Hold Person is a classic first-level spell in Pathfinder that paralyzes a single target, locking down key enemies while your party controls the battlefield. This overview explains how the spell works, when to use it, and how it fits into different playstyles.
Below is a quick reference table that highlights the core mechanical details you need to know at a glance.
| Level | Casting Time | Range | Duration | Saving Throw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 standard action | Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) | 1 round/level | Will partial |
| Heightened | unchanged | unchanged | increases | unchanged |
| Components | Verbal, Somatic | Material (pinch of flax) | Special | Negates on success |
Tactical Uses of Hold Person
Pulling Aggro and Protecting Allies
By holding a damaging enemy or a frontline fighter, you redirect attention away from fragile casters and squishy allies. This creates safe windows for burst damage or spellcasting.
Countering High-Mobility Opponents
Even fast creatures can struggle when paralyzed, especially if the party combines Hold Person with reach weapons, threatened spaces, and difficult terrain to limit escape options.
Synergies with Buffs and Control Spells
Combining Hold Person with buffs like Heroism and control spells like Grease maximizes battlefield control, making it harder for enemies to act or reposition.
Class Options and Spell Lists
Bards Invert the Narrative
Bots can cast Hold Person from the Bard spell list, allowing them to access it earlier and weave it into performances that inspire allies while disabling key targets.
Wizards Focus on Flexibility
Wizards often prepare Hold Person alongside other enchantment spells, using metamagic options to extend duration or increase reliability depending on the encounter.
Clerics Channel Divine Authority
Clerics gain Hold Person through their domain powers, reinforcing their role as battlefield controllers who can lock down foes in the name of their deity.
Combat Mechanics and Save Details
When Hold Person resolves, the target must attempt a Will save. A successful save means the spell has no effect, while failure imposes full paralysis.
Partial success from a failed save is not an option; the target is either fully paralyzed or completely unaffected. Spell Resistance and high Will saves remain the primary defenses.
Optimizing Hold Person in Your Gameplan
- Pick metamagic like Extend to maintain pressure across multiple rounds without recasting.
- Combine with area control so paralyzed enemies cannot be easily reached or dragged to safety.
- Coordinate with allies that have readied actions to punish anyone attempting to approach the pinned target.
- Use class features that boost Will save DC or spell level to make breaking the paralysis harder for foes.
- Plan action economy so your party can maximize damage and control while the enemy is helpless.
FAQ
Reader questions
Can Hold Person work on constructs and undead?
No, Hold Person only affects humanoids, so constructs, undead, oozes, and most monstrous creatures are immune to its effects.
What happens if the paralyzed creature is grappled or restrained?
Grapple and restrained conditions are irrelevant once Hold Person takes effect, because paralysis overrides them and the target is completely immobile.
Does the spell allow the target to take mental damage or effects like dominate person?
While paralyzed, the creature can still be targeted by mind-affecting effects unless it has specific immunities, making it vulnerable to spells like suggestion during the duration.
Is Hold Person useful against enemies with legendary actions or many attacks of opportunity?
Yes, paralyzing a key enemy removes its legendary actions and drastically reduces its ability to trigger attacks of opportunity, giving your party a decisive tactical window.