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
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
- Wizard
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 seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Top 50% of all level 4 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 4 Druid spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 4 Wizard spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 4 Sorcerer spell
Spells similar to Fire Shield
Armor of Agathys 1st-level abjuration
It surrounds you with a protective effect that deals damage back to melee attackers while lasting for a set duration, making it the closest analogue in function and purpose.
Players prefer Armor of Agathys over Fire Shield
Backlash 4th-level abjuration
Although delivered differently, it delivers retaliatory damage tied to an effect on the caster and serves the same hit-and-return defensive role.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Backlash
Protection from Energy 3rd-level abjuration
It grants resistance to a chosen damage type for a duration, so it overlaps with the target spell’s core defensive element of energy resistance.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Protection from Energy
Fount of Moonlight 4th-level evocation
It provides a self-centered protective effect with a built-in reactive damage component, so players would pick it for similar tactical reasons.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Fount of Moonlight
Death Armor 2nd-level necromancy
This spell also grants a defensive boon to the caster that punishes enemies who strike you, matching the retaliatory defensive niche of the target.
Players prefer Fire Shield over Death Armor