Hideous Laughter

• Casting Time: 1 action
• Classes: Bard, Wizard
• Components: V S M
• Concentration: Yes
• Duration: Up to 1 minute
• Level: 1
• Material: Tiny tarts and a feather that is waved in the air
• Name: Hideous Laughter
• Range: 30 feet
• School: Enchantment
• Target: A creature of your choice that you can see within range

A creature of your choice that you can see within range perceives everything as hilariously funny and falls into fits of laugher if this spell affects it. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw of fall prone, becoming incapacitated and unable to stand up for the duration. A creature with an Intelligence score of 4 or less isn't affected.

At the end of each of its turns, and each time it takes damage, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. The target has advantage on the saving throw if it's triggered by damage. On a success, the spell ends.

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The SendingStone review

Hideous Laughter is a first-level spell in Dungeons & Dragons that causes a target to fall prone and become incapacitated with uncontrollable laughter. It has a casting time of 1 action and requires verbal, somatic, and material components. The spell can only affect one creature at a time and requires concentration to maintain the effect for up to 1 minute.

Opinions on the spell vary, but some players view it as a useful tool for disabling enemies in combat. Others feel that the spell is too situational and can quickly become ineffective against creatures immune to being charmed or affected by magic. Some also argue that the spell is too comedic for serious game sessions, although it can certainly add some levity to a game. Ultimately, the effectiveness of Hideous Laughter will depend on a variety of factors, including the party’s strategy, the DM’s ruling, and the specific creatures being targeted.

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Hideous Laughter is D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) 5th edition content, but other TTRPGs may have their own version such as a Hideous Laughter Pathfinder edition. Want to use Hideous Laughter in a VTT (virtual tabletop)? Try out SendingStone for free today!

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