Cloudkill

A
Damage

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

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spell that blankets an area in choking fog,
shaping the battlefield

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

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and harming
multiple foes

Cloudkill 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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that stray into its poison.

2024 Rules

Level & School
5th-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

You create a 20-foot-radius Sphere of yellow-green fog centered on a point within range. The fog lasts for the duration or until strong wind (such as the one created by Gust of Wind) disperses it, ending the spell. Its area is Heavily Obscured.

Each creature in the Sphere makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 5d8 Poison damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature must also make this save when the Sphere moves into its space and when it enters the Sphere or ends its turn there. A creature makes this save only once per turn.

The Sphere moves 10 feet away from you at the start of each of your turns.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 5.

2014 Rules

Level & School
5th-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

You create a 20-foot radius sphere of poisonous, yellow-green fog centered on a point you choose within range. The fog spreads around corners. It lasts for the duration or until strong wind disperses the fog, ending the spell. Its area is heavily obscured.

When a creature enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw. The creature takes 5d8 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures are affected even if they hold their breath or don't need to breathe.

The fog moves 10 feet away from you at the start of each of your turns, rolling along the surface of the ground. The vapors, being heavier than air, sink to the lowest level of the land, even pouring down openings.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 5th.

Cloudkill 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The save timing changed: now creatures also save when the sphere moves into their space and when they end their turn in it, but only once per turn. The old “first time on a turn or starts its turn there” wording is gone. The fog no longer has the explicit low-lying/sinking behavior.

Cloudkill popularity

How popular is Cloudkill? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell could be a valuable addition for spellbooks.

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