Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M (an opal worth 1,000 GP+)
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Classes
- Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
Six chromatic spheres orbit you for the duration. While the spheres are present, you can expend spheres to create the following effects:
Absorb Energy. When you take Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning or Thunder damage, you can take a Reaction to expend one sphere and give yourself Resistance to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn.
Energy Blast. As a Bonus Action, you send one sphere hurtling toward a target within 120 feet of yourself. Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, the target takes 3d6 Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning or Thunder damage (your choice). Regardless of whether you hit, the sphere is expended.
The spell ends early if you have no more spheres remaining.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The number of spheres incerases by 1 for every spell slot level above 6.
Elminster's Effulgent Spheres 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Elminster's Effulgent Spheres is a new spell for the 2024 edition.
Elminster's Effulgent Spheres popularity
How popular is Elminster's Effulgent Spheres? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and it is almost never chosen when available. This spell is one that few spellcasters would ever acquire.
- Top 50% of all level 6 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 6 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 6 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 6 Druid spell
Spells similar to Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
Spiritual Weapon 2nd-level evocation
It produces a summoned, autonomous offensive effect that you use with your action economy to make repeat attacks without concentrating.
Players prefer Spiritual Weapon over Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
Scorching Ray 2nd-level evocation
Both create multiple discrete ranged attacks that you fire off over a turn and let you focus elemental damage on chosen targets.
Players prefer Scorching Ray over Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
Fire Shield 4th-level evocation
This spell similarly provides reactive protection tied to elemental damage and also punishes attackers, paralleling the defensive facet of the spheres.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
Flaming Sphere 2nd-level conjuration
Like Elminster's spheres, it conjures a magical orb that persists and is used as an extra offensive resource that you manipulate each turn.
Players prefer Flaming Sphere over Elminster's Effulgent Spheres
Protection from Energy 3rd-level abjuration
Both offer resistance against specified energy types to reduce incoming elemental damage, matching the spheres' absorb feature in purpose if not timing.
Players prefer Protection from Energy over Elminster's Effulgent Spheres