Magic Mouth: Your Mom’s High School Nickname

Usable By: Artificer, Bard, Wizard

Spell Level: 2

School: Illusion

Casting Time: 1 minute (ritual)

Range: 30 feet

Duration: Until dispelled

Components: V S M (A small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth at least 10 gp, which the spell consumes)

You implant a message within an object in range, a message that is uttered when a trigger condition is met. Choose an object that you can see and that isn’t being worn or carried by another creature. Then speak the message, which must be 25 words or less, though it can be delivered over as long as 10 minutes. Finally, determine the circumstance that will trigger the spell to deliver your message.

When that circumstance occurs, a magical mouth appears on the object and recites the message in your voice and at the same volume you spoke. If the object you chose has a mouth or something that looks like a mouth (for example, the mouth of a statue), the magical mouth appears there so that the words appear to come from the object’s mouth. When you cast this spell, you can have the spell end after it delivers its message, or it can remain and repeat its message whenever the trigger occurs.

The triggering circumstance can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the object. For example, you could instruct the mouth to speak when any creature moves within 30 feet of the object or when a silver bell rings within 30 feet of it.

Review by Sam West, Twitter:@CrierKobold

God I adore Magic Mouth. What a spell. As a player, will you ever need this glorified voicemail stuck to an object? Absolutely not! As a player, do I take this every chance I get to pester my friends and DM with the dumbest ideas? Absolutely I do!

Mechanically, for 10 gold a pop, you inscribe a physical magical mouth on anything you can see that will appear when some trigger occurs, like a creature picking up the object it is on, or when a nearby door is opened.

At minimum, this is giving you access to magical voice recorders with specific triggers that perfectly mimics your voice for up to ten minutes at a time. You can set it to go off at specific times, in specific places, when creatures enter into a space near it, anything you’d like so long as it involves some sensory change within 30 feet of it. Want to appear like you’re in four or five places at once? Magic Mouth can be a part of that plan.

As a DM, Magic Mouth is an excellent exposition device. With a single 2nd level ritual spell, you have access to remote ways villains and allies alike can communicate with the party with a set amount of words. No chance for the party to interrupt, just a clean, simple, straightforward message. Now, you could just leave these words written somewhere, but that lacks gravitas. Dramatic speeches, horrified hurried yelling, instructions sung in riddles and song, all of this can add drama, add flair to your worlds.

Magic Mouth is often forgotten about. The gold cost does leave it feeling like a series of buildable magic items more than a real spell, but the ritual tag makes it incredibly easy for wizards to pick up and mess around with. If you like overly complicated plans involving two dozen interlocking pieces lining up perfectly, Magic Mouth is an amazing addition to your toolbox. Alternatively, if you’re a fan of messing around with your friends and DM, Magic Mouth is a wonderful, super annoying tool you can stick on whatever you want. I love this stupid little spell, even if it's not particularly good.

5e Spells

Magic Mouth: Your Mom’s High School Nickname