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The description of the Gate spell says, in part (PHB, p. 244):

When you cast this spell, you can speak the name of a specific creature (a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn't work). If that creature is on a plane other than the one you are on, the portal opens in the named creature's immediate vicinity and draws the creature through it to the nearest unoccupied space on your side of the portal. [...]

(Gate has no errata as of the latest PHB errata.)

Can a spellcaster name a type of creature (such as "Nalfeshnee", "Fire Elemental", or "Ancient Blue Shadow Dragon") and have a creature of that type appear?
Or does the caster need to name a specific individual creature, such as "Tarphon the Devourer"?

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2 Answers 2

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Gate requires the name of an individual creature

The wording "specific creature" in the spell description seems clear. "Fire elemental" isn't a specific creature; it's a kind of creature. It might be a specific kind of creature, but it isn't a creature.

We know this is the intended meaning by comparing the wording to that used in other spells (emphases mine):

The description of the Locate Animals or Plants spell begins (PHB, p. 256):

Describe or name a specific kind of beast or plant. [...]

The description of the Locate Creature spell says, in part (PHB, p. 256):

The spell can locate a specific creature known to you, or the nearest creature of a specific kind (such as a human or a unicorn), [...]

When the rules ask a spellcaster to choose something like "unicorn" or "cow", they use the phrase "specific kind", and the wording of locate creature explicitly contrasts that usage with "specific creature", as used in gate.

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    \$\begingroup\$ +1 this is drawn from both "real world" magical traditions and the legacy of such spells in prior editions where you need the "true name" of a specific individual to summon them. \$\endgroup\$
    – mxyzplk
    Feb 14, 2016 at 13:34
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When gating by name, gate only gates an individually specified creature, not just a single instance of a type of creature.

The spell says (emphasis added):

When you cast this spell, you can speak the name of a specific creature (a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn't work). If that creature is on a plane other than the one you are on, the portal opens in the named creature's immediate vicinity and draws the creature through it to the nearest unoccupied space on your side of the portal.

The phrases "name of a specific creature", "that creature", and "the named creature" all indicate the spell is referring to a single, unique individual that has been identified by name.

Contrast with the many conjuring and summoning spells, for instance conjure elemental and summon fiend, which summon a single instance of a type of creature.

Furthermore, it is going to require DM adjudication.

It's going to require adjudication because there is nothing in the rules that makes names unique.

There could be multiple creatures named "Tarphon the Devourer"; perhaps the party's barbarian is "Tarphon the Devourer", and perhaps there is also a demon from the Abyss named that, and maybe also a puppy in some city across the multiverse.

The spell says:

speak the name of a specific creature (a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn't work)

which implies that either:

  • the name is a unique identifier

OR

  • The magic knows which specific creature with that name the caster is referring to.

Either way is going to require the DM to adjudicate the effects of using the spell in this way.

Many cases, it isn't going to matter much

It might not be a big deal, the DM may just hand-wave it, and the caster, whether PC or NPC, gets what they want, and as long as it works for the game, great, and everyone's happy.

DMs and players will want to work it out ahead of time

But if you're going to use this form of the Gate spell where there's any possibility of ambiguity, you should make sure you work it out ahead of time with the DM (or the player).

It would really suck to attempt to gate a party member, only to get a demon or a puppy instead.

What's in a name?

Note the spell does not say, "true name", whatever that is, or "uniquely describe a creature", or even "full name" or "complete name" it just says "speak the name of a specific creature".

It actually doesn't help much that it says:

a pseudonym, title, or nickname doesn't work

So the spell specifically says that saying "Tarphon the Devourer, also known as Tarfy the puppy" isn't helpful in distinguishing the barbarian from the demon from the puppy.

How do you define a name? What you're usually called? What your mother called you? What's on your birth certificate?

In RL names are extremely complicated, and vary greatly across culture and time. Such things as birth certificates are a modern invention, and even in the small portion of human existence where birth certificates are a thing, names can change for many different reasons, and individuals can have multiple names.

Not only do many creatures in D&D not have birth certificates, they weren't EVEN BORN.

In the barbarian known as "Tarphon the Devourer", perhaps at birth Tarphon was held to the sky by the parent who said "This child I name 'Tarphon the Devourer', may they rule the plains", or perhaps "the Devourer" was picked up along the way. What is the actual name? If the caretaker of the puppy writes "Tarphon the Devourer" on the water bowl, does that make it the puppy's name? And how do demons even get names?

A loose interpretation

A loose interpretation is to lean heavily on "specific" (emphasis added):

speak the name of a specific creature

So that when the caster says "Tarphon the Devourer", the magic knows whether the specific Tarphon the Devourer is the puppy or the dracolich or whatever.

It will be up to the DM to grant that the magic knows which creature the caster is referring to.

A strict interpretation

A strict interpretation is that the name must be unique, or at least locally unique, within the DM's ken. Since you can't name a specific Tarphon the Devourer, you can't gate one by name.

Again, up to DM adjudication. Without knowing how the DM will rule, the player can't know what to expect.

Finally, you can houserule something better

Gate is a 9th level spell, and it's not too much of a stretch that it will be relatively rare in most games.

If you are actually using the gate spell, and using it in this way, you can work with the DM (or the player) to come up with something that doesn't quite fit RAW, but works for your game.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Although this is fun, aren't you overthinking this? The name (not a pseudonym, title or nickname) is clearly there due to the "true name" tradition, so you cannot just summon the "King of Aquilonia", and gating in Asmodeus will neither work, as that is not his true name, you need to figure out the real name. Yes, there are lots of John Doe out there, but I'd assume if that is their real name, and you are thinking of him, that would fetch the right one. Although it could be a fun story premise, that some archmage gated in the wrong Tarphon the Devourer, and was ... devoured. \$\endgroup\$ May 24, 2022 at 14:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ What is a "true name"? Not a game term, so up to adjudication. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jack
    May 24, 2022 at 14:48
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Jack Actually, it's a game term from older DnD editions and lore of Forgotten Realms. There - every being, excluding gods, has a true name. True name is a sort of identifier that is assigned to anyone by gods and they make sure to make those unique. In 2nd edition of ADnD there was a special spell 'truename' that allowed to learn someone's true name and by incorporating that name into casting some spells could work better, including spell 'Cacofiend' (which turned into 'Gate' spell nowadays), that allowed summoning of powerful demon (anything, but demon lord), if caster knew demon's true name \$\endgroup\$
    – Sarge
    Mar 14 at 10:06

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