This is a wiki-post - it is open for anyone to contribute to and edit
These descriptions are intended to summarize, not replace, entries in the Players Handbook in an objective manner.
Changed
A
Acid Splash (p. 239)
Re-classified from Conjuration to Evocation. Area of effect restated as a 5’ radius Sphere.
Alter Self (p. 239)
The Natural Weapons option on this spell now replaces the previous plus-one bonus to Strength for attacks by adding the caster’s spellcasting modifier to attack and damage rolls.
Animal Messenger (p. 240)
The target messenger now makes a Charisma saving throw in order to, on success, attempt delivery of the message. Beasts with a CR greater than 0 automatically succeed on the saving throw and will then carry the message.
Animate Objects (p. 240-241)
The number of targets is now equal to spellcasting modifier (previously 10), the object’s size scaling against the count of objects is decreased from 2, 4, 8 to 1, 2, and 3 (Medium, Large, Huge, respectively), and all objects affected now have a common stat block. The AC for all objects is fixed; HP is variable by size and roughly halved from before; melee attacks now add the spellcasting modifier as a bonus to both Attack and Damage; the dice used for damage are slightly lower (though this is likely offset by adding the spellcasting modifier); and up-casting the spell now adds damage dice instead of animating more objects.
Antipathy/Sympathy (p. 242)
Material components are simplified and same for either effect. All effects of the spell are applied within 120 feet of the target, rather that 2014’s 200-foot and 60-foot particulars.
Arcane Eye (p. 242)
Explicitly states that the eye is invulnerable.
Arcane Lock (p. 242)
No longer able to be overcome by non-magical means.
Armor of Agathys (p. 243)
Casting time is now a Bonus Action (previously Action) and the material components are “a shard of blue glass” (previously “a cup of water”).
Aura of Vitality (p. 244)
No change to the amount of healing it grants, but now it restores HP on casting and at the start of the caster’s turn. This removes the previous need to take a Bonus Action to activate its healing.
Awaken (p. 244)
Removed the 2014 stipulation that the target Beast or Plant must be of size Huge or smaller. The 2014 Monster Manual has no entries for Beasts or Plants larger than Huge.
B
Banishing Smite
The timing of when this spell is cast has been changed, it is now cast after a successful attack and its effect applies immediately on the target of that attack. The banishment effect now affords the target a Charisma saving throw to avoid, and it only sends the target to “a harmless demiplane” for the duration; it no longer returns creatures to their native plane.
Banishment
This spell is largely unchanged, but no longer requires that targets be returned to their “home” plane. Instead, Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, and Fiends are transported to a plane associated with that type (GM’s choice).
Beast Sense
Expanded to include “the beast’s senses” rather than strictly sight and hearing.
Bestow Curse
The curse options appear to no longer permit player-defined options. The 2014 curse that would make the target "do nothing " for its turn instead forces them to take the Dodge action.
Bigby’s Hand
The summoned hand no longer has stated ability scores, instead using the caster’s spellcasting modifier and spell save DC as appropriate.
Clenched Fist - base damage is increased from 4d8 to 5d8
Forceful Hand - the contested checks are replaced with saving throws, in keeping with updates to Grapple and Shove
Grasping Hand - the contested checks are replaced with saving throws, in keeping with updates to Grapple and Shove. Damage is increased to 4d6, from 2d6, plus spellcasting ability modifier.
Interposing Hand - this option no longer requires a target, granting Half Cover to the caster against all effects passing through it. The hand’s space is Difficult Terrain for enemies, rather than 2014’s movement-blocking conditions.
Blade Barrier
The damage type has changed to Force, from Slashing.
Blade Ward
This spell’s grant of damage resistance is replaced with a 1d4 penalty to attack rolls made against the caster.
Bless
The material components have changed to a Holy Symbol valued at 5 GP or higher, rather than holy water.
Blight
This spell’s effects now apply to Undead- and Construct-type creatures. Plant-type targets now automatically fail the saving throw, rather than having Disadvantage, but the damage to Plant creatures is not affected.
Blinding Smite
This is now cast after a successful attack, affecting the target of that attack immediately. The target is now immediately given the Blinded condition (previously made a saving throw against it), which can be removed by a successful saving throw at the end of the target’s turn.
Up-casting this spell increases the damage dice pool by 1 per level, which was not included in the 2014 version.
Blink
1d6, rather than 1d20, is used to determine whether the caster appears in the Ethereal Plane. The probability of plane-shifting remains the same.
C
Call Lightning
No longer requires 100 feet of vertical space to be cast, instead simply requiring a visible location above the caster.
Calm Emotions
Explicitly grants Immunity to Charmed and Frightened to affected creatures for its duration, previously it only suppressed the effects of these conditions.
Chill Touch
Range is now Touch (previously 120 feet), Duration is Instantaneous (previously 1 round), the damage die type is increased to 1d10 at all levels (previously 1d8), the target is unable to regain HP until the end of your next turn (f. start of your next turn), and its special effects against Undead targets are removed.
Chromatic Orb
Gains the ability to chain to an additional target within 30’ when any of the rolled damage dice show the same number. The number of additional targets is constrained by the level of the spell slot used to cast.
Clairvoyance
Changing between sight and hearing is now a Bonus Action, previously an Action.
Cloudkill
The 2014 notes on the behavior of the spell’s toxic cloud have been removed. The cloud still moves away from the caster at the start of each turn.
Color Spray
Duration is now Instantaneous (f. 1 round). A Constitution saving throw to avoid the Blinded condition replaces the hit point pool, and casting at higher levels affords no additional benefit.
Command (p. 251-252)
The 2014 version had a list of suggested words and their effects, alongside an allowance for open-ended, character-defined commands. 2024 removes the character-defined version and limits the possible command words to “Approach”, “Drop”, “Flee”, “Grovel”, and “Halt”.
Commune with Nature
The information gleaned from the spell is slightly changed. The caster now becomes aware of portals to other planes (f. any influences from those planes), the location of a single CR 10 or greater Celestial, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, of Undead (f. “powerful” of the same), and the "most prevalent plant, mineral, or Beast (f. all).
Compulsion
No longer states that affected targets cannot be compelled to move into obvious hazards.
Confusion
Affected creatures can no longer take Bonus Actions or Reactions (f. just Reactions).
A d4 replaces the d8 for directional movement on a Behavior roll of 1.
Conjure Animals
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Conjure Barrage
Damage is increased to 5d8 Force (p. 3d8, type dependent on weapon used). Casting at higher levels adds 1d8 per level to the damage pool.
Conjure Celestial
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Conjure Elemental
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Conjure Fey
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Conjure Minor Elementals
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Conjure Volley
The damage type is now Force (f. same as weapon used in casting).
Conjure Woodland Beings
This spell has been entirely re-worked from 2014 and no longer summons an entity with Initiative or stat block. Consult the PHB24 for how this spell now works.
Contact Other Plane
A failed save now imposes the Incapacitated condition rather than “insane”.
Contagion (p. 256)
Replaces the list of named afflictions with a flat 11d8 Necrotic and Poisoned condition. The caster now chooses an Ability and the target has Disadvantage on saving throws with that Ability as long as they have the Poisoned condition.
Contingency
The material components no longer specify a substance for the statue to be carved from.
Cordon of Arrows
Material components are now “an ornamental braid” (f. four arrows or bolts). Damage is now 2d4 per piece of ammunition (f. 1d6).
Counterspell (p. 258)
Previously, it would automatically succeed against any spell of a lower Level and require a spellcasting Ability check with a DC based on the target spell’s level.
Counterspell no longer automatically succeeds; the caster of the target spell must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or their spell has no effect. A countered spell does not consume a spell slot, but the Action, Bonus Action, or Reaction used to cast it is still expended.
Create Undead
Material components no longer require grave dirt and brackish water.
Creation
Material components are now only a paintbrush (f. a sample of the material being created).
Crown of Madness
May now target non-humanoid creatures, but they automatically save against the spell’s effects.
Crusader’s Mantle
Now includes Unarmed Strikes for its bonus damage.
Cure Wounds (p. 258)
Gains an additional 1d8 to its base healing and per level of upcast to make it 2d8 plus spellcasting modifier, and an extra 2d8 per level of upcast
D
Dancing Lights
Now Illusion (p. evocation)
Darkvision
The range of darkvision granted is now 150 feet (f. 60).
Daylight
The spell description now specifically states that its light is sunlight.
Demiplane
Creatures are no longer trapped within the demiplane when the spell ends and have the option to instead be ejected through the collapsing door.
Detect Thoughts
The new edition removes 2014’s guidance on ways to use this spell. This no longer immediately results in reading thoughts, instead operating in two phases: “detection”, followed by “observation”. Once a target’s thoughts have been detected, they can be observed. Repeated observation allows for a deeper probing in the same way as before, except that the target may add an Arcana proficiency (if it has one) to its attempt to resist, at a DC of the caster’s spell save CD (f. contested roll).
Dissonant Whispers
The automatic success for Deafened creatures has been removed, with flavor text indicating that the sound of the spell’s effect is in the target’s mind.
Divine Favor
Now a Transmutation (f. Evocation), and the new 2024 text removes its Concentration requirement.
Divine Favor
The “that you can see” requirement is removed, causing the spell to affect creatures within its effective range.
Dominate Beast, Dominate Monster, and Dominate Person
No longer provides the ability to fully control the target.
Dream
The material component requirements have been reduced to just “a handful of sand”. The ability to impose Disadvantage on the target’s saving throw has been removed.
E
Earthquake
Now Transmutation (f. Evocation), material components are reduced to “a fractured rock” (f. dirt, rock, and clay). The saving throws required by this spell have been streamlined such that spell-casters no longer make a separate Constitution save to maintain Concentration, if they fail the Dexterity save their Concentration is broken.
The damage caused by structures collapsed by this spell is increased to 12d6 (f. 5d6).
Enhance Ability (p. 268)
Only grants Advantage on checks with the selected Ability now, the additional benefits granted for Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution have been removed.
Ensnaring Strike
The timing for casting has been changed to “immediately after hitting a creature with a weapon” - allowing the caster to use their bonus action only in the event of success.
Enthrall
Creatures fighting the caster or their companions now automatically succeed on the saving throw against this, rather than having Advantage. Additionally, the spell’s effect is a -10 to Wisdom (Perception) checks (and Passive Perception), rather than Disadvantage on the same.
Etherealness
Now Conjuration (f. Transmutation).
Evard’s Black Tentacles
The material components are now simply “a tentacle” without the requirement that it be from a giant creature. The saving throw against being restrained by the spell is now Strength (f. Dexterity).
F
False Life
The temporary HP gain is increased to 2d4+4, from 1d4+4 previously.
Find Familiar
The material components now have a GP-valued dimension, so this can no longer be cast with the aid of an Arcane Focus. The selection of eligible Beast types is specified as CR 0, rather than a fixed list. Observing through the familiar’s sight or hearing is a Bonus Action (f. Action).
Find Steed (p. 272-273)
The free-form player choice of steed type (and, consequently, monster stat block) is replaced with a consistently-defined stat block - it varies by the player’s choice of Celestial, Fey, or Fiend monster type. The Steed may still resemble a creature of the player’s choice.
Rules for integrating the Steed with 2024’s Mounted Combat (p. 26) were added.
PHB24 clarifies that items the Steed was carrying when it disappears due to 0HP or character death are dropped.
The spell may now be upcast to increase the Steed’s AC, HP, grant it a Fly Speed, attack damage modifier, and the potency of certain type-specific abilities.
The ability to redirect spells targeting the Steed’s rider at the Steed itself has been removed.
Find the Path
No longer requires an object from the desired location as a material component.
Fire Storm
The option to not burn plant life in the affected area is no longer stated in the text.
Flame Blade
Damage dealt by the blade is now also increased by the spellcasting ability modifier of its caster.
Flame Strike
The damage dealt is increased to 5d6 (f. 4d6) each of Fire and Radiant.
Flaming Sphere
The material components are reduced to just “a ball of wax”.
Flesh to Stone
Material component is now “a cockatrice feather” rather than the more readily-available “pinch of lime, water, and earth”. The older version affected creatures with flesh bodies, while the new version has a carve-out for Constructs to automatically save against it. This difference could be relevant when used against fleshy monsters like the Flesh Golem, which is of the Construct type.
Fly (p. 276)
Adds the Hover property to the granted flying Speed.
Forbiddance
The material components no longer require holy water or rare incense, but the GP-valued ruby dust remains.
Friends
The effects of this spell have been somewhat inverted, rather than granting advantage on Charisma checks against the target it now applies the Charmed condition on the target, provided they fail a new Wisdom saving throw against the effect. Only Humanoid-type creatures are subject to the effects (all other types automatically succeed at the saving throw), and they can’t be engaged in fighting the caster or have the spell cast on them in the past 24 hours. Finally, the target is aware of being Charmed when the spell ends, but does not necessarily become hostile as previously stated.
G
Gaseous Form
Material spell components no longer require a “wisp of smoke.” The spell no longer specifies that incorporeal creatures are not affected. The grant of Resistance to “non-magical” damage is replaced with Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage, and now also grants Immunity to Prone. Also new is that the creature itself may use a Magic action to end the spell early.
Gentle Repose
The material components no longer require a pinch of salt, and the Copper pieces are consumed by the casting.
Giant Insect
Is now a Conjuration-school (f. Transmutation) spell in order to reflect that it now summons, rather than modifies, insects present at the casting. The summoned creature uses a stat block defined (p.279). Casting the spell at higher levels enhances aspects of the stat block, as described in the text.
Glibness
Moves to the school of Enchantment, from Transmutation.
Glyph of Warding
Material components no longer require incense. Detecting the glyph requires a Wisdom (Perception) check, formerly an Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Goodberry
The duration of the spell is now 24 hours (f. Instantaneous), but this is simply a restatement of the spell’s conditions that created berries disappear after 24 hours. There is no functional change to the spell.
Grasping Vine
The range is extended to 60 feet (f. 30 feet). The conjured vine is able to make melee attacks with a 30-foot Reach using the caster’s spell attack, dealing 4d8 Bludgeoning, pulling the creature toward the vine (maximum 30 feet), and possibly imposing Grappled on Huge or smaller creatures, who may make a saving throw against the caster’s spell save DC to escape. Previously, this spell only moved creatures around. Casting at higher levels enables the vine to grapple additional targets.
Grease
The conjured grease is now specifically stated to be nonflammable.
Guards and Wards
The casting time is increased to 1 hour (f. 10 minutes) and the material components are reduced to just “a silver rod worth 10+ GP”.
Guidance
The caster must now declare a skill for which the ability check bonus applies. Formerly, the bonus was applied to an ability check at the target’s discretion.
Guiding Bolt
Text specifying that the target emits dim light is removed. Operationally, this is not likely a substantial change, as no illuminated range was previously specified.
H
Hail of Thorns
Timing of the casting has changed to a “retroactive hit” model: the spell may be cast after a successful ranged attack. The maximum additional effect of upcasting is removed, but still functionally limited by the number and level of spell slots available to this spell’s class (Ranger).
Hallow
Herbs and oils are removed from the material components. In addition to the creature types already affected by the spell (Celestial, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Undead), it now may also apply to Aberrations. The extra effect of the area no longer includes “GM discretion”. Extra effects applying Resistance or Vulnerability may now also apply to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage, the exact names of some extra effects have changed to reflect this.
Hallucinatory Terrain
Material component is now “a mushroom” (f. “a stone, a twig, and a bit of a green plant”).
Heal
Reference to “diseases affecting the target” have been replaced with “the Poisoned condition” to reflect system changes to conditions.
Healing Word (p. 284)
Gains an additional 1d4 to its base healing and per level of upcast to make it 2d4 plus spellcasting modifier, and an extra 2d4 per level of upcast
Heroes’ Feast
The spell’s Range is now Self (f. 30 feet), it grants Resistance to Poison damage (f. “immune to poison”, and no longer imbues Advantage on Wisdom saving throws. Its grant of Immunity to Poison and Frightened conditions still apply.
Hold Monster
The restriction against working on Undead is removed.
Holy Aura
The spell’s illumination effects have been removed.
Hunger of Hadar
The material component is “a pickled tentacle” but “octopus” is no longer specified. Upcasting increases one of its damage types by 1d6 for each additional level.
Hunter’s Mark
The type of its bonus damage is specified as Force.
Hypnotic Pattern (p. 287)
The material component requirement is now “a pinch of confetti” (f. “a glowing stick of incense or a crystal vial filled with phosphorescent material”)
I
Ice Storm
Material components are “a mitten” (f. dust and some water). The spell’s Bludgeoning damage is increased to 2d10 (f. 2d8)
Identify
Material components no longer require an owl feather.
Imprisonment
Material components no longer permit mere descriptive accounts of the target and do not have any accounting of the target’s Hit Dice; they are now a 5,000+ GP statuette of the target. Specific modes of imprisonment no longer have their own component requirements.
Inflict Wounds
The melee spell attack is replaced with a Constitution saving throw and the damage is decreased to 2d10 (f. 3d10) Necrotic.
Insect Plague
Material components are “a locust” (f. “grains of sugar, some kernels of grain, and a smear of fat”).
J
Jump
The casting time is now Bonus Action (f. Action) and it can be applied to additional targets by casting with a higher level spell slot. The specifics of the text have changed, influencing the spell’s mechanics. Rather than simply tripling the target’s jump distance, it instead provides a once-per-turn 30-foot jump that only consumes 10 feet of Speed.