Ray of Frost

A
Damage

Ray of Frost is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that hurls a frigid beam to sear a foe with cold and slow its advance.

2024 Rules
Level & School
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A frigid beam of blue-white light streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, it takes 1d8 Cold damage, and its Speed is reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.

Cantrip Upgrade. The damage increases by 1d8 when you reach levels 5 (2d8), 11 (3d8), and 17 (4d8).

2014 Rules
Level & School
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard

A frigid beam of blue-white light streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, it takes 1d8 cold damage, and its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.

Cantrip Upgrade. The spell's damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).

Ray of Frost 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Effectively the same spell. The 2024 version is reworded but functions identically.

Ray of Frost popularity

Ray of Frost is a commonly chosen cantrip. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Ray of Frost

  • Fire Bolt Evocation cantrip

    A same-class cantrip that makes a ranged spell attack to deal elemental damage and fills the same basic damage-dealer niche.

  • Eldritch Blast Evocation cantrip

    Another long-range damage cantrip built around one or more attack rolls, used as a reliable go-to attack from a distance.

  • Scorching Ray 2nd-level evocation

    Works as a ray-based evocation that uses multiple ranged spell attacks to deal elemental damage, scaling the single-ray concept up.

  • Chill Touch Necromancy cantrip

    A cantrip that deals damage with a secondary mechanical effect on the target, offering a similar damage-plus-debuff design.

  • Ray of Sickness 1st-level necromancy

    A named 'ray' spell with a similar range and offensive focus that also imposes a harmful secondary effect on hit.