Booming Blade
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- Evocation cantrip
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self (5-foot radius)
- Components
- S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp)
- Duration
- 1 round
- Classes
- Artificer, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
You brandish the weapon used in the spell's casting and make a melee attack with it against one creature within 5 feet of you. On a hit, the target suffers the weapon attack's normal effects and then becomes sheathed in booming energy until the start of your next turn. If the target willingly moves 5 feet or more before then, the target takes 1d8 thunder damage, and the spell ends.
Cantrip Upgrade. This spell's damage on moving increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8) and 17th level (4d8). This spell's damage on hit increases by 1d8 when you reach 11th level (2d8) and 17th level (3d8).
Booming Blade 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Booming Blade is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Booming Blade popularity
How popular is Booming Blade? It is a commonly found spell in the game, but is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may be situational for many spellbooks.
- Top 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% picked Wizard cantrip
- Bottom 50% picked Sorcerer cantrip
- Bottom 50% picked Warlock cantrip
- Bottom 50% of all cantrips
- Bottom 25% picked Artificer cantrip
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Booming Blade
Thunderous Smite 1st-level evocation
Both add thunder damage to a melee weapon attack and influence enemy positioning, though this spell uses a higher-level slot.
Players prefer Thunderous Smite over Booming Blade
Shocking Grasp Evocation cantrip
This melee cantrip also rewards engaging an adjacent enemy with an action that delivers immediate elemental damage.
Players prefer Shocking Grasp over Booming Blade
True Strike Divination cantrip
Like Booming Blade, it is a weapon-attack cantrip available to artificers, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards.
Players prefer True Strike over Booming Blade
Green-Flame Blade Evocation cantrip
It is the closest counterpart, combining a melee weapon attack with extra cantrip damage in the same self-centered 5-foot area.
Players prefer Booming Blade over Green-Flame Blade
Sword Burst Conjuration cantrip
Its self-centered 5-foot radius and cantrip-level melee-range damage make it a natural alternative when surrounded.
Players prefer Booming Blade over Sword Burst
Lightning Lure Evocation cantrip
Both are close-range evocations that deal damage while manipulating where creatures can safely stand or move.
Players prefer Booming Blade over Lightning Lure