Cloudkill
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 10 minutes
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
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
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
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
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.
- Top 25% picked level 5 Wizard spell
- Top 25% of all level 5 spells
- Top 25% picked level 5 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Cloudkill
Call Lightning 3rd-level conjuration
Repeatedly affecting multiple enemies over ten minutes makes it a comparable sustained damage option for controlling an encounter.
Players prefer Call Lightning over Cloudkill
Insect Plague 5th-level conjuration
It is the closest match in level, school, concentration duration, persistent area damage, and group-focused battlefield pressure.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Insect Plague
Cloud of Daggers 2nd-level conjuration
It places a persistent damaging area that rewards keeping enemies inside a dangerous zone, though on a much smaller scale.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Cloud of Daggers
Stinking Cloud 3rd-level conjuration
This lower-level conjured fog has nearly the same area-denial purpose, range, and concentration-based battlefield use.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Stinking Cloud
Sickening Radiance 4th-level evocation
A long-lasting, concentration-based area effect punishes creatures that remain inside its zone.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Sickening Radiance
Incendiary Cloud 8th-level conjuration
Both create dangerous moving clouds that repeatedly damage multiple creatures while reshaping the battlefield.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Incendiary Cloud