Questions tagged [area-of-effect]
For questions which ask primarily about effects that affect a large zone or have multiple targets.
132
questions
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1answer
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Are There 3D Rules for Flying and Distance?
I recently had a problem come up in a session that I wanted to see if there was more information on. One of my players is playing a Light Domain cleric; its 1st-level Warding Flare feature says, in ...
2
votes
1answer
118 views
How does the Globe of Invulnerability spell work?
The description of the Globe of Invulnerability spell says:
An immobile, faintly shimmering barrier springs into existence in a 10-foot radius around you and remains for the duration.
Any ...
19
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2answers
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Discrepancy regarding AoE point of origin between English and German PHB
I own both the English and German version of the D&D 5e Player's Handbook.
On pages 204 and 205 it talks about area of effect spells and whether or not the point of origin is included in it.
The ...
6
votes
1answer
221 views
Moon Beam Damage Calculation for Multiple Targets
In D&D-5e, suppose my character casts moonbeam and two enemies start their turn inside the beam's radius. Would each creature's damage be calculated separately (2d10 for one and 2d10 for the ...
4
votes
1answer
130 views
Would casting the Ventriloquism spell into a Silence field allow you to cast silently?
I know Ventriloquism is an arcane spell and Silence divine, so normally most people wouldnt be able to cast both without needing magic items or such.
But if you were to use Ventriloquism to throw ...
4
votes
1answer
158 views
Do Area of Effect spells reveal hidden or invisible enemies?
As a question that came up from this discussion about whether Mind Blank foils all attempts to gain information about the target, can area of effect spells be used to reveal enemies?
In the example ...
3
votes
1answer
194 views
When does the Spike Growth spell's area of effect become visible?
The spike growth spell description states:
[...] When a creature moves into or within the area, it takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet it travels.
The transformation of the ground is ...
22
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2answers
2k views
Does the spell “Silence” affect the caster?
While I was DMing a 5th Edition game, one of my player's sorcerers cast the spell Silence while they were 5 feet away from an enemy caster. They centered the spell on the space that the enemy caster ...
4
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2answers
239 views
When playing on a grid, how many Medium creatures fit inside the area of a Scroll of Protection's barrier during combat?
The description of the scroll of protection (DMG, p. 199) reads:
Using an action to read the scroll encloses you in a invisible barrier that extends from you to form a 5-foot-radius, 10-foot-high ...
7
votes
1answer
146 views
What happens after a creature of the chosen type penetrates my Magic Circle?
The Magic Circle spell description says:
The creature can't willingly enter the cylinder by nonmagical means. If
the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to do so,
it ...
2
votes
0answers
96 views
Can Ice Knife hit a target under the effect of Mirror Image and destroy its illusions? [duplicate]
In this question it was explained that the blast of the knife reaches a 2x2 area.
As the description of the spell Mirror Image makes mention of 4 targets next to each other, could it hit the actual ...
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2answers
326 views
Does the Distant Spell metamagic apply to the Sword Burst cantrip?
If this has been asked, I could not find it. My Sorcerer has the sword burst cantrip, and I'm thinking of taking the 'Distant Spell' metamagic option. Will it change the range to 10 feet?
Similar to ...
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votes
3answers
347 views
Does allowing the Thunderwave spell to be centred-on but not affecting the caster increase its power level?
The thunderwave spell has the description:
A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed ...
11
votes
1answer
346 views
Are gibbering mouthers immune to each other's area effects?
Gibbering Mouthers have two area-of-effect abilities:
Aberrant Ground. The ground in a 10-foot radius around the mouther is doughlike difficult terrain. Each creature that starts its turn in that ...
9
votes
1answer
682 views
Does the Thunderwave spell push back a Cloud of Daggers?
If there is an active Cloud of Daggers spell within the AOE of a Thunderwave spell, would the Cloud of Daggers spell be pushed back 10 feet?
From the description of Thunderwave:
In addition, ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
What can modify the area or shape of a Wall of X spell?
Summarizing the question into parts here. I am looking for abilities that do one of the following regarding walls.
Increasing the size of the wall
Changing the shape of a wall
Allow for the moving of ...
10
votes
2answers
682 views
How large is a Globe of Invulnerability cast by a Large creature?
The Globe of Invulnerability spell describes its area of effect like so:
An immobile, faintly shimmering barrier springs into existence in a 10-foot radius around you and remains for the duration.
...
7
votes
2answers
575 views
Can an Area of Effect spell cast outside a Prismatic Wall extend inside it?
The Indigo layer of a Prismatic Wall states:
While this layer is in place, spells can't be cast through the wall
By comparison, a Globe of Invulnerability states:
Any spell of 5th level or ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Where does the “burst of radiance” from Holy Weapon originate?
The spell Holy Weapon empower a "weapon you touch" to do extra damage (2d8 radaint per hit) and shed light (30 feet bright light, 30 feet dim light). It has one final feature (XGtE, p. 157, bold added)...
8
votes
1answer
684 views
Does the radius of the Spirit Guardians spell depend on the size of the caster?
The spirit guardians spell description states:
Spirits float around you up to 15 feet away.
Certain other spells like antilife shell state:
A barrier extends from you in a 10-foot radius and ...
11
votes
2answers
243 views
Does the Maddening Darkness spell affect creatures in its radius if they have 9th-level magical light illuminating it?
The description of the maddening darkness spell (XGtE, p. 160) says [emphasis mine]:
Magical darkness spreads from a point you choose within range to fill
a 60 foot-radius sphere until the spell ...
7
votes
2answers
582 views
Is there a difference between cube areas-of-effect with Self or 5-feet ranges?
To cast cube-shaped spells,
You select a cube's point of origin, which lies anywhere on a face of the cubic effect.
After looking through a multitude of other questions regarding Thunderwave (see ...
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6answers
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Can I cast Thunderwave and be at the center of its bottom face, but not be affected by it?
Questions like this and this show that you cast Thunderwave as a cube, and you (the point of origin) stand at one of the cube's faces. From the PHB (emphasis mine):
You select a cube's point of ...
31
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3answers
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Can I create an upright 7-foot × 5-foot wall with the Minor Illusion spell?
The Minor Illusion spell description states:
If you create an image of an object—such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest—it must be no larger than a 5-foot cube. The image can’t create ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
When you cast a spell with “effect” entry, do you have to have line of effect to every portion of the effect to be created?
When you cast a spell with “effect” entry, do you have to have line of effect to every portion of the effect to be created?
Some examples of where it can be relevant:
Casting Summon Monster to ...
3
votes
1answer
192 views
Do light and darkness from spells turn around corners?
Does light or darkness radiated from objects targeted by spells such as Light, Darkness, Daylight and similar turn around corners (act like spread-like emanation)?
Or do obstacles block such effects, ...
6
votes
1answer
529 views
What does “centered on yourself” mean in the Wild Magic Surge table?
There are many results on the Wild Magic sorcerer's Wild Magic Surge table (PHB, p. 103) that says "centered on yourself". For instance:
07–08: You cast fireball as a 3rd-level spell centered on ...
1
vote
2answers
883 views
Does cover help against spells/effects that spread around corners (like fireball)?
The rules for cover state that half and 3/4 cover grant a bonus to both AC and (importantly for this question) Dexterity saving throws. However, some spells, like fireball, state that the area of ...
33
votes
3answers
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Casting wall of fire in a T-shaped corridor
In D&D 5e, is casting wall of fire like this allowed, or would I need to have line of sight for the entire corridor? Assume my wizard knows that the corridor extends both ways and how long it is.
5
votes
1answer
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Can I choose to cast a spell with a reduced area of effect?
I have little understanding of the rules and systems of 5th Edition, as I have never played myself.
Are you able to cast area-of-effect spells such as silence or darkness on a smaller (or ...
12
votes
3answers
762 views
What happens when the Cloudkill spell runs into a wall?
Cloudkill has an interesting property where the area of effect moves on its own. The spell states:
The fog moves 10 feet away from you at the start of each of your turns, rolling along the surface ...
5
votes
2answers
184 views
How does the Banishment spell interact with other spells that trigger when entering a space?
I had a game where I had a Paladin and two Warlocks. Paladin and Warlock A casted two spells (Moonbeam, and Toxic Cloud) that both trigger when a creature enters or starts their turn in the area of ...
6
votes
1answer
637 views
How does the Prismatic Wall spell handle an AOE?
Would the indigo layer of a prismatic wall spell (in a spherical shape) block the effect of a fireball, if it had radius bigger than the radius of the wall, cast outside the wall but centered/targeted ...
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votes
2answers
1k views
Does the Spell Sniper feat affect the size of a spell's area of effect?
Would the Spell Sniper feat affect the width of the lightning bolt spell, which is normally 100 feet long and 5 feet wide? Would it also increase the explosion range of fireball and such spells?
6
votes
1answer
354 views
What exactly happens when I cast Web in midair?
The web spell is a bit special, in that it initially fills a 20-foot cube, but can collapse and/or disappear if the chosen placement does not provide sufficient anchorage:
You conjure a mass of ...
8
votes
1answer
790 views
What happens if a delayed blast fireball detonates inside an antimagic field?
Say a wizard casts a delayed blast fireball and leaves it to charge up instead of detonating it immediately. Another wizard casts antimagic field and moves so that the fireball bead is inside of the ...
8
votes
1answer
855 views
Can you cast the Conjure Elemental spell to summon an elemental within the area of effect of the Forbiddance spell?
The forbiddance spell description states:
You create a ward against magical travel that protects up to 40,000 square feet of floor space to a height of 30 feet above the floor. For the duration, ...
33
votes
3answers
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How big is the area of the web spell created by a Cloak of Arachnida?
A Cloak of Arachnida allows the wearer to cast the web spell, with the additional property:
the web created by the spell fills twice its normal area.
The area of an ordinary web spell is a 20-...
4
votes
3answers
426 views
Do areas of effect affect creatures in three dimensions or in a plane?
A recent session saw us—the PCs—encounter a gate made of magical fire. The wall surrounding the gate was 30 ft. tall.
When the Oath of the Crown paladin and I were on one side of the gate, the ...
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1answer
2k views
How can I increase the range of a Dragonborn's breath weapon?
Is it possible to increase the range/area of a Dragonborn's breath weapon?
If yes, how?
4
votes
1answer
226 views
What is the Massacre spell's area of effect?
Under the description of the massacre spell's effect, the area is stated to be a "60-ft. line"; however, under the spell description, it says:
You unleash a wave of necromantic energy that snuffs ...
13
votes
2answers
623 views
Could a Huge or bigger creature (bigger than a 10-foot-radius sphere) use Antimagic Field?
Could a Huge or bigger creature use antimagic field?
The antimagic field spell description says:
Range: Self (10-foot radius sphere)
A 10-foot-radius invisible sphere of antimagic surrounds ...
2
votes
2answers
555 views
How do you determine the area of effect of a flying dragon’s breath weapon? [closed]
When a dragon is flying over its target, how do you determine the area of effect on the ground? If it is breathing straight down, a 60' cone could create a 60' diameter circle, but that's not very ...
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2answers
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Can I cast Hallow on a ship?
This came up recently in a session: Our cleric thought it would be a great idea if he made our airship hallowed.
The description of the hallow spell says:
You touch a point and infuse an area ...
12
votes
1answer
593 views
Does a persistent spell effect cast on a moving platform move with the platform, or is it fixed in space?
Does casting a persistent spell effect on a moving platform fix the spell's orientation to the platform, or is its orientation absolute to the world around it?
Quick backstory: I have a pirate bard ...
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vote
1answer
397 views
If a spell is cast on a moveable creature/object and lasts longer than a round, and the creature/object moves, does the spell move with it?
Recently it has come up at our table on the topic of centering a spell with an extended length, like sickening radiance, on a creature or something else that move. My table & I are unfamiliar with ...
1
vote
1answer
997 views
How to measure on a grid the area of a sphere area spell or effect centered on a creature?
Per the Wild Magic sorcerer's Wild Magic Surge table (PHB, p. 104)
07-08: You cast fireball as a 3rd-level spell centered on yourself.
There's other questionable area spells in that list (grease ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
Is Burning Hands’ area of effect a “thin sheet of flame” or is it a cone?
Burning hands says two things about the shape of the spell’s area of effect (PHB, p. 220):
a thin sheet of flames shoots forth from your outstretched fingertips
Each creature in a 15-foot cone [...
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0answers
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What is the affected space for the area of Burning Hands? [duplicate]
Burning hands states:
As you hold your hands with thumbs touching and fingers spread, a thin sheet of flames shoots forth from your outstretched fingertips.
However, it goes on to affect a cone ...
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3answers
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How to resolve Burning Hands with a Dying Ally
Playing the D&D 5e starter set, the rogue had been knocked prone by the wolves in the Goblin Cave and had two wolves within melee range over her 0hp body.
I ruled that, as she was prone, the ...
