Maddening Darkness

A
Damage

Maddening Darkness is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that plunges an area into maddening darkness,
shaping the battlefield

Maddening Darkness 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 foes

Maddening Darkness 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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 with psychic agony.

2014 Rules
Level & School
8th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
150 feet
Components
V, M (a drop of pitch mixed with a drop of mercury)
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Warlock, Wizard
Source
Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Magical darkness spreads from a point you choose within range to fill a 60-foot-radius sphere until the spell ends. The darkness spreads around corners. A creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness. Non-magical light, as well as light created by spells of 8th level or lower, can't illuminate the area.

Shrieks, gibbering, and mad laughter can be heard within the sphere. Whenever a creature starts its turn in the sphere, it must make a Wisdom saving throw, taking 8d8 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Maddening Darkness 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Maddening Darkness is currently only available in the 2014 edition.

How popular is Maddening Darkness in 5e?

Maddening Darkness is the #25 most popular level 8 spell (of 29) and the #19 most picked level 8 Wizard spell (of 24).

Among level 8 spells, Maddening Darkness ranks just below Holy Aura and just above Reality Break in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated and see Maddening Darkness visualized with all 5e spells.

Spells similar to Maddening Darkness