Continual Flame

A
Utility

Continual Flame is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

See all Utility spells →
 spell that gives an object a steady, heatless flame for lasting light that can’t be quenched.

2024 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (ruby dust worth 50+ GP, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Until dispelled
Classes
Artificer, Cleric, Druid, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

A flame springs from an object that you touch. The effect casts Bright Light in a 20-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 20 feet. It looks like a regular flame, but it creates no heat and consumes no fuel. The flame can be covered or hidden but not smothered or quenched.

2014 Rules
Level & School
2nd-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (ruby dust worth 50 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Until dispelled
Classes
Artificer, Cleric, Druid, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

A flame, equivalent in brightness to a torch, springs forth from an object that you touch. The effect looks like a regular flame, but it creates no heat and doesn't use oxygen. A continual flame can be covered or hidden but not smothered or quenched.

Continual Flame 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

It now explicitly sheds Bright Light in a 20-foot radius and Dim Light for another 20 feet. The old version only said it was torch-bright. Also, it now says the flame consumes no fuel instead of no oxygen.

Continual Flame popularity

How popular is Continual Flame? It is a commonly found spell in the game, but is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may be situational for many spellbooks.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Continual Flame