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Bigby's crushing hand was an evocation spell that created a hand of force to grapple, block, push, or squeeze an opponent.[2][3][4][5][9] Clerics who cast this spell named it for their deity—Loviatar's crushing hand, for example.[3] To Zakharan mages, always reluctant to acknowledge ajami names and accomplishments, the spell was known simply as crushing hand, and counted among the spells of the universal province.[8]

Effects[]

This spell was one of the Bigby's hand family of spells. It created a hand about the size of an ogre[2][10] or about 10 ft (3 m) tall with a splayed finger span of about the same distance[10] (earlier versions could be even larger[11][12][13]) that could be used to block, push, or grab and squeeze a creature. All versions of this spell relied on the caster's senses to detect and locate a target, the fist did not have senses of its own.[2][10][11][12][13] But once a target was designated, the hand would unerringly stick with the target regardless of invisibility, polymorphing, darkness, or other means of concealment or disguise.[10][11][12][13]

The earliest versions never missed the target once it was designated,[4][5][14] but later versions performed repeated melee attacks until the grapple succeeded or until the spell expired.[2][3] The earlier versions slowly constricted the victim, doing potentially greater damage the longer the creature remained in its grasp.[4][5][9] A later version did a steady squeeze[3] while the post-Second Sundering version was just an incrementally stronger and more damaging version of Bigby's grasping hand when cast at increased level.[2]

The crushing hand could also be used in the same manner as Bigby's interposing hand or as an improved Bigby's forceful hand with greater strength.[3]

Range and duration varied widely over the history of this spell. For the earliest versions, a wizard that had advanced just enough to cast this spell could control the hand for 18 minutes and extend its reach to 90 ft (27 m) indoors/80 yd (82 m) outdoors.[4][5][14] Later versions lasted only a minute[2] or two,[10] but the reach was extended from 120 ft (36.6 m)[2] to 270 ft (82.3 m) at a minimum.[10]

For all versions of this spell, the health of the hand was the same as the caster's uninjured health.[2][4][5][9][10]

When cast on Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, the hand took on the form of a grasping claw belonging to a demon or a devil.[15]

Components[]

In addition to the verbal component, all versions required somatic gestures.[2][3][4][5][9] After the Second Sundering, the hand imitated the movement of the caster's hand for the duration of the spell.[2] All arcane versions required a glove made of snake skin and an eggshell.[2][3][4][5][9]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 218. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 203–204. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 194. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 247. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  6. Cook, Findley, Herring, Kubasik, Sargent, Swan (1991). Tome of Magic 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 151. ISBN 1-56076-107-5.
  7. Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sam Witt (March 1994). The Complete Sha'ir's Handbook. Edited by Dezra D. Phillips, C. Terry Phillips. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 124, 126. ISBN 1-56076-828-2.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 92. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 183. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 232. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 79. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 89. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  15. Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
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