### *Zone of Truth* The canonical answer is going to be [*zone of truth*](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/zone-of-truth): > You create a magical zone that guards against deception in a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on a point of your choice within range. Until the spell ends, a creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature can't speak a deliberate lie while in the radius. You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw. > >An affected creature is aware of the spell and can thus **avoid answering questions to which it would normally respond with a lie**. Such a creature can be evasive in its answers as long as it remains within the boundaries of the truth. Clever questioning under zone of truth can lead to the target avoiding answers, which can inform you what is truth and what is lie. ### *Detect Thoughts* You could also give it a go with [*detect thoughts*](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/detect-thoughts): > Questions verbally directed at the target creature naturally shape the course of its thoughts, so this spell is particularly effective as part of an interrogation. There is a lot more to the spell description, but this particular quote can give you an idea of how useful it could be for detecting truth and lie. ### *Polymorph* Starting at 14th level, by using [*polymorph*](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/polymorph) or [*true polymorph*](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/true-polymorph), we can transform into a [drow inquisitor](https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/drow-inquisitor) (CR 14) which has the ability **discern lie**: > The drow knows when she hears a creature speak a lie in a language she knows. This one is possibly the most reliable on the list. The drow inquisitor’s ability just works. ### Ring of Truth Telling There is also the [ring of truth telling](https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/ring-of-truth-telling): > While wearing this ring, you have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks to determine whether someone is lying to you. It doesn’t *confirm* when someone is lying, but it helps for the insight check. ### Truth Serum There is also the [truth serum](https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/truth-serum-ingested) which replicated the *zone of truth* spell: > A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 hour. The poisoned creature can't knowingly speak a lie, as if under the effect of a zone of truth spell. Note, a creature must drink the entire dose, which may require some deception. ### Grovelthrash There is a sentient magic war hammer from *Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount* called [Grovelthrash](https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/grovelthrash) which has this ability: > While holding this weapon, you have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks made to discern a lie spoken in a language you understand. Not a sure thing, works like ring of truth telling. ### Mantle of Whispers A more roundabout and violent way of determining if a humanoid was telling the truth is the [college of whispers](https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/bard#CollegeofWhispers) bard ability Mantle of Whispers: > At 6th level, you gain the ability to adopt a humanoid’s persona. When a humanoid dies within 30 feet of you, you can magically capture its shadow using your reaction. You retain this shadow until you use it or you finish a long rest. [...] > > While you’re in the disguise, you gain access to all information that the humanoid would freely share with a casual acquaintance. Such information includes general details on its background and personal life, but doesn’t include secrets. The information is enough that you can pass yourself off as the person by drawing on its memories. This method requires you to kill a humanoid to learn information, so will often not be a great method. But it works in a pinch.