Questions tagged [area-of-effect]
For questions which ask primarily about effects that affect a large zone or have multiple targets.
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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 ...
12
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2answers
199 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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3answers
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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 ...
12
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1answer
255 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
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1answer
589 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
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1answer
71 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
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2answers
645 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
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2answers
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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 ...
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3answers
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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
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1answer
529 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
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2answers
182 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
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2answers
325 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 ...
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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 ...
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2answers
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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 ...
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1answer
189 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
431 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
436 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 ...
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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
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1answer
274 views
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
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3answers
529 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
162 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
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1answer
546 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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2answers
740 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?
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1answer
260 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
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1answer
748 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 ...
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1answer
800 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, ...
32
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-...
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votes
3answers
389 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
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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?
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1answer
202 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 ...
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votes
2answers
522 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 ...
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2answers
352 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
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1answer
461 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
265 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 ...
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vote
1answer
701 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
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5answers
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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 ...
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1answer
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Does a Hallowed area stop Spiritual Guardians from appearing?
Reading up on 5th Edition spells I came across the 5th Level Evocation Hallow:
You touch a point and infuse an area around it with holy (or unholy) power...The affected area is subject to the ...
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1answer
157 views
Do spells that have range originating from the caster start in a grid intersection or the center of his square? [duplicate]
The rules say:
The point of origin of a spell is always a grid intersection. PHB, p.175
Fireburst, for example, "extends" 10 feet radius around the caster. But if you count from a grid ...
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1answer
246 views
Is there a means by which to “shape” a spell?
Is there a way to shape a spell to, for instance, strike a single point so a fireball can be used as a sort of shaped explosive?
Sculpt Spell has a series of shapes you're limited to and does not ...
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2answers
360 views
What is the actual area of Emergency Force Sphere?
I have seen a few discussions about the area of effect of an Emergency Force Sphere:
Effect 5-ft.-radius hemisphere of force centered on you
The arguments are that you must pick a grid ...
7
votes
2answers
153 views
Does a magic circle protect a creature partially inside the area of effect?
If a creature is partially inside a magic circle against evil's area of effect when it is cast or is simply too big to fit inside the zone, does the protection work?
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3answers
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How do I target the Moonbeam spell, using a grid?
So, as my title implies; If you shoot a Moonbeam at an enemy standing in a square, would the area covered by the Moonbeam be just that single square, from one of the corners 2x2 or mid-square 3x3 ...
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4answers
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Would a Fireball cast by a Pixie/Human/Dragon of the same level have the same power?
In essence this relates to weapon damage from creatures using "identical" weapons: A human's long sword does 1d8 damage, sure, but a storm giant with a proportionally sized long sword shouldn't do ...
10
votes
2answers
879 views
If a paladin becomes Large, at what point does the paladin's aura originate?
If you enlarge a paladin (so that they take up 2x2 squares on a grid), what point does their aura's radius start at?
For Medium/Small creatures (who take up a 1x1 square on a grid), it radiates from ...
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1answer
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What happens if I cast Leomund's Tiny Hut in a space too small to contain the dome?
Leomund's tiny hut creates a dome-shaped barrier with a radius of 10 feet. This means that the dome is 20 feet wide in all directions, and the top of the dome is 10 feet above ground level.
Suppose I ...
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4answers
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How flexible is the size of Mold Earth?
The transmutation cantrip mold earth (EEPC, p. 21; XGtE, p. 162-163) explicitly states:
You choose a portion of dirt or stone [...] that fits within a 5-foot cube.
Would this indicate that the ...
