Dark Star
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 8th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 150 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a shard of onyx and a drop of the caster's blood, both of which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Wizard
- Source
- Explorer's Guide to Wildemount
This spell creates a sphere centered on a point you choose within range. The sphere can have a radius of up to 40 feet. The area within this sphere is filled with magical darkness and crushing gravitational force.
For the duration, the spell's area is difficult terrain. A creature with darkvision can't see through the magical darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. No sound can be created within or pass through the area. Any creature or object entirely inside the sphere is immune to thunder damage, and creatures are deafened while entirely inside it. Casting a spell that includes a verbal component is impossible there.
Any creature that enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Constitution saving throw. The creature takes 8d10 force damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature reduced to 0 hit points by this damage is disintegrated. A disintegrated creature and everything it is wearing and carrying, except magic items, are reduced to a pile of fine gray dust.
Dark Star 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Dark Star is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Dark Star popularity
How popular is Dark Star? It is one of the rarest spells in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell is for the most unconventional spellcasters only.
- Bottom 50% picked level 8 Wizard spell
- Bottom 25% of all level 8 spells
- Bottom 10% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Dark Star
Hunger of Hadar 3rd-level conjuration
Both fill a large area with deadly supernatural gloom that hinders movement and makes the space miserable to fight through.
Players prefer Hunger of Hadar over Dark Star
Evard's Black Tentacles 4th-level conjuration
It locks down a broad section of the battlefield and keeps creatures taking damage while they struggle to get free.
Players prefer Evard's Black Tentacles over Dark Star
Sickening Radiance 4th-level evocation
This is another high-level concentration spell that turns an area into a hazardous kill zone and chips away at everything caught there.
Players prefer Sickening Radiance over Dark Star
Incendiary Cloud 8th-level conjuration
Like Dark Star, it creates a huge sustained damage area that controls where enemies can safely stand or move.
Players prefer Dark Star over Incendiary Cloud
Maddening Darkness 8th-level evocation
It creates a long-lasting zone of oppressive magical darkness that punishes creatures inside it, so the battlefield feel is very close.
Players prefer Dark Star over Maddening Darkness