Fire Shield
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M (a bit of phosphorus or a firefly)
- Duration
- 10 minutes
- Classes
- Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Wispy flames wreathe your body for the duration, shedding Bright Light in a 10-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 10 feet.
The flames provide you with a warm shield or a chill shield, as you choose. The warm shield grants you Resistance to Cold damage, and the chill shield grants you Resistance to Fire damage.
In addition, whenever a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack roll, the shield erupts with flame. The attacker takes 2d8 Fire damage from a warm shield or 2d8 Cold damage from a chill shield.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M (a bit of phosphorus or a firefly)
- Duration
- 10 minutes
- Classes
- Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
Thin and wispy flames wreathe your body for the duration, shedding bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. You can end the spell early by using an action to dismiss it.
The flames provide you with a warm shield or a chill shield, as you choose. The warm shield grants you resistance to cold damage, and the chill shield grants you resistance to fire damage.
In addition, whenever a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack, the shield erupts with flame. The attacker takes 2d8 fire damage from a warm shield, or 2d8 cold damage from a cold shield.
Fire Shield 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Fire Shield popularity
How popular is Fire Shield? It is a commonly found spell in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a reliable addition to any spellbook.
- Top 25% picked level 4 Wizard spell
- Top 25% of all level 4 spells
- Top 50% picked level 4 Sorcerer spell
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% picked level 4 Druid spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Fire Shield
Shadow of Moil 4th-level necromancy
It combines self-protection with automatic necrotic retaliation against nearby attackers, though it requires concentration.
Players prefer Shadow of Moil over Fire Shield
Armor of Agathys 1st-level abjuration
Like Fire Shield, it protects a self-targeted caster while punishing creatures that strike them in melee, with cold damage as a key element.
Players prefer Armor of Agathys over Fire Shield
Fount of Moonlight 4th-level evocation
The spell lasts ten minutes on the caster and includes a retaliatory damage effect, making it a strong offensive-defense parallel.
Players prefer Fount of Moonlight over Fire Shield
Absorb Elements 1st-level abjuration
Both are self-targeted elemental defenses that reduce incoming damage and turn that protection into a response against enemies.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Absorb Elements
Backlash 4th-level abjuration
This same-level defensive spell is built around retaliating against an enemy after the caster is threatened or harmed.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Backlash
Death Armor 2nd-level necromancy
Both wrap a character in a persistent defensive effect that deals damage back to attackers who engage at close range.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Death Armor