Psychic Scream
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 9th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Xanathar's Guide to Everything
You unleash the power of your mind to blast the intellect of up to ten creatures of your choice that you can see within range. Creatures that have an Intelligence score of 2 or lower are unaffected.
Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, a target takes 14d6 psychic damage and is stunned. On a successful save, a target takes half as much damage and isn't stunned. If a target is killed by this damage, its head explodes, assuming it has one.
A stunned target can make an Intelligence saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, the stunning effect ends.
Psychic Scream 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Psychic Scream is currently only available in the 2014 edition.
Psychic Scream popularity
How popular is Psychic Scream? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, and is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may fill a specific niche for a spellbook.
- Bottom 50% of all level 9 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 9 Bard spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 9 Sorcerer spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 9 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 9 Warlock spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Psychic Scream
Befuddlement 8th-level enchantment
It shares the psychic, mind-warping feel and the same broad arcane caster overlap, even though it is less explosive.
Players prefer Befuddlement over Psychic Scream
Synaptic Static 5th-level enchantment
It also hits many creatures at once with psychic damage and an Intelligence save, making it the closest lower-level cousin.
Players prefer Synaptic Static over Psychic Scream
Weird 9th-level illusion
This is another high-level spell that assaults multiple minds at once and can leave enemies badly compromised.
Players prefer Weird over Psychic Scream
Power Word Stun 8th-level enchantment
Both spells are top-end enchantments that can shut down enemies through a brutal mental effect rather than raw elemental force.
Players prefer Power Word Stun over Psychic Scream
Raulothim's Psychic Lance 4th-level enchantment
The damage type and Intelligence save line up closely, and it comes from the same mind-focused magic tradition.
Players prefer Raulothim's Psychic Lance over Psychic Scream