Level: Sorcerer 9, Wizard 9
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with); varies; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes; see text
You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real illusions of one or more creatures, objects, or forces. Shades can mimic any sorcerer or wizard conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell of 8th level or lower. Shades are actually four-fifths (80%) as strong as the real things, though creatures who believe the shades to be real are affected by them at full strength.
Any creature that interacts with the conjured object, force, or creature can make a Will save to recognize its true nature.
Spells that deal damage, such as acid arrow, have normal effects unless the affected creature succeeds on a Will save. Each disbelieving creature takes only four-fifths (80%) damage from the attack. If the disbelieved attack has a special effect other than damage, that effect is only 80% likely to occur. Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve, an affected creature is also allowed any save that the spell being simulated allows, but the save DC is set according to the level of shades (9th) rather than the spell’s normal level. In addition, any effect created by shades allows spell resistance, even if the spell it is simulating does not.
Shadow objects or substances, such as obscuring mist, have normal effects except against those who disbelieve them. Against disbelievers, they are 80% likely to work.
A shadow creature has four-fifths the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it’s recognized as shadowy). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the shadow creature’s damage is four-fifths (80%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 80% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow creature’s AC bonuses are four-fifths as large (so a +7 bonus resulting in AC 17 would change to a +4 total bonus for a new AC of 14).
A creature that succeeds on its save sees the shades as transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms.
Objects automatically succeed on their Will saves against this spell.
Source: Player’s Handbook (version 3.5), page 276.