Insect Plague
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 300 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a locust)
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 10 minutes
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer
Swarming locusts fill a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point you choose within range. The Sphere remains for the duration, and its area is Lightly Obscured and Difficult Terrain.
When the swarm appears, each creature in it makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 4d10 Piercing damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature also makes this save when it enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there. A creature makes this save only once per turn.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d10 for each spell slot level above 5.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 300 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a few grains of sugar, some kernels of grain, and a smear of fat)
- Duration
- Concentration, 10 minutes
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer
Swarming, biting locusts fill a 20-foot radius sphere centered on a point you choose within range. The sphere spreads around corners. The sphere remains for the duration, and its area is lightly obscured. The sphere's area is difficult terrain.
When the area appears, each creature in it must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 4d10 piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature must also make this saving throw when it enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 5th.
Insect Plague 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Insect Plague popularity
How popular is Insect Plague? 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.
- Bottom 50% of all level 5 spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 5 Druid spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 5 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 50% picked level 5 Cleric spell
Spells similar to Insect Plague
Call Lightning 3rd-level conjuration
Like Insect Plague, it is a concentration spell that shapes the battlefield and allows repeated or sustained multi-target damage while controlling a zone.
Players prefer Call Lightning over Insect Plague
Spike Growth 2nd-level transmutation
This spell similarly turns terrain into a persistent hazard that punishes movement through a large area and deals ongoing damage.
Players prefer Spike Growth over Insect Plague
Wall of Thorns 6th-level conjuration
Both generate an area of natural, conjured hazards that block movement and inflict ongoing damage to enemies that pass through or remain inside.
Players prefer Wall of Thorns over Insect Plague
Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration
Both create a persistent, centered cloud of harmful creatures/energy that obscures and deals damage to anyone inside over multiple rounds.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Insect Plague
Cloud of Daggers 2nd-level conjuration
Each produces a lasting area that harms creatures that enter or end their turn there, making them useful for area denial and sustained damage.
Players prefer Cloud of Daggers over Insect Plague