Flame Strike

A
Damage

Flame Strike is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that summons divine fire from above to scorch
multiple creatures

Flame Strike 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 →
 in a blazing column.

2024 Rules
Level & School
5th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a pinch of sulfur)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric

A vertical column of brilliant fire roars down from above. Each creature in a 10-foot-radius, 40-foot-high Cylinder centered on a point within range makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d6 Fire damage and 5d6 Radiant damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The Fire damage and the Radiant damage increase by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 5.

2014 Rules
Level & School
5th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (pinch of sulfur)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric

A vertical column of divine fire roars down from the heavens in a location you specify. Each creature in a 10-foot radius, 40-foot high cylinder centered on a point within range must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 4d6 fire damage and 4d6 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the fire damage or the radiant damage (your choice) increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 5th.

Flame Strike 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Flame Strike now deals 5d6 Fire and 5d6 Radiant damage instead of 4d6 of each. Its higher-level scaling also boosts both damage types by 1d6 per slot level above 5th, instead of choosing only one damage type to increase.

Flame Strike popularity

Flame Strike is a commonly chosen level 5 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Flame Strike

  • Destructive Wave 5th-level evocation

    A fifth-level cleric/paladin-area damage spell that harms many targets at once and fits the same high-impact, single-action use case.

  • Sunbeam 6th-level evocation

    Delivers radiant damage in a lane/area and is used as a powerful multi-target radiant attack from a caster at mid-to-high level.

  • Cone of Cold 5th-level evocation

    A same-level evocation that deals heavy area damage with a saving throw for half, making it a direct mechanical analogue for raw damage output.

  • Fireball 3rd-level evocation

    A staple area evocation that focuses on bursting fire damage to multiple foes at range, representing the classic multi-target damage option.

  • Wall of Fire 4th-level evocation

    Provides substantial fire damage over an area and is chosen for controlling space while inflicting large amounts of elemental damage.