Insect Plague

A
Damage

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

See all Damage spells →
 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.

See all Battlefield Shaping spells →
 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

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

Spells similar to 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.