Cloud of Daggers

A
Damage

Cloud of Daggers is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that turns a 5-foot cube into a
battlefield trap

Cloud of Daggers is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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, striking
multiple creatures

Cloud of Daggers 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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 and shifting with
swift action

Cloud of Daggers is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

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.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a sliver of glass)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You conjure spinning daggers in a 5-foot Cube centered on a point within range. Each creature in that area takes 4d4 Slashing damage. A creature also takes this damage if it enters the Cube or ends its turn there or if the Cube moves into its space. A creature takes this damage only once per turn. On your later turns, you can take a Magic action to teleport the Cube up to 30 feet.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 2d4 for each spell slot level above 2.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a sliver of glass)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You fill the air with spinning daggers in a cube 5 feet on each side, centered on a point you choose within range. A creature takes 4d4 slashing damage when it enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 2d4 for each slot level above 2nd.

Cloud of Daggers 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

It now damages every creature in the cube when the spell is cast, and also when a creature enters it, ends its turn there, or the cube moves into its space, but only once per turn. On later turns, you can teleport the cube up to 30 feet with a Magic action.

Cloud of Daggers popularity

Cloud of Daggers is a commonly chosen level 2 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Cloud of Daggers

  • Flaming Sphere 2nd-level conjuration

    Both conjure a persistent, movable object that deals damage in a small area over multiple turns and can be repositioned to control the battlefield.

  • Moonbeam 2nd-level evocation

    Like Cloud of Daggers, it creates a lasting area that damages creatures when they enter or end their turn there and can be shifted each turn to threaten foes.

  • Spiritual Weapon 2nd-level evocation

    This spell summons a damaging, mobile effect you can move on subsequent turns to keep pressuring targets without spending attacks.

  • Spike Growth 2nd-level transmutation

    It creates a persistent zone that punishes movement through an area each turn, serving a similar tactical role of area denial and repeated damage.

  • Hunger of Hadar 3rd-level conjuration

    That conjured area holds creatures and inflicts recurring damage while shaping the battlefield in much the same way as the dagger cloud.