Control Flames
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- Transmutation cantrip
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- S
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Classes
- Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You choose nonmagical flame that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You affect it in one of the following ways:
- You instantaneously expand the flame 5 feet in one direction, provided that wood or other fuel is present in the new location.
- You instantaneously extinguish the flames within the cube.
- You double or halve the area of bright light and dim light cast by the flame, change its color, or both. The change lasts for 1 hour.
- You cause simple shapes—such as the vague form of a creature, an inanimate object, or a location—to appear within the flames and animate as you like. The shapes last for 1 hour.
If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three non-instantaneous effects created by it active at a time, and you can dismiss such an effect as an action.
Control Flames 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Control Flames is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Control Flames popularity
How popular is Control Flames? 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.
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked Wizard cantrip
- Bottom 25% picked Sorcerer cantrip
- Bottom 25% of all cantrips
- Bottom 25% picked Druid cantrip
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Control Flames
Druidcraft Transmutation cantrip
This druid cantrip serves a similarly flexible, mostly narrative purpose involving minor environmental effects and visual information.
Players prefer Druidcraft over Control Flames
Light Evocation cantrip
It shares the long-lasting illumination utility and overlaps with Control Flames's ability to modify brightness and visibility.
Players prefer Light over Control Flames
Elementalism Transmutation cantrip
Like Control Flames, it is a transmutation cantrip for manipulating a nearby elemental effect in creative, non-damaging ways.
Players prefer Elementalism over Control Flames
Shape Water Transmutation cantrip
Both are transmutation cantrips that reshape a small natural element for practical or imaginative uses over an extended duration.
Players prefer Shape Water over Control Flames
Mold Earth Transmutation cantrip
Its small-scale environmental manipulation and persistent changes make it a close counterpart for altering terrain and conveying information.
Players prefer Control Flames over Mold Earth
Pyrotechnics 2nd-level transmutation
Both directly alter fire and can use flames to create visual effects or change the battlefield.
Players prefer Control Flames over Pyrotechnics