Chain Lightning
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 150 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (three silver pins)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
You launch a lightning bolt toward a target you can see within range. Three bolts then leap from that target to as many as three other targets of your choice, each of which must be within 30 feet of the first target. A target can be a creature or an object and can be targeted by only one of the bolts. Each target makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 10d8 Lightning damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. One additional bolt leaps from the first target to another target for each spell slot level above 6.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 150 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a bit of fur; a piece of amber, glass, or a crystal rod; and three silver pins)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
You create a bolt of lightning that arcs toward a target of your choice that you can see within range. Three bolts then leap from that target to as many as three other targets, each of which must be within 30 feet of the first target. A target can be a creature or an object and can be targeted by only one of the bolts.
A target must make a Dexterity saving throw. The target takes 10d8 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, one additional bolt leaps from the first target to another target for each slot level above 6th.
Chain Lightning 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Chain Lightning popularity
How popular is Chain Lightning? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is chosen above nearly all other options when available. This spell is a rare gem that spellcasters seek out.
Spells similar to Chain Lightning
Lightning Bolt 3rd-level evocation
Both are evocation spells that deal heavy lightning damage in a line or chained form and are core offensive options for sorcerers and wizards.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Lightning Bolt
Delayed Blast Fireball 7th-level evocation
This is a high-level area-damage evocation that occupies the same tactical space as a big, slot-expensive burst spell used to hit multiple foes at once.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Delayed Blast Fireball
Fire Storm 7th-level evocation
Though a level higher, Fire Storm is a large-scale evocation that lets casters shape multiple bursts of elemental damage across the battlefield.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Fire Storm
Otiluke's Freezing Sphere 6th-level evocation
A sixth-level evocation that, like this spell, delivers large multi-target elemental damage from range and scales with slot level.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Otiluke's Freezing Sphere
Sunbeam 6th-level evocation
Sunbeam is a sixth-level evocation that hits multiple enemies and provides repeated powerful elemental strikes from the caster's range.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Sunbeam