Water Breathing: solve respiration without assuming a Swim Speed
Water Breathing grants a group the ability to breathe underwater for a long duration. Separate that benefit from movement, visibility and the other challenges of an underwater route.
Before casting
| Casting detail | SRD 5.2.1 requirement |
|---|---|
| Casting time | Action or Ritual |
| Range | 30 feet |
| Components | V, S, M (a short reed) |
| Duration | 24 hours |
Use it at the table
- Choose up to ten willing creatures within 30 feet.
- Each gains underwater breathing until the spell ends and retains its normal mode of respiration.
- Plan movement and other hazards using their own rules; this spell does not list a new Swim Speed or a general protection from underwater danger.
Make the call
An affected creature has no Swim Speed. Does Water Breathing itself give the creature a Swim Speed equal to its ordinary Speed?
The ruling
No; the listed benefit is breathing, not a Swim Speed.
The spell grants underwater breathing while preserving normal respiration. It does not state that it changes Speed or grants a Swim Speed. Use the creature’s existing movement capabilities and the Swimming rule when calculating its route. The long duration makes breathing less urgent, but does not replace other parts of travel planning.
Watch for this mistake
The target limit is up to ten willing creatures within range, not every creature who later joins the group. Also retain the normal breathing benefit when describing a return to air.
Ask the table
Who is included in the casting, and which underwater obstacles remain after breathing is solved?
The source spell
SRD 5.2.1, page 173. Read the official PDF.
Level 3 Transmutation (Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard) Casting Time: Action or Ritual Range: 30 feet Components: V, S, M (a short reed) Duration: 24 hours This spell grants up to ten willing creatures of your choice within range the ability to breathe underwater until the spell ends. Affected creatures also retain their normal mode of respiration.
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.