Shocking Grasp
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- Evocation cantrip
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Lightning springs from you to a creature that you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 Lightning damage, and it can't make Opportunity Attack until the start of its 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
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack against the target. You have advantage on the attack roll if the target is wearing armor made of metal. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage, and it can't take reactions until the start of its next turn.
Cantrip Upgrade. This spell's damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8) and 17th level (4d8).
Shocking Grasp 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Shocking Grasp popularity
How popular is Shocking Grasp? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.
- Top 10% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% picked Wizard cantrip
- Top 50% picked Sorcerer cantrip
- Top 50% of all cantrips
- Top 50% picked Artificer cantrip
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Shocking Grasp
Sorcerous Burst Evocation cantrip
As an instantaneous evocation cantrip, it fills the same basic repeatable elemental-damage niche and can produce lightning damage.
Players prefer Sorcerous Burst over Shocking Grasp
Fire Bolt Evocation cantrip
Both are instantaneous evocation damage cantrips on the artificer, sorcerer, and wizard lists, though Fire Bolt works at long range.
Players prefer Fire Bolt over Shocking Grasp
Ray of Frost Evocation cantrip
This is another damaging evocation cantrip shared by artificers, sorcerers, and wizards, with a single-target attack and an elemental damage type.
Players prefer Ray of Frost over Shocking Grasp
Chill Touch Necromancy cantrip
The two spells are single-target damage cantrips with instantaneous effects and close targeting, despite using different damage types and schools.
Players prefer Chill Touch over Shocking Grasp
Booming Blade Evocation cantrip
Its melee-focused evocation cantrip design makes it a comparable choice when a spellcaster is fighting within reach, although it centers on a weapon attack.
Players prefer Shocking Grasp over Booming Blade
Lightning Lure Evocation cantrip
It is an evocation cantrip available to the same three classes, deals lightning damage at close range, and affects an enemy with a direct electrical attack.
Players prefer Shocking Grasp over Lightning Lure