- This article is about the effect; for the spell, see Silence (spell).
Silence is an effect that suppresses all sounds. Silenced creatures make no noise while moving (opposed listen checks automatically fail), and silenced spellcasters will be unable to cast spells with verbal (V) components (but see also silent spell). Strangely, a silenced creature can still hear others.
Bards are unable to start a bard song or curse song while silenced, and silenced creatures are not affected by these songs. However silence does not nullify existing effects of these songs.
One common source of this effect is the silence spell.
This effect is easier to dispel than most, as its creator's level is zero in the dispel check.