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.
How popular is Dark Star in 5e?
Dark Star is the #21 most popular level 8 spell (of 29) and the #5 most picked level 8 Wizard spell (of 24).
Among level 8 spells, Dark Star ranks just below Iron Body and just above Illusory Dragon in popularity.
- #523 (of 580) most popular 5e spell
- #21 (of 29) most popular level 8 spell
- #5 (of 24) most picked level 8 Wizard spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated and see Dark Star visualized with all 5e spells.
Spells similar to Dark Star
Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration
A mobile damaging cloud remains on the battlefield for multiple rounds, forcing groups of creatures to endure repeated saving throws.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Dark Star
Ravenous Void 9th-level evocation
Like Dark Star, it creates a sustained gravitational zone that deals recurring force damage to multiple creatures across a large area.
Players prefer Dark Star over Ravenous Void
Maddening Darkness 8th-level evocation
Both are high-level wizard spells that fill a broad area with darkness and repeatedly punish creatures trapped inside.
Players prefer Dark Star over Maddening Darkness
Incendiary Cloud 8th-level conjuration
This concentration spell also establishes a large damaging area that can injure groups of enemies over several rounds.
Players prefer Dark Star over Incendiary Cloud
Sickening Radiance 4th-level evocation
Enemies entering or beginning their turns within its persistent zone suffer repeated damage and debilitating effects.
Players prefer Dark Star over Sickening Radiance
Dawn 5th-level evocation
Dawn similarly maintains a large area of recurring damage against multiple creatures while requiring concentration.
Players prefer Dark Star over Dawn