Ice Knife

A
Damage

Ice Knife is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that hurls a shard of ice, striking one foe and bursting to chill
nearby creatures

Ice Knife 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 →
.

2024 Rules
Level & School
1st-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
S, M (a drop of water or a piece of ice)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

You create a shard of ice and fling it at one creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Piercing damage. Hit or miss, the shard then explodes. The target and each creature within 5 feet of it must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 Cold damage.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The Cold damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.

2014 Rules
Level & School
1st-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
S, M (a drop of water or a piece of ice)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

You create a shard of ice and fling it at one creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 piercing damage. Hit or miss, the shard then explodes. The target and each creature within 5 feet of the point where the ice exploded must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.

Ice Knife 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 and 2014 versions are exactly the same.

Ice Knife popularity

Ice Knife is a commonly chosen level 1 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Ice Knife

  • Hail of Thorns 1st-level conjuration

    It augments a single attack so it also deals a small area burst around the target, mirroring Ice Knife’s hit-then-explode feel.

  • Thunderwave 1st-level evocation

    A low-level spell that delivers instant area damage in close quarters, useful when you want quick multi-target damage from a single casting.

  • Burning Hands 1st-level evocation

    This first-level evocation clears multiple foes in a cone with an immediate damage effect, serving a similar purpose to Ice Knife’s small AOE.

  • Spellfire Flare 1st-level evocation

    It’s a level 1 offensive spell that damages multiple targets and fills the same niche of an early-tier area damage option.

  • Acid Splash Evocation cantrip

    Though a cantrip, it provides a tiny, selectable area effect against nearby creatures, reflecting Ice Knife’s multi-target utility at short range.