Fire Shield

A
Support

Fire Shield is a Support spell. Support spells strengthen, protect, or buff allies.

See all Support spells →
 spell that wraps you in protective flames, granting cold or fire resistance and
with fiery backlash

Fire Shield is a Retaliation spell. Retaliation spells hurt or negatively impact attackers.

See all Retaliation spells →
 when foes strike you in melee.

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

Now also available to Druids and Sorcerers.

Fire Shield popularity

Fire Shield is a commonly chosen level 4 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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