Synaptic Static

A
Damage

Synaptic Static is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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 spell that unleashes psychic chaos in a burst, striking
multiple foes

Synaptic Static is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

See all Multi Target spells →
 and leaving their minds scrambled.

2024 Rules
Level & School
5th-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You cause psychic energy to erupt at a point within range. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on that point makes an Intelligence saving throw, taking 8d6 Psychic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

On a failed save, a target also has muddled thoughts for 1 minute. During that time, it subtracts 1d6 from all its attack rolls and ability checks, as well as any Constitution saving throws to maintain Concentration. The target makes an Intelligence saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

2014 Rules
Level & School
5th-level enchantment
Casting Time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

You choose a point within range and cause psychic energy to explode there. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make an Intelligence saving throw. A creature with an Intelligence score of 2 or lower can’t be affected by this spell. A target takes 8d6 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

After a failed save, a target has muddled thoughts for 1 minute. During that time, it rolls a d6 and subtracts the number rolled from all its attack rolls and ability checks, as well as its Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration. The target can make an Intelligence saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Synaptic Static 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version no longer says creatures with Intelligence 2 or lower are immune, so those creatures can now be affected. The muddled-thoughts penalty is also fixed at 1d6 instead of being a random 1–6 from a d6 roll.

Synaptic Static popularity

Synaptic Static is a commonly chosen level 5 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Synaptic Static

  • Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration

    A 5th-level area effect that deals damage over a zone and targets multiple foes at range, matching Synaptic Static's role as a high-level multi-target offense.

  • Cone of Cold 5th-level evocation

    Shares the same spell level and instant, wide-area damage focus that you’d pick when you want to hurt several enemies at once from a caster list similar to Synaptic Static's.

  • Dissonant Whispers 1st-level enchantment

    Although lower-level, it is an enchantment that uses psychic harm and a saving throw to produce a disruptive mental effect on enemies.

  • Phantasmal Killer 4th-level illusion

    Delivers psychic damage plus a strong ongoing mental consequence on failed saves, making it tactically similar in targeting enemy minds.

  • Dominate Person 5th-level enchantment

    A 5th-level enchantment that imposes repeated saving throws and exerts heavy mental pressure on a target, mirroring Synaptic Static's focus on impairing enemies' minds.