You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real illusions of one or more creatures, objects, or forces. Shadow conjuration can mimic any Sorcerer or Wizard Conjuration (summoning) or Conjuration (creation) spell of 8th level or lower.

Shades are only four-fifths (80%) as strong as the real things, though creatures who believe the shades to be real are affected by them at full Strength. Any Creature that interacts with the spell can make a Will save to recognize its true nature.

Spells that deal Damage have normal effects unless the affected Creature succeeds on a Will save. The illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) Damage to nonbelievers, and nondamaging effects are 80% likely to work against nonbelievers. Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve, an affected Creature is also allowed any save that the spell being simulated allows, but the save DC is set according to shade's level (9th) rather than the spell's normal level. In addition, any effect created by shades allows spell Resistance, even if the spell it is simulating does not. Shadow objects or substances have normal effects except against those who disbelieve them. Against disbelievers, they are 80% likely to work.

A Shadow Creature has four-fifth the Hit Points of a normal Creature of its kind (regardless of whether it's recognized as shadowy). It deals normal Damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a Creature that recognizes it as a Shadow Creature, however, the Shadow creature's Damage is four-fifths (80%) normal, and all Special Abilities that do not deal lethal Damage are only 80% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the Shadow creature's AC bonuses are just one-fifth as large.

A Creature that succeeds on its save sees the shades as transparent images superimposed on vague, shadowy forms. Objects automatically succeed on their Will saves against this spell.