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Can Anything Pass Through a Wall of Force? The Ultimate Guide

The Wall of Force spell in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition is a powerful defensive option, known for its near-impenetrability. The core question remains: Can anything actually pass through it? The short answer is: mostly no, but with some key exceptions. The spell description states that “Nothing can physically pass through the wall,” establishing a significant barrier. However, a deeper dive into the spell’s mechanics and interactions with other spells and abilities reveals nuances that every adventurer should know. It is the ultimate tool that your Dungeon Master can use against you.

Understanding the Basics

The Wall of Force is an invisible barrier that provides total cover. This means that creatures and objects cannot be targeted through it, and it blocks line of sight for most purposes. It is also described as being immune to all damage, making it extremely difficult to destroy. This is a defensive juggernaut.

Key Characteristics:

Invisible: It is invisible to the naked eye unless one can “see invisible.”
Total Cover: Blocks line of sight and prevents targeting through it.
Immune to Most Damage: Resistant to almost all forms of damage, except for Disintegrate.
Impassable: Prevents physical passage.

Exceptions and Caveats

Despite its imposing nature, several exceptions and specific interactions allow certain things to bypass or interact with a Wall of Force:

Teleportation: Abilities like Misty Step allow creatures to teleport past it, as teleportation does not technically “pass through” the space between departure and arrival. The wall’s invisibility also does not block line of sight, crucial for many teleportation spells.
Disintegrate: The Disintegrate spell automatically destroys a Wall of Force, regardless of its immunity to other forms of damage. This provides a direct countermeasure.
Creature Placement: The spell description allows for adjusting creature placements. If the Wall of Force would appear where a creature is located, they are pushed to the edge of the effect.
Burrowing/Digging: Depending on the wall’s placement, if it’s not fully enclosed or buried deep into the ground, creatures might be able to burrow or dig beneath or around the wall’s edges.
The Rule of Cool and DM Discretion: While the RAW (Rules as Written) is important, the RAI (Rules as Intended) can be interpreted differently by each DM. Some DMs may permit some level of sound to pass through (muffled) and some might even find creative ways to bypass it in certain situations.
Thermal temperature: Thermal temperature would pass through the wall, but it will not deal damage directly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you target through a Wall of Force?

No. According to targeting rules (PHB p. 204), you need a “Clear Path to the Target,” which means you can’t have total cover. Wall of Force provides total cover, so you cannot target anything through it.

2. Can you see through a Wall of Force?

The Wall of Force is invisible to normal sight. However, if you can “see invisible,” either by natural ability or a spell, you can perceive the wall.

3. Can you teleport through a Wall of Force?

Yes. Misty Step, or any other teleportation ability, can ignore a Wall of Force. Since it is invisible, it does not block line of sight, and teleportation does not “pass through” the space between departure and arrival.

4. Can you speak through a Wall of Force?

The RAW doesn’t explicitly address this. A common home ruling is that sound can pass through, but it is muffled, as if you’re talking to someone behind a thick pane of glass. Consult with your DM.

5. How do you escape a Wall of Force?

Misty Step, or any other teleportation ability, can ignore a Wall of Force. Depending on where it’s cast, you could potentially also burrow beneath or around its edges.

6. What can destroy a Wall of Force?

A Wall of Force can be damaged by spells as normal, except for Disintegrate, which automatically destroys it.

7. Can you fireball through a Wall of Force?

No. The Wall of Force‘s description states, “Nothing can physically pass through the wall.” This means any spell that travels from you to the target (like Lightning Bolt or Fireball) would be stopped by the wall.

8. Can a Wall of Force be used as a bridge?

Yes. The wall doesn’t need to stand vertically, so you can use it to form a bridge or set of stairs, for example.

9. Could teleportation of matter be possible through a Wall of Force?

While human teleportation currently exists only in science fiction, in the quantum world, teleportation involves the transportation of information, rather than the transportation of matter. But in the context of D&D, generally no, except via teleportation spells that bypass the need to “pass through.”

10. How tall is a Wall of Force?

A caster might make a bridge or wall 10 feet wide or tall, and up to 120 feet long, or shape it into a dome or even a sphere with a radius of up to 10 feet. If the Force wall would appear where a creature is located, they are pushed out to the edge of the effect.

11. Can you teleport out of a Bead of Force?

Yes, Force effects do not block astral travel (such as Teleportation).

12. Does a Wall of Force block breath weapons?

It depends on how your DM interprets the wall’s properties. If nothing can pass, then the breath weapon would be blocked. However, some DMs might rule that certain effects still apply, especially if they originate within the wall.

13. Does Misty Step go through walls?

Yes, Misty Step can teleport through an obstacle like a Wall of Force.

14. Does Shape Water work on ice within the Wall of Force’s area?

Yes, Shape Water works on ice because ice is water. More important than the mineral aspect is the elemental aspect. The spell does not need to “pass through” the wall.

15. Does Moonbeam go through walls?

While you can cast Moonbeam in any direction, whether it can pass through a solid wall is up to the DM’s interpretation. Typically, since the wall blocks physical passage, the Moonbeam would likely be stopped.

Strategic Implications

Understanding what can and cannot pass through a Wall of Force is crucial for strategic gameplay:

Defense: Use it to protect vulnerable party members from ranged attacks or to create bottlenecks in combat.
Control: Trap enemies within the wall, forcing them to waste resources trying to escape.
Terrain Manipulation: Create bridges or barriers to alter the battlefield to your advantage.
Emergency Measures: Quickly seal off corridors or rooms to delay pursuing enemies.

Conclusion

While the Wall of Force is a formidable barrier, it’s not completely impenetrable. Teleportation, specific spells like Disintegrate, burrowing, and creative use of the environment can all provide avenues for bypassing or countering its effects. Understanding these nuances allows players and DMs alike to use the spell strategically and to plan accordingly when facing it.

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Can anything pass through wall of force?