You choose a 2m square of unoccupied space on the ground that you can see within range. A Medium hand made from compacted soil rises there and reaches for one creature you can see within 2m of it.

The target must make a Strength saving throw, taking 2d6 Earth damage and potentially becoming

Restrained

Success. The target is unaffected.
Failure. The target takes full damage and is Restrained by the hand for the spell's duration. As an action, you can cause the hand to crush the restrained target, who must make a basic Strength saving throw, taking 2d6 Earth damage. To break out, the restrained target can make a Strength ability check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target escapes and is no longer restrained by the hand.
Critical Failure (–10). As failure, except the target takes 1.5× damage.

As an action, you can cause the hand to reach for a different creature or to move to a different unoccupied space within range. The hand releases a restrained target if you do either.