What is Jump?
Jump (PHB, p. 254) is a 1st level transmutation spell available to Artificers, Druids, Rangers, Sorcerers, and Wizards with more ways to get it we’ll go into later. It requires vocal, somatic, and material (a grasshopper’s hind leg) and an action to cast, when you cast it you touch a creature and triple their jumping distance for 1 minute.
Note: This allows you to jump further than you normally can, but you still need movement left to complete your jump.
Is Jump a good spell?
It’s an okay spell that players will either find really fun or never use, it is held back by not giving you additional movement for the jump. This spell is best used in conjunction with another spell, like Longstrider, or on characters with higher movement speeds, such as Monks and Barbarians. Monks can even use Jump with Step of the Wind to jump six times their normal limit, and they’ll even have the movement speed to jump that far in one turn and can use Slow Fall to break their fall!
How can you get Jump?
Jump is one of the more easily accessible spells, so if it interests you then you’ll be happy to hear that you have a plethora of ways to gain access to it:
- Artificer, Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, and Wizard – All of these classes have Jump on their spell lists, allowing you to choose it as you would any other spell.
- Arcane Trickster (Rogue Subclass) – This subclass can choose spells from the Wizard spell list, you will have to use an unrestricted spell choice to pick up Jump.
- Eldritch Knight (Fighter Subclass) – The same as the above, including having to use an unrestricted spell choice to choose Jump.
- Otherworldly Leap (9th level Warlock Invocation) – This invocation allows you to cast Jump on yourself at will, without needing material components. This is one of the best ways to get Jump, as you can use it as much as you want without draining other resources. Want to commute to the local dungeon like The Incredible Hulk? This is the invocation for you.
- Magical Secrets (Bard Class Feature) – This feature allows you to choose any spell you want and turn it into a Bard spell for you. If you don’t want to wait until Tier 3 to grab Jump with this feature you can get it at 6th level as a College of Lore Bard. This is not a good use of this feature, as there are many powerful spells you could otherwise choose.
- Githyanki (Subrace) – From 3rd level onwards you can cast Jump once per long rest without requiring any components.
- Artificer Initiate (Feat) – This feat will let you choose a cantrip and spell, which you can cast once per long rest, from the Artificer spell list. You also gain proficiency in one type of Artisan’s tools that you can use as a spellcasting focus for any spells you use Int as the spellcasting modifier for.
- Magic Initiate (Feat) – With this feat, you can choose one of the spell lists that contain Jump (Druid, Sorcerer, or Wizard) and cast it once per day, in addition to gaining two cantrips of your choice from that same spell list.
- Strixhaven Initiate (Feat) – Any school you choose, with the exception of Silverquill, will allow you to choose Jump, as well as two cantrips from a limited selection.
How to roleplay the Jump spell
Need some help roleplaying the Jump spell? Here are some examples to help you out:
- As you cast the Jump spell, your legs feel lighter and your muscles tense with anticipation. You suddenly feel like you can leap great distances with ease. With a running start, you bound forward and soar through the air like a graceful gazelle, landing deftly on the other side of a chasm.
- With a wave of your wand and a whispered incantation, you feel a sudden rush of energy coursing through your body. As you take a step forward, you feel like you’re bouncing on the balls of your feet, and before you know it, you’re soaring through the air with surprising agility. You leap high over a barricade and land behind your enemy, ready to strike.
- You utter the arcane words of the Jump spell and feel the magic take hold. Your feet seem to leave the ground of their own accord as you launch yourself into the air, soaring over the heads of your companions and landing on a nearby rooftop with a graceful roll. Your allies stare in awe as you quickly disappear from view, leaving them to wonder how you managed such a feat.
- As you speak the words of the Jump spell, you can feel the magic seeping into your bones. Your muscles ripple with power as you prepare to make your leap. With a mighty effort, you push off the ground and launch yourself skyward, flying through the air like a human cannonball. You land with a resounding thud, sending a shockwave through the ground beneath you.
Hopefully, this article put enough spring in your step to make a harengon jealous, if you’re interested in reading about other spells then check out our spells section. Good luck out there adventurers, and remember to look before you leap.
