Circle of Death

A
Damage

Circle of Death is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that unleashes necrotic energy in a wide burst, striking
multiple creatures

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

See all Multi Target spells →
 at once.

2024 Rules
Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
150 feet
Components
V, S, M (the powder of a crushed black pearl worth 500+ GP)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

Negative energy ripples out in a 60-foot-radius Sphere from a point you choose within range. Each creature in that area makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 8d8 Necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 2d8 for each spell slot level above 6.

2014 Rules
Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
150 feet
Components
V, S, M (the powder of a crushed black pearl worth at least 500 gp)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

A sphere of negative energy ripples out in a 60-foot-radius sphere from a point within range. Each creature in that area must make a Constitution saving throw. A target takes 8d6 necrotic 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, the damage increases by 2d6 for each slot level above 6th.

Circle of Death 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The damage changed from 8d6 necrotic to 8d8 necrotic, and the upcast scaling changed from +2d6 per slot above 6th to +2d8 per slot above 6th.

How popular is Circle of Death in 5e?

Circle of Death is the #9 most popular level 6 spell (of 51) and the #1 most picked level 6 Warlock spell (of 15).

Among level 6 spells, Circle of Death ranks just below Globe of Invulnerability and just above Arcane Gate in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Circle of Death