Telekinesis Rules 5e Explained in Full
Telekinesis Rules 5e Explained in Full
Caster “flying”
It is established and widely agreed that the caster forms the “anchor” for the spell, and so cannot move as a result of the spell’s influence. For example, in crossing a chasm you could theoretically (provided the Spell’s weight and range allowances) sit all of your friends on a platform of some kind and then you could shift them over to the desired side. You however, would remain on the wrong side of the canyon. If you were on the platform too, you could not pick it up as you would be moving yourself.
Objects
As worded in the PHB:
“Object: You can try to move an object that weighs up to 1,000 pounds. If the object isn't being worn or carried, you automatically move it up to 30 feet in any direction, but not beyond the range of this spell.”
For comparison to something else, a polar bear weighs almost exactly 1000 lbs, so that is about the weight you can lift.
Objects Being Carried
“If the object is worn or carried by a creature, you must make an ability check with your spellcasting ability contested by that creature's Strength check. If you succeed, you pull the object away from that creature and can move it up to 30 feet in any direction but not beyond the range of this spell.”
In attempting to strip a creature of an item unwillingly, it is their Strength check against your “spellcasting ability check”, i.e. NOT a Spell Attack roll, it is your straight Intelligence / Charisma modifier + whatever is on the d20.
Fine Control
You can exert fine control on Objects with your telekinetic grip, such as manipulating a simple tool, opening a door or a container, stowing or retrieving an item from an open container, or pouring the contents from a vial.”
A point of contention online appears to be that people seem to not like the idea that you could theoretically use Telekinesis to wield a weapon with your mind. I on the other hand see no real problem with this and think in practice that it could rather fun.
If you were to try this, I would say that you make a “melee spell attack” with your Spell Attack bonus, and then the damage is just the base damage of that weapon. Obviously, not being proficient in any martial combat, or the manoeuvring of weaponry, you would not add any modifiers afterwards, but could be situationally useful.
Targeting Creatures
“Creature: You can try to move a Huge or smaller creature. Make an ability check with your spellcasting ability contested by the creature's Strength check. If you win the contest, you move the creature up to 30 feet in any direction, including upward but not beyond the range of this spell. Until the end of your next turn, the creature is Restrained in your telekinetic grip. A creature lifted upward is suspended in mid-air.”
Firstly, like with taking their stuff, in attempting to move a creature unwillingly, it is their Strength check against your “spellcasting ability check”, i.e. NOT a Spell Attack roll, it is your straight Intelligence / Charisma modifier + whatever is on the d20.
The wording for this part of the Spell is extremely poor to say the least, I could not understand how you can only move an object weighing 1000 lbs or less (and the object obviously isn’t contesting / resisting) but you can move a Huge creature that is fighting to stay where it is (for example, a Fire Giant’s approximate weight being 7500 lbs).
But after checking what Wizards of the Coast have to say it appears that “try” is the important word, and one for the DM situationally. Apparently even with 20 INT there is no way in a million years you would manage to pick up a Giant and suspend them in the air, (even a Bulette is a huge jump if we consider the 1000 lbs capacity, and that’s only a Large creature). You might, however, if they were busy fighting your companions, be pulled off balance by you. Fall prone, pushed a number of feet back etc… Additionally:
“On subsequent rounds, you can use your action to attempt to maintain your telekinetic grip on the creature by repeating the contest.”
The creature can repeat its save on every turn.
Damage
Okay, so this will inevitably have an occasional bit of improv on my part depending on what you influence, but the broad rules are as follows:
Fall damage in 5e is 1d6 bludgeoning damage per 10ft fallen. You fall at a default rate of 25ft per round (10ft per round with Feather Fall). So if you lift something 30ft and just drop it, it will take 3d6 damage. I will say that if you use your action to throw it into something horizontally, it will take the same level of damage. If however, you work with gravity and throw it downwards we’ll increase the dice to 1d10 per 10ft fallen.
Telekinesis has a range of 60ft, so if you want to hold something that high, you need to either be 60ft from it horizontally, or directly underneath the thing (which probably isn’t the best place to be).
For objects being thrown into creatures damage, I have until now just guessed, however, upon looking at what other DMs are doing, and comparing it to the damage of other spells of Fifth Level, we will say that a 1000 lbs object does the same amount of damage as a fire giant’s boulder, 4d10+7. If that 1000 lbs thing being thrown is another creature, the one being thrown will still take the 1d6 per 10ft travelled damage, as though it were thrown into a wall, but the recipient takes the much higher impact damage. If the creature being thrown is considerably lighter than 1000 lbs, then the damage dice of the impact will be adjusted accordingly.
