Prismatic Spray
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self (60-foot cone)
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Eight rays of light flash from you in a 60-foot Cone. Each creature in the Cone makes a Dexterity saving throw. For each target, roll 1d8 to determine which color ray affects it, consulting the Prismatic Rays table.
Prismatic Rays
| 1d8 | Ray |
|---|---|
| 1 | Red. Failed Save: 12d6 Fire damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage. |
| 2 | Orange. Failed Save: 12d6 Acid damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage. |
| 3 | Yellow. Failed Save: 12d6 Lightning damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage. |
| 4 | Green. Failed Save: 12d6 Poison damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage. |
| 5 | Blue. Failed Save: 12d6 Cold damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage. |
| 6 | Indigo. Failed Save: The target has the Restrained condition and makes a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it successfully saves three times, the condition ends. If it fails three times, it has the Petrified condition until it is freed by an effect like the Greater Restoration spell. The successes and failures needn't be consecutive; keep track of both until the target collects three of a kind. |
| 7 | Violet. Failed Save: The target has the Blinded condition and makes a Wisdom saving throw at the start of your next turn. On a successful save, the condition ends. On a failed save, the condition ends, and the creature teleports to another plane of existence (DM's choice). |
| 8 | Special. The target is struck by two rays. Roll twice, rerolling any 8. |
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self (60-foot cone)
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
Eight multicolored rays of light flash from your hand. Each ray is a different color and has a different power and purpose. Each creature in a 60-foot cone must make a Dexterity saving throw. For each target, roll a d8 to determine which color ray affects it.
1-Red. The target takes 10d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
2-Orange. The target takes 10d6 acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
3-Yellow. The target takes 10d6 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
4-Green. The target takes 10d6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
5-Blue. The target takes 10d6 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
6-Indigo. On a failed save, the target is restrained. It must then make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it successfully saves three times, the spell ends. If it fails its save three times, it permanently turns to stone and is subjected to the petrified condition. The successes and failures don't need to be consecutive, keep track of both until the target collects three of a kind.
7-Violet. On a failed save, the target is blinded. It must then make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of your next turn. A successful save ends the blindness. If it fails that save, the creature is transported to another plane of existence of the DM's choosing and is no longer blinded. (Typically, a creature that is on a plane that isn't its home plane is banished home, while other creatures are usually cast into the Astral or Ethereal planes.)
8-Special. The target is struck by two rays. Roll twice more, rerolling any 8.
Prismatic Spray 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Prismatic Spray popularity
How popular is Prismatic Spray? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell could be a valuable addition for spellbooks.
- Top 25% picked level 7 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all level 7 spells
- Top 50% picked level 7 Sorcerer spell
- Top 50% picked level 7 Bard spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Prismatic Spray
Chain Lightning 6th-level evocation
This spell similarly provides high-level, instantaneous evocation damage against several targets, using Dexterity saves and lightning.
Players prefer Chain Lightning over Prismatic Spray
Fire Storm 7th-level evocation
Like Prismatic Spray, it is a 7th-level evocation that delivers powerful instantaneous damage to many creatures at range.
Players prefer Fire Storm over Prismatic Spray
Cone of Cold 5th-level evocation
Its 60-foot cone and instantaneous multi-target damage make it one of the closest tactical alternatives, despite being lower level and limited to cold.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Cone of Cold
Chromatic Orb 1st-level evocation
Both spells draw from a broad palette of elemental damage types and are especially natural choices for sorcerers and wizards.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Chromatic Orb
Illusory Dragon 8th-level illusion
It also offers several elemental damage options against groups of enemies and shares the target's bard, sorcerer, and wizard focus.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Illusory Dragon
Sunburst 8th-level evocation
Both are high-level evocations with instantaneous area damage against multiple creatures, though Sunburst uses radiant energy instead.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Sunburst