Bigby's Hand

Bigby's Hand is a 5th level Evocation spell that creates a large magical hand that can make actions and attack.

Description
The caster creates a large hand of shimmering, translucent force somewhere in a 120 foot range. The hand moves at their command, mimicking the movements of their own hand.

Scanlan's Bigby's Hand is purple in hue.

The hand is an object that has AC 20 and hit points equal to your hit point maximum. If it drops to 0 hit points, the spell ends. It has a Strength of 26 (+8) and a Dexterity of 10 (+0). The hand doesn't fill its space. When the spell is cast and as a bonus action on subsequent turns, the caster can move the hand up to 60 feet and then cause one it to take one action.

Actions

 * Clenched Fist: The hand strikes one creature or object within 5 feet of it. Make a melee spell attack for the hand using your game statistics. On a hit, the target takes 4d8 force damage.


 * Forceful Hand: The hand attempts to push a creature within 5 feet of it in a direction you choose. Make a check with the hand's Strength contested by the Strength (Athletics) check of the target. If the target is Medium or smaller, you have advantage on the check. If you succeed, the hand pushes the target up to 5 feet plus a number of feet equal to five times your spellcasting ability modifier. The hand moves with the target to remain within 5 feet of it.


 * Grasping Hand: The hand attempts to grapple a Huge or smaller creature within 5 feet of it. You use the hand's Strength score to resolve the grapple. If the target is Medium or smaller, you have advantage on the check. While the hand is grappling the target, you can use a bonus action to have the hand crush it. When you do so, the target takes bludgeoning damage equal to 2d6 + your spellcasting ability modifier.


 * Interposing Hand: The hand interposes itself between you and a creature you choose until you give the hand a different command. The hand moves to stay between you and the target, providing you with half cover against the target. The target can't move through the hand's space if its Strength score is less than or equal to the hand's Strength score. If its Strength score is higher than the hand's Strength score, the target can move toward you through the hand's space, but that space is difficult terrain for the target.

Cat's Ire
Caleb Widogast has cast a spell identical in function to Bigby's Hand known as Cat's Ire. The material component for Cat's Ire is a sprig of catmint. Rather than a hand, the spell takes the form of an amber colored cat's paw.

History
Bigby's Hand was invented by the individual named Bigby. Scanlan learned it from another bard "a long time" before 812 PD. The bard was a stand-up comedian and used it as an applause hand.

Trivia

 * Bixby, animal companion of the ranger character Sam Riegel from, was most likely named after this spell.
 * In The Legend of Vox Machina, Scanlan sings "Scanlan's Hand!" when using this spell. He can also conjure a giant foot by singing "Scanlan's Foot!". It is depicted at various sizes, including the size of a normal hand, large enough to drag one person around or ferry Scanlan in its palm, and massive enough to carry several people.