Witch Bolt

A
Damage

Witch Bolt is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that chains lightning to one target and lets you keep zapping it with a
bonus action

Witch Bolt is a Action Economy spell. Action Economy spells grant you more choices on future turns.

See all Action Economy spells →
 each turn.

2024 Rules
Level & School
1st-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S, M (a twig struck by lightning)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

A beam of crackling energy lances toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. Make a ranged spell attack against it. On a hit, the target takes 2d12 Lightning damage.

On each of your subsequent turns, you can take a Bonus Action to deal 1d12 Lightning damage to the target automatically, even if the first attack missed. The spell ends if the target is ever outside the spell's range or if it has Total Cover from you.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The initial damage increases by 1d12 for each spell slot level above 1.

2014 Rules
Level & School
1st-level evocation
Casting Time
Action
Range
30 feet
Components
V, S, M (a twig from a tree that has been struck by lightning)
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Classes
Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. Make a ranged spell attack against that creature. On a hit, the target takes 1d12 lightning damage, and on each of your turns for the duration, you can use your action to deal 1d12 lightning damage to the target automatically. The spell ends if you use your action to do anything else. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the initial damage increases by 1d12 for each slot level above 1st.

Witch Bolt 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Witch Bolt now has 60-foot range instead of 30, deals 2d12 on the hit instead of 1d12, and its follow-up damage is a Bonus Action on each later turn instead of your Action. The automatic follow-up now works even if the first attack missed.

Witch Bolt popularity

Witch Bolt is a commonly chosen level 1 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Witch Bolt

  • Call Lightning 3rd-level conjuration

    Both create lightning effects that you can keep calling down over multiple rounds while concentrating to deal repeated damage.

  • Flaming Sphere 2nd-level conjuration

    Each is a concentration spell that produces a sustained damaging effect you can direct on later turns using an extra action or bonus action.

  • Spiritual Weapon 2nd-level evocation

    It provides a persistent source of damage you trigger with a bonus action over several rounds, making it similar in tactical use despite different flavor.

  • Hex 1st-level enchantment

    Hex is a single-target, concentration option that boosts ongoing damage against one creature and fits the same play pattern of focusing a target over time.

  • Hunter's Mark 1st-level divination

    Although a ranger spell, it similarly marks one foe for extra damage over many rounds and encourages concentrating on a single target for sustained harm.