[RPG] Is there no way for a lone caster to planar bind a demon/devil with the Xanathar’s spells

concentrationdnd-5espellssummoning

Is there no way for a lone caster to planar bind a demon/devil with the Xanathar's spells?

I refer specifically to the spells infernal calling and summon greater demon. Unlike the conjure elemental and conjure fey spells, which cause the monster to stay for the rest of the duration when you drop concentration rather than disappearing, which gives you just enough time to attempt to planar bind, the new spells cause the Devil and Demon to disappear within a few seconds to minutes as soon as you drop concentration, and you have no way to keep them there.

The only thing a conjuration wizard can bind in 5e are elementals until they get gate, unless they get help from another caster to summon the monster they want for them, which goes against the normally insular attitude of wizards, and doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Am I missing something or is this basically the only solution besides going to a plane with the creature you want and trying to capture one there?

Best Answer

You can use the Glyph of Warding (p. 245 PHB) to store Planar Binding (p. 265 PHB) and/or Magic Circle (p. 256 PHB) in order to bind "a celestial, an elemental. a fey. or a fiend to your service." Cast either Infernal Calling or Summon Greater Demon on top of the glyph to trigger it.

A spell glyph can be inscribed on any surface. It can store any spell of the Glyph's spell level or lower which targets a single creature (Planar Binding) or an area (Magic Circle), or which summons hostile creatures or traps (specifically used as an example in the spell). If the target of the Planar Binding ward fails their save, they are bound. When the Glyph is triggered, the stored spell is cast. Concentration spells last their full duration regardless, as explicitly stated under the "Spell Glyph" entry.

There is little question either RAW or RAI whether a Glyph can be used in this way. This would allow a single mage to planar bind summoned creatures given time and resources.

To do this:

  1. Cast Glyph of Warding - Spell Glyph to store a casting of Planar Binding.
  2. Cast Glyph of Warding - Spell Glyph to store a casting of Magic Circle for safety.
  3. Cast Summon Greater Demon/Infernal Calling either right on top of the glyphs or outside the glyphs (later commanding them to give their true name and walk onto the glyphs)

    Optional: Cast Feeblemind on the demon/devil to tank its Charisma saving throw to guarantee success.

Also, Planar Binding reads "The creature must be within range for the entire casting of the spell." This could be interpreted to mean that you cannot planar bind via a Glyph, but there is a way around this problem.

  • Cast Glyph of Warding - Spell Glyph to store Summon Greater Demon (Summons are expressly allowed to be stored within the Glyph's text) and set the spell to trigger on a command word.
  • Cast Glyph of Warding - Spell Glyph to store Magic Circle for safety and set it to trigger once a demon enters the area.
  • Trigger the first glyph with your verbal command. It doesn't matter if you don't control the demon - the Magic Circle will contain it regardless. Immediately cast Planar Binding to bind the demon.

If timing is STILL deemed to be an issue for your DM (the summon lasts 1 hour and Planar Binding has a 1 hour cast time), 2 levels of Sorcerer can snag you the Extended Spell metamagic to prolong the summoning to allow you to bind the demon.

This trick also works with Gate. Use Gate to summon a powerful celestial, elemental, fey, or fiend (preferably something without legendary resistances - something like a Red Abishai or a Goristro, for example). Magic Circle can prevent them from leaving the plane unless they pass a Cha check. Slap them with Feeblemind to tank their saving throws and hard-cast Planar Binding.

ALTERNATE 2: Use a Simulacrum at level 13 to assist you.