Mage Hand: plan a remote object task within its limits

SRD 5.2.1 · Spell decisions

Before casting

Casting detailSRD 5.2.1 requirement
Casting timeAction
Range30 feet
ComponentsV, S
Duration1 minute

At the table

  1. Create the hand within 30 feet and use it for a permitted object interaction when casting.
  2. On later turns, use the Magic action to control it again and move it up to 30 feet as part of that action.
  3. It cannot attack, activate magic items or carry over 10 pounds; it vanishes beyond 30 feet from you or on recasting.

Example decision

A sealed bag weighs 12 pounds. The caster wants the hand to carry the whole bag across a short gap within range. Does the ordinary spell permit that task?

No; the bag exceeds the hand’s 10-pound carrying limit.

The carrying limit is ten pounds, without an exception for shorter movement. Keeping the gap within range therefore does not make the twelve-pound bag eligible to carry. A different plan might involve a lighter object or another capability, but the ordinary hand’s listed restrictions still apply.

Watch for this mistake

The hand can open an unlocked door or container; that wording is not automatic lockpicking. Its ability to manipulate objects also explicitly excludes activating magic items.

Ask the table

What is the exact interaction, how heavy is the object, and which action will control the hand?

Source spell

Conjuration Cantrip (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) Casting Time: Action Range: 30 feet Components: V, S Duration: 1 minute A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose within range. The hand lasts for the duration. The hand vanishes if it is ever more than 30 feet away from you or if you cast this spell again. When you cast the spell, you can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial. As a Magic action on your later turns, you can control the hand thus again. As part of that action, you can move the hand up to 30 feet. The hand can’t attack, activate magic items, or carry more than 10 pounds.

Source: SRD 5.2.1, 145. Online guide.

Source and reuse

This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

The explanation, example and table prompt are Table Ready adaptations; source text has been reflowed. This guide and its printable card are available under the same CC BY 4.0 license. Independent reference; no official affiliation. These rules are optional for our system-neutral adventures.