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Mirror Image

Illusion
Level: 2nd-level
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Duration: 1 minute
Components: V, S

Three illusionary duplicates of yourself appear in your space. Until the end of the spell, duplicates move with you and imitate your actions, swapping their position so that it is impossible to determine which image is real. You can use your action to dispel the illusory duplicates. Whenever a creature is targeting you with an attack during the duration of the spell, roll 1d20 to determine if the attack does not target rather one of your duplicates. If you have three duplicates, you need 6 or more on your throw to lead the target of the attack to a duplicate. With two duplicates, you need 8 or more. With one duplicate, you need 11 or more. The CA of a duplicate is 10 + your Dexterity modifier. If an attack hits a duplicate, it is destroyed. A duplicate may be destroyed not just an attack on key. It ignores other damage and effects. The spell ends if the three duplicates are destroyed. A creature is unaffected by this fate if she can not see if it relies on a different meaning as vision, such as blind vision, or if it can perceive illusions as false, as with clear vision.

Spell Details

School: Illusion
Level: 2
Ritual: No
Concentration: No
Classes: Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
A-Tier Mirror Image is a highly efficient defensive spell that scales excellently with character level and provides consistent protection without requiring saves or checks.

Player Guide

Cast Mirror Image before entering combat or when you anticipate being attacked, as each duplicate absorbs one hit regardless of damage type or attack bonus. Position yourself strategically knowing enemies must waste actions determining which image is real—this is especially powerful for squishy casters who need action economy advantage. The spell's ability to swap positions after each attack makes it nearly impossible for enemies to focus fire effectively, making it superior to single-target defensive spells like Shield for prolonged encounters.

DM Tips

Clarify that duplicates swap positions after *each* attack that targets them, not just once per round—this means an enemy with multiple attacks or allies attacking in sequence still can't reliably identify the real caster. Consider how True Seeing and similar abilities bypass the illusion entirely, allowing observant creatures to ignore the duplicates.