthrall affects multiple targets and shines in sensory overload scenarios, making it more situationally effective.
Fog Cloud/Invisibility: These give outright obscurity, while Enthrall bends perception toward you. Use Enthrall if you want to control the attention of enemies. The others work if everyone just needs to disappear.

Downsides of Enthrall

We’d be lying if we said Enthrall wasn’t a divisive spell among players. Despite its cool flavor and niche uses, a few factors keep it from being every bard or warlock’s go-to pick.

Concentration Heavy – Concentration spells like Hold Person or Suggestion often feel stronger in application. Enthrall competes with those heavyweights for your focus, and it doesn’t always offer the same payoff.
Situational – If enemies pass their Wisdom saves—or if there’s no sneaky plan or Perception checks in play—this spell loses its edge fast.
Combat Shortcomings – Enemies that are still capable of attacking you or your allies might ignore disadvantage in favor of straightforward action.

For enthusiasts of role-play, these downsides won’t matter. For combat optimizers? Look elsewhere.

Making the Most of Enthrall

The secret to using Enthrall effectively is knowing when its particular toolkit can make a difference. Are you facing NPC security or guards you can bamboozle? Are you buying time for someone sneaking into position? Some of the best magic happens outside combat initiative, and Enthrall is no different.

Communicate with your DM to integrate rich narrative uses. Tie it to your character’s backstory! Is this your bard’s ultimate diva moment? Is this your warlock disturbing the balance of reality? The spell shines when flavor meets functionality.

Final Verdict

At its heart, Enthrall isn’t about raw power—it’s about creating memorable, unique moments. It’s not the kind of spell you’ll cast in every game session, and it shouldn’t be.

But when you do use it, it has the potential to flip the script of an encounter or enhance a personal role-play scene. To love Enthrall is to love its theatrical side, and for D&D players eager to entertain, it’s a spell worth adding to your toolkit.

Verdict Score for Enthrall:

Role-Playing Potential: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Utility: 🌟🌟🌟
Combat Impact: 🌟

FAQ About Enthrall in 5e

1. Who can cast Enthrall in D&D 5e?

Enthrall is available to bard and warlock classes. It’s a natural fit for characters who thrive on being the center of attention.

2. Does Enthrall work on creatures immune to charm?

No, creatures that are immune to being charmed automatically succeed on saving throws against Enthrall.

3. Can Enthrall be used outside of combat?

Yes! Enthrall is fantastic for misdirecting NPCs or creating dramatic distractions during role-playing scenarios.

4. How do I counter Enthrall as a DM?

Creatures with high Wisdom or ones that have advantage on saving throws against magical effects (like being charmed) can resist Enthrall. Smart NPCs can also realize they’re being distracted mid-speech.

5. Is Enthrall worth using in combat?

It depends on the situation! While it’s not a headliner combat spell, its ability to force enemies to focus on you can help create opportunities for your party to handle objectives stealthily or tactically.

At the end of the day, Enthrall’s value lies in its ability to turn one moment into a standout memory. Use it wisely, and you’re bound to leave your party (and maybe your DM) stuck in awe!