Delayed Blast Fireball

A
Damage

Delayed Blast Fireball is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that plants a glowing bead for a delayed inferno, threatening
multiple creatures

Delayed Blast Fireball 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 →
 and rewarding
careful timing

Delayed Blast Fireball is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

See all Action Economy spells →
.

2024 Rules
Level & School
7th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
150 feet
Components
V, S, M (a ball of bat guano and sulfur)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A beam of yellow light flashes from you, then condenses at a chosen point within range as a glowing bead for the duration. When the spell ends, the bead explodes, and each creature in a 20- foot-radius Sphere centered on that point makes a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes Fire damage equal to the total accumulated damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

The spell's base damage is 12d6, and the damage increases by 1d6 whenever your turn ends and the spell hasn't ended. If a creature touches the glowing bead before the spell ends, that creature makes a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the spell ends, causing the bead to explode.

On a successful save, the creature can throw the bead up to 40 feet. If the thrown bead enters a creature's space or collides with a solid object, the spell ends, and the bead explodes.

When the bead explodes, flammable objects in the explosion that aren't being worn or carried start burning.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The base damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 7.

2014 Rules
Level & School
7th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
150 feet
Components
V, S, M (a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur)
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A beam of yellow light flashes from your pointing finger, then condenses to linger at a chosen point within range as a glowing bead for the duration. When the spell ends, either because your concentration is broken or because you decide to end it, the bead blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame that spreads around corners. Each creature in a 20-foot radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes fire damage equal to the total accumulated damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

The spell's base damage is 12d6. If at the end of your turn the bead has not yet detonated, the damage increases by 1d6.

If the glowing bead is touched before the interval has expired, the creature touching it must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the spell ends immediately, causing the bead to erupt in flame. On a successful save, the creature can throw the bead up to 40 feet. When it strikes a creature or a solid object, the spell ends, and the bead explodes.

The fire damages objects in the area and ignites flammable objects that aren't being worn or carried.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the base damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 7th.

Delayed Blast Fireball 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version no longer explicitly says the explosion damages objects in the area, and it now says flammable objects in the blast start burning instead. Everything else is functionally the same.

Spells similar to Delayed Blast Fireball

  • Fireball 3rd-level evocation

    A classic long-range evocation that creates a large, instantaneous explosive area of fire and fills the same tactical niche as this spell at a lower level.

  • Vitriolic Sphere 4th-level evocation

    It throws a damaging sphere that impacts an area and deals elemental damage in an explosion, making its delivery and zone-of-effect feel very similar.

  • Otiluke's Freezing Sphere 6th-level evocation

    Another higher-level sphere spell that produces a large-area elemental explosion and shapes the battlefield in comparable ways.

  • Wall of Fire 4th-level evocation

    A sustained area-of-effect fire spell that controls space and deals ongoing fire damage, offering a similar battlefield-shaping fire option with concentration.

  • Incendiary Cloud 8th-level conjuration

    It creates a mobile, concentrated cloud of fire that lasts with concentration and deals heavy area fire damage, functioning like a sustained high-level fire control/damage tool.