Prismatic Spray
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
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.
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
- Sorcerer, Wizard
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.
Red. The target takes 10d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Orange. The target takes 10d6 acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Yellow. The target takes 10d6 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Green. The target takes 10d6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Blue. The target takes 10d6 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
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.
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 GM'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.)
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.
- #2 picked level 7 Bard spell
- Top 50% of all level 7 spells
- Top 50% picked level 7 Wizard spell
- Bottom 50% picked level 7 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Spells similar to Prismatic Spray
Delayed Blast Fireball 7th-level evocation
A same-tier evocation with very large area damage and high single-shot damage potential, representing the target’s role as a powerful multi-target nuke.
Players prefer Delayed Blast Fireball over Prismatic Spray
Fire Storm 7th-level evocation
A seventh-level area-damage evocation that lets you shape and deal large elemental damage across a zone, similar in power and tactical aim to the spell.
Players prefer Fire Storm over Prismatic Spray
Prismatic Wall 9th-level abjuration
It uses multiple colored effects with a range of harmful and debilitating outcomes tied to light-based layers, making it the closest thematic cousin to the target.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Prismatic Wall
Sunburst 8th-level evocation
A high-level evocation that radiates out from you to hit many targets and can blind them, matching the target's wide-area, light-themed burst and status potential.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Sunburst
Sunbeam 6th-level evocation
This self-originating beam repeatedly damages and can blind creatures, echoing the target’s repeated, light-based rays and secondary disabling effects.
Players prefer Prismatic Spray over Sunbeam