To use the shadow walk spell, the character must be in an area of heavy shadows. The character and any creature the character touches are then transported along a coiling path of shadowstuff to the edge of the Material Plane where it borders the Plane of Shadow. The effect is largely illusory, but the path is quasi-real. The character can take more than one creature along with the character (subject to the character's level limit), but all must be touching each other.

In the region of shadow, the character can move at a rate of up to seven miles every 10 minutes, moving normally on the borders of the Plane of Shadow but much more rapidly relative to the Material Plane. Thus, a character can use this spell to travel rapidly by stepping onto the Plane of Shadow, moving the desired distance, and then stepping back onto the Material Plane. The character knows where the character will come out on the Material Plane.

Shadow walk can also be used to travel to other planes that border on the Plane of Shadow, but this requires the potentially perilous transit of the Plane of Shadow to arrive at a border with another plane of reality. The transit of the Plane of Shadow requires 1d4 hours.

Any creatures touched by the character when shadow walk is cast also make the transition to the borders of the Plane of Shadow. They may opt to follow the character, wander off through the plane, or stumble back into the Material Plane (50% chance for either of the latter results if they are lost or abandoned by the character). Creatures unwilling to accompany the character into the Plane of Shadow receive a Will saving throw, negating the effect if successful.