Featured art “Arcane Circles Wallpaper” by SoftPurple. Creative Commons License.
This article contains affiliate links that add gold to our coffers.
Concentration is important for any spellcaster to understand. I’ve compiled common questions and answers to help DMs and players understand how concentration is designed to function in D&D 5e. The concentration mechanic prevents obscene spell combos from single spellcasters. Concentration also creates a sense of risk for spellcasters using concentration spells.
Here are the most common concentration questions explained!
When does concentration end?
Concentration ends/breaks when one of the following conditions is met:
- You cast another spell that requires concentration. There is no overlap between the spells’ effects when you do this.
- You die!
- You become Incapacitated.
- The DM determines that an occurrence would warrant a concentration check. For example, the DM may call for a concentration check if a character’s spouse is slain before their eyes, a character is struck with an environmental hazard like an avalanche or tidal wave, or a character becomes subject to their greatest fear.
- You take damage and fail a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration.
- An effect may specifically call for concentration to end or for a concentration saving throw to be rolled, such as with the Sleet Storm spell.
- You choose to end the spell. You may end concentration freely on any creature’s turn (more on this later).
Which conditions will break concentration?
Conditions commonly prompt a player to ask if concentration is affected by the condition. Here are all the ways the conditions interact with concentration by 5e rules as written.
Does the grappled condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does the charmed condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw. There may be charm effects accompanied by specific rules about becoming incapacitated, which would end concentration (for example, an Enchantment Wizard’s Hypnotic Gaze ability).
Does the stunned condition break concentration?
Yes, the stunned condition specifically says a stunned creature is incapacitated. Becoming incapacitated will end concentration.
Does the unconscious condition break concentration?
Yes, the unconscious condition specifically says an unconscious creature is incapacitated. Becoming incapacitated will end concentration.
Does the prone condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does falling asleep break concentration?
Yes, falling asleep is the same as being unconscious. The unconscious condition specifically says an unconscious creature is incapacitated, and concentration ends when a creature becomes incapacitated.
Does the paralyzed condition break concentration?
Yes, the paralyzed condition specifically says a paralyzed creature is incapacitated. Becoming incapacitated will end concentration.
Does the frightened condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does the incapacitated condition break concentration?
Yes, the rules for concentration specifically say concentration immediately ends when a character becomes incapacitated.
Does the poisoned condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does the restrained condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does the petrified condition break concentration?
Yes, the petrified condition specifically says a petrified creature is incapacitated. Becoming incapacitated will end concentration.
Does the blinded condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Does the deafened condition break concentration?
No, unless the DM decides the circumstance could break concentration or prompt a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration.
Can a creature concentrate on a spell while continuing to be invisible?
Yes, as long as the conditions for maintaining an invisibility effect are not violated. Concentrating on a spell does not count as casting a spell, allowing you to remain invisible if spellcasting would normally break your invisibility. Because you can concentrate on a spell while you’re invisible, this allows you to cast the Invisibility spell on yourself without immediately ending the spell.
What is a concentration saving throw?
A concentration saving throw is actually a Constitution saving throw. Passing this saving throw will allow you to continue concentrating on a spell, also called maintaining concentration. Failing this saving throw will result in your concentration spell ending. Players refer to this as a “concentration saving throw” for simplicity’s sake.
Thematically, a concentration saving throw represents a character’s effort to focus on perpetuating a spell’s effect while distractions would ruin that focus.
How can I check my concentration?
If you’re asked to check concentration, you’re really being asked to make a Constitution saving throw (see prior question). You can learn about that saving throw in the question below.
How do I calculate the DC for a concentration saving throw?
The default DC for a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration is 10. The DC will increase if you take 22+ damage; this is because the DC increases when half of an instance of damage taken exceeds 10. Half of 22 is 11, so that’s when you know you must raise the DC to 11 instead of 10.
In other words, DC equals half of the damage taken or ten (whichever is higher).
DC = 10 unless (Damage)/2 is higher
How does damage break concentration?
Damage prompts a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration. The DC for this type of Constitution saving throw is explained in the prior question/answer.
Can I end concentration on someone else’s turn?
Yes, the rules clearly state that you can choose to stop concentrating on a spell, ending the spell at any time with no action required from you. Jeremy Crawford confirms this. You can cast a concentration spell that harms foes during their turns and end the spell before your ally’s turn starts, preventing the spell from harming your ally. This gives a spellcaster opportunities to get creative with how they’ll use concentration spells.
Can I maintain concentration during short or long rests?
This is open to DM interpretation. Resting is meant to exclude strenuous activity. Long rests are frustrated if you cast a spell, but what about concentrating on a spell? Your DM will have to decide. I would rule that concentration is too strenuous to rest while concentrating on a spell.
Long rests typically include sleeping, which means your concentration will end. You cannot concentrate while sleeping. Some character races may not need to sleep.
Can I move and attack while concentrating on a spell?
Yes, concentration does not limit what you can do on your turns.
Do I have to concentrate when casting spells that require longer casting times than one action?
Yes, the PHB specifies that casting times exceeding one action, reaction, or bonus action will require concentration during the casting. The caster must also use their action each turn to cast the spell until the casting time has elapsed. Losing concentration or failing to use an action during a turn during the casting time will result in the spell’s failure. Spell slots are not lost when a spell fails in this way. You must start over if you want to attempt to cast the spell again.
Can I concentrate on two spells at once?
No, you can only concentrate on a single spell that requires concentration at a time. You can have more than one spell active at a time, but a single character can not have two or more concentration spells active at once.
If you are concentrating on a spell when you choose to cast a new concentration spell, the previous concentration spell ends the moment you begin casting the new spell. This means there will never be an overlap between the two concentration spells in this scenario.
Any questions?
Comment below if you would like further clarification on concentration or other rules of D&D 5e. I’d also be pleased to hear if I helped you navigate the rules somehow. D&D 5e rules are simple compared to past editions, but there can still be confusing points for its players to learn.
You can find other resources for players and resources for DMs from the authors of Flutes Loot! We have many articles for you to explore.
I blasted myself with a hypnotic pattern the other day. Sort of on accident. That made for a strange interaction. I cast it, became incapacitated, lost concentration, and came to very confused
Ha! It happens to the best of us!
If you cast a concentration spell like invisibility or fly on another person, and they take damage, do they have to make concentration checks too? Since the spell is on them? Or is it only the person who cast the spell?
Only the person who casts the spell must make Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration. 🙂
Does leaving the range of the spell you’re conentrating on break concentration? If not, does moving to a different plane?
Moving beyond the spell’s casting range does not end the spell or end concentration. Same with moving to a different plane of existence. Exceptions would be if spells specifically say otherwise, such as with Witch Bolt’s range mattering even while concentrating.
Player A casts dominate person on Player B. As the spell is ending player A tells player B “do not resist”. Player A then casts polymorph on player B. Does the “do not resist” affect the casting of polymorph or does player B get a save since the spells do not overlap?
You cannot choose to fail a saving throw unless an effect specifically says you can. So it’s up to the DM.
would you rule that psychic damage shouldn’t be halved for concentration check’s?
or that they should at least be made at disadvantage?
Hi! Are you asking if concentration saving throws should use the full damage taken for the DC instead of half the damage? I think half damage or ten (whichever is higher) is fine.
Can I suggest an edit, as I was looking this up and found it confusing?
Payers handbook specifically says longer than an action or reaction, you have quoted it here as spells requiring casting time exceeding a minute, which may be misread as over a minute but that a minute is okay and doesn’t require concentration for the first minute of casting time.
“Do I have to concentrate when casting spells that require longer casting times than one action?
Yes, the PHB specifies that casting times exceeding one minute will require concentration during the casting. The caster must also use their action each turn to cast the spell until the casting time has completed. Losing concentration or failing to use an action during a turn during the casting time will result in the spell’s failure. Spell slots are not lost when a spell fails in this way. You must start over if you want to attempt to cast the spell again.”
PHB- “Longer Casting Times
Certain spells (including spells cast as rituals) require more time to cast: minutes or even hours. When you cast a spell with a casting time longer than a single action or reaction, you must spend your action each turn casting the spell, and you must maintain your concentration while you do so. If your concentration is broken, the spell fails, but you don’t expend a spell slot. If you want to try casting the spell again, you must start over.”
Thanks for pointing that out! I don’t know why I phrased it that way, but it’s fixed now.
question if sleep breaks concentration why dose hex and hunters mark get a 24hr time?
It’s common for characters to be awake for more than 24 hours.
Stinking Cloud says that the victim loses an *action* retching and reeling, but the spell does no damage. Does this mean that it does not break concentration? This seems counterintuitive – if you’re retching and reeling for a turn, that seems equivalent to incapacitation, although you can still move, I guess.
That’s correct, and it does seem unintuitive. Sleet Storm, for example, specifically can break concentration without dealing damage. Maybe Stinking Cloud should do the same, I don’t know!
Hi! I found a spell that I have a question on. It goes as follows:
Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours.
As part of casting this spell you must expend eight hit dice or the spell fails. If you do, over the course of the next 1d6 X 5 minutes the sky darkens and blood begins to rain down. Creatures gain a level of exhaustion for every 10 minutes they are directly exposed to the rain and takes 2d10 necrotic damage.
Beasts and plant creatures within the aoe must succeed on a wisdom save or be frightened until they have spent 1 minute outside the aoe. Mundane plants wither and die after 10 minutes exposed to the rain.
For each hour you maintain concentration on this spell, roll one hit die expended in casting. The total equals the number of days before creatures will return and plants will regrow.
My question is, how can the spell have a concentration for up to 8 hours, but only be in effect for 1d6 X 5 minutes? Is the concentration for the aoe, or is it every hour spent concentrating reroll a 1d6 X 5? Thank you for any help you can give to this question!
It sounds like a homebrew spell that needs work on its description. I’m not sure of its intent.
If I have a spell active, say Detect Magic, that requires concentration and I cast another spell, Mind Spike, that has a concentration aspect, but I don’t care about/want the 2nd (Mind Spike) concentration effect, can I choose to keep concentrating on the first spell so it doesn’t drop or will it automatically drop when I begin casting Mind Spike because Mind Spike has a concentration requirement whether I want to keep that concentration aspect or not? Like an all-or-nothing spell?
The game doesn’t give the option to cast a concentration spell without concentration. I’d ask your DM if they’re open to that. I don’t see any reason not to if the spell is being used for damage like I assume Mind Spike would be in the example you provided.