Shape Water

A
Utility

Shape Water is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

See all Utility spells →
 spell that redirects, reshapes, or freezes water to create simple flowing forms and subtle
battlefield control

Shape Water is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

See all Battlefield Shaping spells →
.

2014 Rules
Level & School
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
S
Duration
1 hour
Classes
Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
Source
Xanathar's Guide to Everything

You choose an area of water that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You manipulate it in one of the following ways:

  • You instantaneously move or otherwise change the flow of the water as you direct, up to 5 feet in any direction. This movement doesn't have enough force to cause damage.
  • You cause the water to form into simple shapes and animate at your direction. This change lasts for 1 hour.
  • You change the water's color or opacity. The water must be changed in the same way throughout. This change lasts for 1 hour.
  • You freeze the water, provided that there are no creatures in it. The water unfreezes in 1 hour.

If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have no more than two of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time, and you can dismiss such an effect as an action.

Shape Water 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Shape Water is currently only available in the 2014 edition.

How popular is Shape Water in 5e?

Shape Water is the #37 most popular cantrip (of 49) and the #14 most picked Druid cantrip (of 22).

Among cantrips, Shape Water ranks just below Frostbite and just above Create Bonfire in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated and see Shape Water visualized with all 5e spells.

Spells similar to Shape Water