Blade Barrier

A
Damage

Blade Barrier is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that raises a whirling blade wall to
battlefield control

Blade Barrier is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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 and strike
multiple creatures

Blade Barrier is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

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 at once.

2024 Rules
Level & School
6th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
90 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric

You create a wall of whirling blades made of magical energy. The wall appears within range and lasts for the duration. You make a straight wall up to 100 feet long, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick, or a ringed wall up to 60 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick. The wall provides Three-Quarters Cover, and its space is Difficult Terrain. Any creature in the wall's space makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 6d10 Force damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature also makes that save if it enters the wall's space or ends it turn there. A creature makes that save only once per turn.

2014 Rules
Level & School
6th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
90 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric

You create a vertical wall of whirling, razor-sharp blades made of magical energy. The wall appears within range and lasts for the duration. You can make a straight wall up to 100 feet long, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick, or a ringed wall up to 60 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick. The wall provides three-quarters cover to creatures behind it, and its space is difficult terrain.

When a creature enters the wall's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 6d10 slashing damage. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage.

Blade Barrier 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The damage changed from slashing to force. The save timing changed: instead of taking damage when a creature enters the wall for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it now triggers when a creature enters or ends its turn in the wall, and only once per turn.

Spells similar to Blade Barrier

  • Wall of Ice 6th-level evocation

    A same-level evocation that creates a large persistent wall which both shapes the battlefield and damages creatures touching or passing through it.

  • Wall of Thorns 6th-level conjuration

    Also a level 6 spell that conjures a damaging, obstructive barrier you place to control movement and hurt anyone who goes through it.

  • Wall of Fire 4th-level evocation

    A persistent, placement-based damage wall that blocks movement and forces saves or risk repeated harm, making it tactically similar.

  • Spirit Guardians 3rd-level conjuration

    A persistent area around a caster that continuously damages and restricts enemies, offering the same kind of sustained zone control and multi-target damage.

  • Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration

    Creates a moving, persistent damaging cloud that reshapes the fight and forces creatures to save or suffer ongoing area damage.