D&D 5E Rules Question about Bigby's Hand

[Baumi]

It is a large Hand, but doesn't occupy it's Space. If it moves into a 5 feet Corridor, does it have to squeeze?

And is there a disadvantage (for the enemy or the Hand) if an Enemy moves into the Space of the Hand?

 

[jgsugden]

RAW: The spell creates an object. The object is mobile, but it does fill the space it occupies, just as a wall, cart or other large object would.

It is not a creature. Only creatures can squeeze using the PHB rules. Thus, it can't be moved into spaces too small for it. Just as it would not be possible to push a large cart down a narrow hallway, under RAW, you can't move a Bigby's hand down a narrow hallway that is not wide enough to accommodate it.

All of this depends upon a few things. First, it is described as large, but large meaning 10' by 10' is a CREATURE designation. Large, here may, be more subjective as the hand is not a creature. This is going to be up to you and the DM.

Further, a lot of DMs would allow the caster to control the hand in more precise ways. I would. Thus, I would allow the caster to make the hand go flat to go down the hallway. However, this is my RAF (rules as fun) interpretation, not RAW.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

I was going to point out the same thing. The squeezing rules apply to creatures, but not objects. I am not sure of the intent of the designers in this case but since it is magic, is not a creature, and it doesn't occupy the space it is in I would allow for the hand to move anywhere within the spell guidelines but follow the spellcasting rules for line of effect.

 

[Steampunkette]

So... Looking at it. It says the hand is Large with a capital L. That indicates it means creature size. However it mimics the movements of your hand and -explicitly- does not fill its space in the spell description.

Which means while it is large sized in it's largest dimension, it is not traditionally large sized.

So I would rule that you could move it down a 5ft corridor without "Squeezing", so long as you made an appropriate Sleight of Bigby's Hand skill check.

 

[Baumi]

Good to see that I am not the only one slightly confused about it

 

[Oofta]

It's a spell, not a creature or an object. Therefore the squeezing rules don't apply; I would rule that going down a hall would not cause an issue. It's not that powerful of a spell for it's level, I don't see any reason to nerf it based on environmental factors.

 

[Stalker0]

My other thought is the interposing hand provides a +2 AC....which is typical cover for another standard creature. So again, this implies to me that while its large size, it really has more of a medium sized footprint.

So yeah I would let it move down a hallway, but it couldn't squeeze into one meant for a small creature.


While your debating the spell, another interesting question to consider. Normally a person grappling another is able to move them up to half their speed using their move automatically. Would you allow the grasping hand option to do the same?

 

[Plaguescarred]

It's a spell, not a creature or an object.

The spell says it's an object. But i agree that it should not be able to squeeze

Bigby's Hand: The hand is an object that has AC 20

 

[Plaguescarred]

I found a bug, alive you can squeeze but dead you can't anymore, as you are treated as an object. ☺

 

[Bolares]

It ocupies a space but doesn't fill it. And we have to remember that playing with grids is an optional rule, so not every Large object fills a 10x10 square. I'd say if the hand can reconfigure it's position to go trhough the space it can, and would not be squeezing