Otiluke's Freezing Sphere

A
Damage

Otiluke's Freezing Sphere is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that hurls a freezing globe to blast
multiple foes

Otiluke's Freezing Sphere 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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 and
reshape the battlefield

Otiluke's Freezing Sphere is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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 with sudden ice.

2024 Rules
Level & School
6th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
300 feet
Components
V, S, M (a miniature crystal sphere)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A frigid globe streaks from you to a point of your choice within range, where it explodes in a 60-foot-radius Sphere. Each creature in that area makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 10d6 Cold damage on failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

If the globe strikes a body of water, it freezes the water to a depth of 6 inches over an area 30 feet square. This ice lasts for 1 minute. Creatures that were swimming on the surface of frozen water are trapped in the ice and have the Restrained condition. A trapped creature can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC to break free.

You can refrain from firing the globe after completing the spell’s casting. If you do so, a globe about the size of a sling bullet, cool to the touch, appears in your hand. At any time, you or a creature you give the globe to can throw the globe (to a range of 40 feet) or hurl it with a sling (to the sling’s normal range). It shatters on impact, with the same effect as a normal casting of the spell. You can also set the globe down without shattering it. After 1 minute, if the globe hasn’t already shattered, it explodes.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 6.

2014 Rules
Level & School
6th-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
300 feet
Components
V, S, M (a small crystal sphere)
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Wizard

A frigid globe of cold energy streaks from your fingertips to a point of your choice within range, where it explodes in a 60-foot radius sphere. Each creature within the area must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 10d6 cold damage. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage.

If the globe strikes a body of water or a liquid that is principally water (not including water-based creatures), it freezes the liquid to a depth of 6 inches over an area 30 feet square. This ice lasts for 1 minute. Creatures that were swimming on the surface of frozen water are trapped in the ice. A trapped creature can use an action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC to break free.

You can refrain from firing the globe after completing the spell, if you wish. A small globe about the size of a sling stone, cool to the touch, appears in your hand. At any time, you or a creature you give the globe to can throw the globe (to a range of 40 feet) or hurl it with a sling (to the sling's normal range). It shatters on impact, with the same effect as the normal casting of the spell. You can also set the globe down without shattering it. After 1 minute, if the globe hasn't already shattered, it explodes.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 6th.

Otiluke's Freezing Sphere 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The freezing effect now only works on body of water, not any liquid that’s principally water, so that part is narrower. Creatures trapped in the ice now explicitly have the Restrained condition, and the escape check is now a Strength (Athletics) check. Sorcerer added to the class list.

Spells similar to Otiluke's Freezing Sphere

  • Delayed Blast Fireball 7th-level evocation

    Both create a powerful explosive orb you can delay and detonate for large-area damage at higher spell levels.

  • Cone of Cold 5th-level evocation

    This is a high-level evocation that deals massive cold damage in a wide area, making it a similar choice for heavy single-cast area damage.

  • Ice Storm 4th-level evocation

    It’s an area cold-themed evocation that reshapes the battlefield while dealing layered damage to multiple targets at range.

  • Wall of Ice 6th-level evocation

    Like the freezing effects of the target spell, this option uses ice to alter terrain and control enemy movement on a large scale.

  • Chain Lightning 6th-level evocation

    Though a different element, it’s a same-tier evocation that serves as a go-to option for high single-cast multi-target damage at range.