Causes a group of creatures to fall into a magical slumber.
Original D&D[]
Sleep[]
Debuted in Men & Magic, for the magic-user.
- Spell Level 1
- Range 24"
The specific effect here is ambiguous, but presumably, it puts the targets to sleep. It affects 2d8 1st-level types, 2d6 2nd-level types, 1d6 3rd-level types, and a single 4th-level type.
Supplement 1: Greyhawk[]
It is clarified that it affects only one creature with 4 or 4+1 hit dice. It does not affect undead.
AD&D[]
Sleep[]
Debuted in the Player's Handbook as a magic-user spell
| Level: 1 | School: Enchantment/Charm |
| Components: V, S, M (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a live cricket) | |
| Range: 3" + 1"/level | Casting Time: 1 segment |
| Duration: 5rounds/level | Saving Throw: None |
| Target: The Caster | |
Causes a comatose slumber to come over creatures in a 3" diameter circle within range. Slumbering creatures can be slain automatically simply by spending a round doing it. A creature can be awakened by spending a melee round slapping them awake, and they will awaken if they take damage, but no noise will awaken the creature.
The number of creatures affected depends upon the HD of the creatures in the area, as follows:
| HD | Number Affected |
|---|---|
| up to 1 | 4d4 |
| 1+1 to 2 | 2d4 |
| 2+1 to 3 | 1d4 |
| 3+1 to 4 | 1d2 |
| 4+1 to 4+4 | 1d2-1 |
DM's Advice: In a mixed group, the spell affects the lowest HD or levels first.
AD&D 2e[]
| Sleep | |
|---|---|
| Spell Level: 1 | Rarity: Common |
| Schools: Enchantment/Charm, Shadow, Song | |
| Components: V, S, M (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a live cricket) | |
| Range: 30 yds | Casting Time: 1 |
| Duration: 5 rds/level | Saving Throw: None |
| Targets: Creatures within 30 ft. of a point within range | |
2d4 Hit Dice of monsters are thrown into a comatose slumber. Monsters of 4+3 HD or more are not affected, and creatures with the smallest amount of hit dice are affected first (partially affected creatures are ignored). The sleeping creatures can be awoken with slapping or by taking damage, but normal noise doesn't stir them, and waking up requires the creature's entire first round.