The Illusionists Guide to Reality: A Definitive Guide to Making Effective Use of Illusion Spells Such as Minor Illusion, Silent Image, and Major Image for Players and Dungeon Masters in D&D 5E.
Clarification is needed in the area of illusions for many players which this guide seeks to impart.
D&D is a game that inspires creativity. Helping that creativity to grow will enhance your story. No one will remember the 200th fireball, but letting that illusory orc guard pass as a real guard will increase the suspense of the story, give everyone something to talk about, and let the story play out in wonderful ways. Don't be a “No DM.” Become an enabler for your players. Both DMs and players must work together to get the most out of the experience.
Illusions are incredibly versatile, very open ended, and limited only by your imagination. Create a new reality through the use of Illusion spells. In many cases an illusion of something plays out the same as if it was the real thing. No one jumps in a pit, neither do they jump in an illusion of a pit.
The minimum benefit of any spell has to be weighed against the resource cost. Players, If your DM doesn't appreciate creativity and won't work with you, you just wasted a slot. It sucks the fun out of the game when you try to do something cool and get shut down. If your DM just wants to roll dice you are better off throwing a fireball than planning an elaborate illusion no matter how well crafted it may be. Likewise, DMs, if your players rinse and repeat the same tactics prod them by asking them for more details. You want them to succeed in interesting ways. They used a limited daily resource, even if it wasn't what you were planning to happen or what you wanted them to do practice your improv storytelling skills and run with it.
Illusion Spell Summary
[TABLE="width: 468"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Improved Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Silent Image[/TD]
[TD]Silent Image with Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Major Image[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Volume[/TD]
[TD]5’ cube[/TD]
[TD]5’ cube[/TD]
[TD]15’ cube[/TD]
[TD]15’ cube[/TD]
[TD]20’ cube[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Duration[/TD]
[TD]1 minute[/TD]
[TD]1 minute[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Senses[/TD]
[TD]Audio or Visual Static Image[/TD]
[TD]Audio and Visual Static Image[/TD]
[TD]Visual only moving images[/TD]
[TD]Use Silent Image for Visuals and Minor Illusion for Audio.Takes two actions to set up.[/TD]
[TD]Audio, Visual, Smell, Temperature[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
An illusionist will have access to Improved Minor Illusion which imparts the ability to add sound and visuals simultaneously to their Minor Illusions. Later on they will be able to use the Malleable Illusion ability to even allow their Minor Illusions to move.
Role With It, No Roll Required
How should a DM interpret these spells? Just Role With It! Player creativity makes things exciting! D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience. Enhance the group’s fun. Go with the Rule of Cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWZDuFIYkf0
Consider the intelligence of the target but don't overthink it. Zombies with rotten cabbage for brains should not stop to question if that wall of flame is actually giving off heat or not. Likewise if an animal sees a predator it should flee without stopping to smell it and confirm it's real. No roll required.
Even intelligent creatures should not question unless given a reason to. When was the last time you stopped to investigate your coworker to ensure they aren't real or stopped to stare at that wall in the hallway? We don't do those things and neither should your characters unless they have a real good reason to. No roll required.
If a goblin sees a pool of acid suddenly bubble up through the ground wilting any vegetation and dissolving twigs. A wizard did it. It's really acid. It's not going to stick a toe in what is obviously acid. No roll required. The illusion is as good as the real thing for area denial.
In the heat of battle if one more hero steps through a portal to join the fight does the enemy stop and investigate their appearance? No, they move to attack. No roll required.
What would give a creature a reason to become suspicious of an illusion and investigate?
-You leave no other choice than to interact with the illusion, such as placing a box around a creature.
-Physical interaction is guaranteed, for example: Snow is hitting the wall everywhere except for the area of the illusion.
-Inside a monster’s lair, if you do something blatantly obvious like create a barrel to hide inside. This is familiar ground to that monster and they know there wasn't a barrel there yesterday. This may cause them to investigate the barrel!
None of these examples require a charisma roll! Read the spell descriptions, if a creature doubts an illusion they must successfully investigate against your spell save DC.
Deception (charisma) rolls are not appropriate for wizards to make. Ever. Wizard magic has nothing to do with your charisma. When a wizard casts a spell he is not using his own force of personality, or personal presence like a sorcerer. A wizard’s power is academic. Deception (intelligence) is more reasonable but still not the best option. If your table is not in the habit of using variant stats for skills introduce them to PHB page 175.
The only roll that should take place should be what is called for in the actual spell. That is your spell save DC. Any roll should involve your spell casting ability. Everyone is proficient in their own spellcasting. Proficiency bonuses are built in to your spell save DC. Otherwise a level 20 arch wizard making an illusion is no different than an apprentice.
Calling for rolls when none are required is robbing players of creative agency, and short changing your game. Forcing interaction with the illusion in unnatural ways is just as bad as ignoring it.
Facilitate a cooperative experience
Illusion spells give players a sense of agency. It creates a more dynamic time around the table. Even if you are running a railroad module there is room for players to feel like they have some control over their journey in how the encounters unfold.
Your player’s wizard used a spell slot, a precious limited resource at low levels. Even if they froze on the hot seat give them a bone and ask for some more details to help them flesh out their illusion. The DM is the one who knows the environment the best, so share with the caster some details. If there are bits of debris on the floor where their acid pit is going to be placed ask them if they will slowly dissolve in the acid or go up in wisps of smoke. Denying any benefit at all may make them never cast that spell again and stunt the game excitement.
Controversy
There have been arguments that the creature saw you cast the illusion and now knows it is an illusion. It does not matter. Was it a wizard that saw who passed an arcana check (Xanathars p85)? Because anyone else just saw your character do magic. They can’t tell the difference between the major image spell and the summon fire breathing T-Rex through a dimensional rift in spacetime spell . Even if that enemy wizard identified the spell you cast he still sees the illusion until he makes an investigation check, or sees physical interaction. This would just give him a reason to investigate.
A controversial point with illusions is how to handle the occasion when a creature wants to attack an illusion. There are no published rules to deal with this instance. However just because there are no rules to hit an illusion doesn’t turn an attack into an automatic hit or an automatic miss. Players and DMs should talk about how to handle it before hand. There are options out there and an ideal solution should appease both parties. Including the spellcasters proficiency into your method will ensure the illusionist gets better over time.
Communicate the goal
Disappointment will arise from differing viewpoints on what an illusion is meant to accomplish. With that in mind when you are a player casting an illusion try prefacing your illusion with what you are trying to do and why it would work.This is helpful advice to prevent a disconnect between your vision and the other person’s vision.
The following are examples designed to reduce miscommunication.
“I am creating this acid pit to create a chokepoint. This should work because we are in combat and the monsters are too busy to investigate the illusion.”
“I am trying to scare off the reinforcements. This should work because any sane creature is scared of the sound of a dragon roar.”
“I am trying to block the path to our spellcasters. This should work because even a kindergartener could fool the undead.”
Likewise a DM can ask what the player’s goal is and determine if its reasonable.
“So why are you creating an illusion of a chest of gold in front of the thieves guild?”
“Are you trying to pull a Bugs Bunny in a dress type of scenario on those lonely outpost guards?”
“Are you expecting these fiends to be afraid of your illusory paladin or chase after him?”
What can you do with a DM who refuses to be open to illusions?
Why are they even playing D&D? They may get more satisfaction out of playing a video game or reading a book. A better question is why are you still playing with them! This kind of antagonism can’t make a good game.
Still you can use Minor Illusion to block sight. Mechanically opponents get disadvantage on the attack when they can’t see their target. A creature can believe its an illusion all it wants, they either swing through an illusory box around their target taking disadvantage on the attack and then discover it was an illusion through the interaction or waste a turn investigating it.
Throw an illusion of a firebolt against an enemy. Ask if the creature doesn't believe it is an illusion and doesn't make any effort to dodge or get out of the way does that mean I don't have to roll to hit anymore it will just believe all my regular firebolts are imaginary until it dies from disbelief?
Ultimately those are poor options and a better one would be to talk to the DM or find a new game.
Phantasmal Force
Phantasmal Force deserves its own section because it is different than the Minor Illusion/Silent Image/Major Image line of illusion spells and people have misconceptions about it that need to be cleared up. Details can be found by reading the spell description in full.
Phantasmal Force has a range of 60 feet and the phantasm must fit in a 10 foot cube. But the phantasm is entirely in the mind of the target. What this means is the target must be within 60 feet of the spellcaster to initially cast. Either the target and caster are then free to move outside that range. When the target moves the phantasm moves with it. Remember the phantasm is in the mind of the target and they cannot get away from it outside of a lobotomy.
As per the spell description the target of Phantasmal Force rationalizes any illogical outcomes from physically interacting with the phantasm. That means it will not attempt an investigation check against your spell save DC until it has an outside reason to suspect it is seeing a phantasm such as an ally shouting, “Stop walking off the cliff, you are seeing things!” This is a very powerful effect.
Conclusion
Convert your players or DM to be in favor of illusions. Send them to this document. Illusions spells can enhance your story in unexpected ways and help players feel invested in their world by creating something that affects the world they play in. In the end, creating zany schemes with illusions is a lot of fun!
Illusion Questions Answered by Sage Advice:
Dragon Talk: Sage Advice on Illusions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l51s0GFflY
23:40 Jeremy Crawford says any status affects could be applied by Phantasmal Force by the DM’s call.
24:00 Be generous toward cleverness, allow the player to place a condition. Reward creative play. Facilitate them and say yes yes yes.
30:30 In the middle of combat illusions are more likely to be overlooked.
35:15 Don't obstruct adventurers progress, make it interesting.
37:30 What does an illusion look like to the spellcaster? The spellcaster also sees their illusion, but knows it is an illusion so you still see it but in a spectral way or an overlay on the real world so it is not obstructing your vision.
41:00 Do illusions cast shadows? Yes, except Minor Illusion.
42:00 Can you create a mirror with minor illusion? Yes, but the image in the mirror couldn't move. As soon as you walked in front of the mirror you would realize the reflection did not match reality. Use an illusion spell where the image moves instead.
51:10 If one person in the group spots an illusion and tells everyone else, the others still don't know automatically it is an illusion. Each person must observe physical interaction or make the check themselves. Also from https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/07/15/unbelievable-illusion/
Minor illusion does not create a moving illusion like a water fountain, everything else can.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/04/09/minor-illusion-silent-image-major-image-can-you-create-the-illusion-of-a-flowing-fountain/
Improved Minor Illusion can have moving parts like a ticking clock.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/05/can-improved-minor-illusion-create-an-illusion-of-a-ticking-clock-with-moving-hands/
Minor Illusion can be used to create speech.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/03/21/minor-illusion-to-duplicate-complex-sounds/
Minor Illusion is not for atmospheric effects like fog.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/10/15/could-minor-illusion-create-a-fog-cloud/
A creature can drown in an illusionary lake using Mirage Arcane.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/06/03/if-i-used-mirage-arcane-to-transform-a-lake-of-water-into-a-lake-of-lava/
Mirage Arcane can create a tower you can stand on.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/04/12/could-i-stand-at-the-top-of-an-illusory-tower/
Phantasmal Force exists in the target’s mind
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/08/11/phantasmal-killer-where-is-it-the-illusion-fear/
Spells can target other things than just creatures
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/01/03/spell-that-targets-creatures-cast-against-a-goblin-but-goblin-is-illusion-spellslot-wasted/
Detect Magic does not show an aura around an illusion, but you can sense the magic.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/04/08/would-detect-magic-show-an-aura-around-an-illusion/
Illusory Reality can deal indirect damage based on DMG spell creation guidelines if you get creative.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/12/21/can-ilusory-reality-deal-indirect-damage/
An illusory wall can give a cover bonus to AC until an arrow passes through it and it's obvious it was an illusion.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/04/19/does-illusory-wall-give-cover-bonus-to-ac/
An illusion can allow an ally to be hidden but still see through it.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/06/28/silent-image-if-i-make-a-solid-boulder-on-my-teammate-can-see-out-but-still-be-hidden/
A person that makes their save against a spell such as Phantasmal Force would not notice they were targeted with the spell.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/01/07/what-type-of-spells-alert-people/
Clarification is needed in the area of illusions for many players which this guide seeks to impart.
D&D is a game that inspires creativity. Helping that creativity to grow will enhance your story. No one will remember the 200th fireball, but letting that illusory orc guard pass as a real guard will increase the suspense of the story, give everyone something to talk about, and let the story play out in wonderful ways. Don't be a “No DM.” Become an enabler for your players. Both DMs and players must work together to get the most out of the experience.
Illusions are incredibly versatile, very open ended, and limited only by your imagination. Create a new reality through the use of Illusion spells. In many cases an illusion of something plays out the same as if it was the real thing. No one jumps in a pit, neither do they jump in an illusion of a pit.
The minimum benefit of any spell has to be weighed against the resource cost. Players, If your DM doesn't appreciate creativity and won't work with you, you just wasted a slot. It sucks the fun out of the game when you try to do something cool and get shut down. If your DM just wants to roll dice you are better off throwing a fireball than planning an elaborate illusion no matter how well crafted it may be. Likewise, DMs, if your players rinse and repeat the same tactics prod them by asking them for more details. You want them to succeed in interesting ways. They used a limited daily resource, even if it wasn't what you were planning to happen or what you wanted them to do practice your improv storytelling skills and run with it.
Illusion Spell Summary
[TABLE="width: 468"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Improved Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Silent Image[/TD]
[TD]Silent Image with Minor Illusion[/TD]
[TD]Major Image[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Volume[/TD]
[TD]5’ cube[/TD]
[TD]5’ cube[/TD]
[TD]15’ cube[/TD]
[TD]15’ cube[/TD]
[TD]20’ cube[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Duration[/TD]
[TD]1 minute[/TD]
[TD]1 minute[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[TD]Concentration, up to 10 minutes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Senses[/TD]
[TD]Audio or Visual Static Image[/TD]
[TD]Audio and Visual Static Image[/TD]
[TD]Visual only moving images[/TD]
[TD]Use Silent Image for Visuals and Minor Illusion for Audio.Takes two actions to set up.[/TD]
[TD]Audio, Visual, Smell, Temperature[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
An illusionist will have access to Improved Minor Illusion which imparts the ability to add sound and visuals simultaneously to their Minor Illusions. Later on they will be able to use the Malleable Illusion ability to even allow their Minor Illusions to move.
Role With It, No Roll Required
How should a DM interpret these spells? Just Role With It! Player creativity makes things exciting! D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience. Enhance the group’s fun. Go with the Rule of Cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWZDuFIYkf0
Consider the intelligence of the target but don't overthink it. Zombies with rotten cabbage for brains should not stop to question if that wall of flame is actually giving off heat or not. Likewise if an animal sees a predator it should flee without stopping to smell it and confirm it's real. No roll required.
Even intelligent creatures should not question unless given a reason to. When was the last time you stopped to investigate your coworker to ensure they aren't real or stopped to stare at that wall in the hallway? We don't do those things and neither should your characters unless they have a real good reason to. No roll required.
If a goblin sees a pool of acid suddenly bubble up through the ground wilting any vegetation and dissolving twigs. A wizard did it. It's really acid. It's not going to stick a toe in what is obviously acid. No roll required. The illusion is as good as the real thing for area denial.
In the heat of battle if one more hero steps through a portal to join the fight does the enemy stop and investigate their appearance? No, they move to attack. No roll required.
What would give a creature a reason to become suspicious of an illusion and investigate?
-You leave no other choice than to interact with the illusion, such as placing a box around a creature.
-Physical interaction is guaranteed, for example: Snow is hitting the wall everywhere except for the area of the illusion.
-Inside a monster’s lair, if you do something blatantly obvious like create a barrel to hide inside. This is familiar ground to that monster and they know there wasn't a barrel there yesterday. This may cause them to investigate the barrel!
None of these examples require a charisma roll! Read the spell descriptions, if a creature doubts an illusion they must successfully investigate against your spell save DC.
Deception (charisma) rolls are not appropriate for wizards to make. Ever. Wizard magic has nothing to do with your charisma. When a wizard casts a spell he is not using his own force of personality, or personal presence like a sorcerer. A wizard’s power is academic. Deception (intelligence) is more reasonable but still not the best option. If your table is not in the habit of using variant stats for skills introduce them to PHB page 175.
The only roll that should take place should be what is called for in the actual spell. That is your spell save DC. Any roll should involve your spell casting ability. Everyone is proficient in their own spellcasting. Proficiency bonuses are built in to your spell save DC. Otherwise a level 20 arch wizard making an illusion is no different than an apprentice.
Calling for rolls when none are required is robbing players of creative agency, and short changing your game. Forcing interaction with the illusion in unnatural ways is just as bad as ignoring it.
Facilitate a cooperative experience
Illusion spells give players a sense of agency. It creates a more dynamic time around the table. Even if you are running a railroad module there is room for players to feel like they have some control over their journey in how the encounters unfold.
Your player’s wizard used a spell slot, a precious limited resource at low levels. Even if they froze on the hot seat give them a bone and ask for some more details to help them flesh out their illusion. The DM is the one who knows the environment the best, so share with the caster some details. If there are bits of debris on the floor where their acid pit is going to be placed ask them if they will slowly dissolve in the acid or go up in wisps of smoke. Denying any benefit at all may make them never cast that spell again and stunt the game excitement.
Controversy
There have been arguments that the creature saw you cast the illusion and now knows it is an illusion. It does not matter. Was it a wizard that saw who passed an arcana check (Xanathars p85)? Because anyone else just saw your character do magic. They can’t tell the difference between the major image spell and the summon fire breathing T-Rex through a dimensional rift in spacetime spell . Even if that enemy wizard identified the spell you cast he still sees the illusion until he makes an investigation check, or sees physical interaction. This would just give him a reason to investigate.
A controversial point with illusions is how to handle the occasion when a creature wants to attack an illusion. There are no published rules to deal with this instance. However just because there are no rules to hit an illusion doesn’t turn an attack into an automatic hit or an automatic miss. Players and DMs should talk about how to handle it before hand. There are options out there and an ideal solution should appease both parties. Including the spellcasters proficiency into your method will ensure the illusionist gets better over time.
Communicate the goal
Disappointment will arise from differing viewpoints on what an illusion is meant to accomplish. With that in mind when you are a player casting an illusion try prefacing your illusion with what you are trying to do and why it would work.This is helpful advice to prevent a disconnect between your vision and the other person’s vision.
The following are examples designed to reduce miscommunication.
“I am creating this acid pit to create a chokepoint. This should work because we are in combat and the monsters are too busy to investigate the illusion.”
“I am trying to scare off the reinforcements. This should work because any sane creature is scared of the sound of a dragon roar.”
“I am trying to block the path to our spellcasters. This should work because even a kindergartener could fool the undead.”
Likewise a DM can ask what the player’s goal is and determine if its reasonable.
“So why are you creating an illusion of a chest of gold in front of the thieves guild?”
“Are you trying to pull a Bugs Bunny in a dress type of scenario on those lonely outpost guards?”
“Are you expecting these fiends to be afraid of your illusory paladin or chase after him?”
What can you do with a DM who refuses to be open to illusions?
Why are they even playing D&D? They may get more satisfaction out of playing a video game or reading a book. A better question is why are you still playing with them! This kind of antagonism can’t make a good game.
Still you can use Minor Illusion to block sight. Mechanically opponents get disadvantage on the attack when they can’t see their target. A creature can believe its an illusion all it wants, they either swing through an illusory box around their target taking disadvantage on the attack and then discover it was an illusion through the interaction or waste a turn investigating it.
Throw an illusion of a firebolt against an enemy. Ask if the creature doesn't believe it is an illusion and doesn't make any effort to dodge or get out of the way does that mean I don't have to roll to hit anymore it will just believe all my regular firebolts are imaginary until it dies from disbelief?
Ultimately those are poor options and a better one would be to talk to the DM or find a new game.
Phantasmal Force
Phantasmal Force deserves its own section because it is different than the Minor Illusion/Silent Image/Major Image line of illusion spells and people have misconceptions about it that need to be cleared up. Details can be found by reading the spell description in full.
Phantasmal Force has a range of 60 feet and the phantasm must fit in a 10 foot cube. But the phantasm is entirely in the mind of the target. What this means is the target must be within 60 feet of the spellcaster to initially cast. Either the target and caster are then free to move outside that range. When the target moves the phantasm moves with it. Remember the phantasm is in the mind of the target and they cannot get away from it outside of a lobotomy.
As per the spell description the target of Phantasmal Force rationalizes any illogical outcomes from physically interacting with the phantasm. That means it will not attempt an investigation check against your spell save DC until it has an outside reason to suspect it is seeing a phantasm such as an ally shouting, “Stop walking off the cliff, you are seeing things!” This is a very powerful effect.
Conclusion
Convert your players or DM to be in favor of illusions. Send them to this document. Illusions spells can enhance your story in unexpected ways and help players feel invested in their world by creating something that affects the world they play in. In the end, creating zany schemes with illusions is a lot of fun!
Illusion Questions Answered by Sage Advice:
Dragon Talk: Sage Advice on Illusions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l51s0GFflY
23:40 Jeremy Crawford says any status affects could be applied by Phantasmal Force by the DM’s call.
24:00 Be generous toward cleverness, allow the player to place a condition. Reward creative play. Facilitate them and say yes yes yes.
30:30 In the middle of combat illusions are more likely to be overlooked.
35:15 Don't obstruct adventurers progress, make it interesting.
37:30 What does an illusion look like to the spellcaster? The spellcaster also sees their illusion, but knows it is an illusion so you still see it but in a spectral way or an overlay on the real world so it is not obstructing your vision.
41:00 Do illusions cast shadows? Yes, except Minor Illusion.
42:00 Can you create a mirror with minor illusion? Yes, but the image in the mirror couldn't move. As soon as you walked in front of the mirror you would realize the reflection did not match reality. Use an illusion spell where the image moves instead.
51:10 If one person in the group spots an illusion and tells everyone else, the others still don't know automatically it is an illusion. Each person must observe physical interaction or make the check themselves. Also from https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/07/15/unbelievable-illusion/
Minor illusion does not create a moving illusion like a water fountain, everything else can.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/04/09/minor-illusion-silent-image-major-image-can-you-create-the-illusion-of-a-flowing-fountain/
Improved Minor Illusion can have moving parts like a ticking clock.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/05/can-improved-minor-illusion-create-an-illusion-of-a-ticking-clock-with-moving-hands/
Minor Illusion can be used to create speech.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/03/21/minor-illusion-to-duplicate-complex-sounds/
Minor Illusion is not for atmospheric effects like fog.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/10/15/could-minor-illusion-create-a-fog-cloud/
A creature can drown in an illusionary lake using Mirage Arcane.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/06/03/if-i-used-mirage-arcane-to-transform-a-lake-of-water-into-a-lake-of-lava/
Mirage Arcane can create a tower you can stand on.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/04/12/could-i-stand-at-the-top-of-an-illusory-tower/
Phantasmal Force exists in the target’s mind
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/08/11/phantasmal-killer-where-is-it-the-illusion-fear/
Spells can target other things than just creatures
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2018/01/03/spell-that-targets-creatures-cast-against-a-goblin-but-goblin-is-illusion-spellslot-wasted/
Detect Magic does not show an aura around an illusion, but you can sense the magic.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/04/08/would-detect-magic-show-an-aura-around-an-illusion/
Illusory Reality can deal indirect damage based on DMG spell creation guidelines if you get creative.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/12/21/can-ilusory-reality-deal-indirect-damage/
An illusory wall can give a cover bonus to AC until an arrow passes through it and it's obvious it was an illusion.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2017/04/19/does-illusory-wall-give-cover-bonus-to-ac/
An illusion can allow an ally to be hidden but still see through it.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/06/28/silent-image-if-i-make-a-solid-boulder-on-my-teammate-can-see-out-but-still-be-hidden/
A person that makes their save against a spell such as Phantasmal Force would not notice they were targeted with the spell.
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/01/07/what-type-of-spells-alert-people/
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