Cone of Cold

A
Damage

Cone of Cold is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that unleashes a freezing cone to strike
multiple creatures

Cone of Cold 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 →
, turning the dead into icy statues.

2024 Rules
Level & School
5th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a small crystal or glass cone)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

You unleash a blast of cold air. Each creature in a 60-foot Cone originating from you makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 8d8 Cold damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature killed by this spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.

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

2014 Rules
Level & School
5th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self (60-foot cone)
Components
V, S, M (a small crystal or glass cone)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A blast of cold air erupts from your hands. Each creature in a 60-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 8d8 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

A creature killed by this spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.

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.

Cone of Cold 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Effectively the same spell, but Cone of Cold is now also available to Druids.

Cone of Cold popularity

Cone of Cold is one of the most popular level 5 spells in the game. Choosing it adds a D&D staple to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Cone of Cold

  • Otiluke's Freezing Sphere 6th-level evocation

    It’s an evocation cold-themed, high-level area damage spell that functions like a larger, more mobile version of an icy blast.

  • Ice Storm 4th-level evocation

    This is another evocation spell that deals cold (and bludgeoning) area damage in a large zone and is used for the same battlefield-clearing purpose.

  • Chain Lightning 6th-level evocation

    Although it targets in a different pattern, it’s an evocation spell at a higher level that delivers heavy single-instance damage to multiple targets, similar in role and power curve.

  • Fireball 3rd-level evocation

    Fireball is the archetypal instant-area evocation damage spell used to clear groups, matching Cone of Cold’s tactical niche despite using fire instead of cold.

  • Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration

    Cloudkill is a level-5 area-damage spell that shapes the battlefield and punishes clusters of enemies, making it a close tactical analogue even though it’s ongoing rather than instantaneous.