Friends: The One Where You Get Stabbed

Usable By: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

Spell Level: Cantrip

School: Enchantment

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Self

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Components: S, M (a small amount of makeup applied to the face as this spell is cast)

For the duration, you have advantage on all Charisma checks directed at one creature of your choice that isn't hostile toward you. When the spell ends, the creature realizes that you used magic to influence its mood and becomes hostile toward you. A creature prone to violence might attack you. Another creature might seek retribution in other ways (at the DM's discretion), depending on the nature of your interaction with it.

Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

You’re minding your business, halfway through your favorite brew at the local bar, chatting with the barkeep about the recent match. Upon you sets a charming lyre slinging bard, eager to hear all about your ventures, and just oozing charisma and charm. Who WOULDN’T spill their deepest secrets to this fellow? You get about halfway through your explanation of your most recent job smuggling huge amounts of drugs out of town when it sets in: what are you doing? Why are you talking to this asshole? Wait… he CHARMED you? And in that moment, you punch him in the face.

This, in essence, is Friends. For the price of inevitable rage, you can be buddy buddy with just about anyone. It almost always is more trouble than it's worth, but sometimes that is exactly the spell you want.

Friends is at its best in games where bar fights and conflict are the norm and often done just for fun. At the disposal of a bard who loves to sow chaos in a group who embraces it, Friends offers an easy way to expedite exposition while eliciting excitement in the form of coming to blows with whomever you charmed.

Despite the memes and general discourse around Friends, I think it's excellent. Not every spell is going to work on every character, and Friends more than most highlights a spell that functions best based on its caster’s personality. You need more than a decent Charisma modifier to get the most out of Friends; you need a rambunctious attitude and a desire to cause a little trouble from time to time.

As a final note, some characters aren’t going to work at some tables. A charismatic troublemaker who thrives when rousing rabble and swiping room keys may be a blast to some, but a lot of players and DMs will tire quickly of the endless attempts at chaos they bring. Work ahead of time with your DM and other players before committing to the kind of character who wants to start fights with a simple cantrip.

5e Spells

Friends: The One Where You Get Stabbed