This spell creates a pair of man-sized hands, appearing as clenched and padded fists. The hand spummel with the effectiveness of an 18/50-strength fighter one-half the caster's experience levels. The hands together fight as a character with AC 4 and 3 hit points per level of the mage. The hands are dispelled when they run out of hit points. The hands can pummel only, and cannot hold a weapon or grapple. The hands cannot be grappled or overborne, since they can easily flit away. The material components are a mitten stuffed with cotton and a brass bell.

This spell is an improved version of the 1st level shield spell. The improved shield will protect the caster against attacks from all sides, including the rear and above, provided the mage is aware of the attack. A surprise attack will completely dispel the protection of the improved shield. The protection afforded by the spell is -2 against all attacks, so the improved shield acts as AC 0 against hand-hurled missiles, AC 1 against device propelled missiles, and AC -2 bonus on the mage's armor class against other attack forms.

The recipient of this spell will seem, to those with low intelligence or less, to be a person of great wealth and notoriety. The exact effects vary with the level of the caster. At highest levels, the recipient may appear to be a female entertainer who turns over cards bearing glowing runes and points at treasure, or black-and-white terrier that party-hops with his entourage of conquettes. At lower levels, the recipients become either the overly made-up wife of a disgraced high priest or a democratic presidential candidate. Monsters typically recipient for autographs, kidnapping him or her for ransom, or writing nasty things about the recipient for local tabloids. The material components for this spell include a fake fur, a string of Rhine stones, and a bottle of Grecian formula.