[RPG] What are the size restrictions of a Clone (from spell)

creature-sizednd-5espells

Some other players of 5e D&D have suggested that the Clone spell only works with a Medium size body. Putting this into perspective (and putting aside obvious yet possibly reasonable discrimination against creatures such as gnomes, kobolds and halflings), what is the actual RAW on this?

Question: What living creatures can be cloned by the 8th level Clone spell – from what micro-minimum to what absolute maximum in size could this thing be?

Best Answer

A creature can be cloned; the 'medium' size looks like a limitation

Clone's spell description says this:

Components: V, S, M (a diamond worth at least 1,000 gp and at least 1 cubic inch of flesh of the creature that is to be cloned, which the spell consumes, and a vessel worth at least 2,000 gp that has a sealable lid and is large enough to hold a Medium creature, such as a huge urn, coffin, mud-filled cyst in the ground, or crystal container filled with salt water)

And, it says this.

This spell grows an inert duplicate of a living creature as a safeguard against death.

But the 2018 errata says this:

This spell grows an inert duplicate of a living, Medium creature as a safeguard against death.

And who wants to clone gnomes, anyway? 8^p

Korvin's ruling as a DM?

I'd let a halfling or gnome PC have a clone; it would fit - but only if they player bought pizza for the next session! 8^D

Something that might work ...

If you cast the second level spell enlarge/reduce on the creature in question, and then use wish to cast clone (which avoids the need for spell components) you can probably make it work for a Small or Large creature.

You don’t need to meet any requirements in that spell, including costly Components. The spell simply takes effect.(wish, PHB)

As for what size the clone ends up being - that could be an interesting surprise. (thanks to @ RedOrca)

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