Insect Plague

A
Damage

Insect Plague is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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spell that blankets an area in swarming locusts, creating
battlefield control

Insect Plague is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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and striking
multiple creatures

Insect Plague is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

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.

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

A creature now only makes the damage save once per turn, instead of potentially saving when it enters and again when it ends its turn in the area.

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.

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