Divine Word
- Level: 7
- School: Evocation
- Class: Cleric
- Casting Time: Bonus Action
- Range: 30 feet
- Components: V
- Duration: Instantaneous
You utter a divine word, imbued with the power that shaped the world at the dawn of creation. Choose any number of creatures you can see within range. Each creature that can hear you must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, a creature suffers an effect based on its current Hit Points:
50 hit points or fewer: deafened for 1 minute 40 hit points or fewer: deafened and blinded for 10 minutes 30 hit points or fewer: blinded, deafened, and stunned for 1 hour 20 hit points or fewer: killed instantly
Regardless of its current Hit Points, a Celestial, an Elemental, a Fey, or a Fiend that fails its save is forced back to its plane of origin (if it isn't there already) and can't return to your current plane for 24 hours by any means short of a Wish spell.
Tactical Usage
Ultimate Divine Authority: Divine Word provides devastating effects against multiple enemies based on hit points. This 7th-level evocation spell excels at eliminating weaker enemies and severely debilitating stronger ones.
Optimal Timing: Deploy against groups of enemies, when facing mixed-level encounters, or when immediate battlefield control is needed.
Resource Management: Uses a 7th-level spell slot - available from character level 13+. Instantaneous effect with no concentration.
Target Selection: All creatures within 30 feet that can hear you, regardless of number or allegiance.
Spell Combinations
Synergistic Spells:
- Area Denial: Combine with Spirit Guardians or similar area effects to control post-divine word battlefield
- Follow-up Magic: Layer with area damage spells to eliminate incapacitated enemies
- Divine Magic: Pair with other high-level divine spells for overwhelming sacred assault
Class Feature Interactions:
- Turn Undead: Channel Divinity abilities complement divine word's authority effects
- Divine Strike: Enhanced damage features help finish enemies affected by divine word
- Spell Resistance: High-level divine features may enhance effectiveness
Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple divine casters can coordinate divine word with other battlefield control.
Material Component Details
Component Acquisition: No material components required - pure divine vocal authority.
Component Handling: Verbal-only casting represents direct divine command through sacred words.
Roleplay Opportunities: Sacred words reflect deity's nature, divine language, or ultimate religious authority.
Economic Considerations: No material costs - represents peak divine spellcasting authority.
Creator Notes
Encounter Balancing: Mass incapacitation and instant death effects dramatically alter encounter balance.
NPC Usage: High-level clerics, divine avatars, or celestial beings might use divine word for overwhelming divine authority.
Environmental Considerations: 30-foot radius affects significant battlefield area. Requires hearing to be effective.
Campaign Integration: Ultimate divine magic for climactic encounters where divine authority must be established.
Environmental Interactions
Terrain Effects: 30-foot radius centered on caster affects large encounter areas.
Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather, though very loud environments might interfere with hearing.
Structural Interactions: Sound-based effect requires hearing - blocked by deafness or silence effects.
Elemental Interactions: Pure divine authority unaffected by elemental conditions.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Timing Questions: Action casting time with instantaneous effect. No concentration required.
Target Limitations: All creatures within 30 feet that can hear you. Effects based on current hit points.
Duration Interactions: Effects vary - death is permanent, other effects last specific durations.
Mechanical Interactions: 50hp or fewer die, 51-60 deafened, 61-70 blinded, 71-80 stunned, 81+ none.
Alternative Applications
Non-Combat Uses: Demonstrating ultimate divine authority, religious ceremonies, establishing divine presence, or sacred pronouncements.
Social Encounters: Overwhelming displays of divine power, religious validation, or establishing divine hierarchy.
Exploration Applications: Clearing areas of weaker threats, establishing divine authority in sacred sites, or divine judgment.
Utility Functions: Mass area clearing, divine authority establishment, religious ceremony, or sacred site consecration.
Related Spells
Same School: Other evocation spells like word of power series, sunburst (8th level radiant damage), meteor swarm (9th level ultimate destruction).
Similar Effects: power word kill (9th level instant death), mass suggestion (6th level mental control), symbol (7th level triggered effects).
Progression Options: Early command spells, divine word (7th level divine authority), power word kill (9th level ultimate command).
Complementary Magic: spirit guardians (area control), harm (single target damage), heal (mass healing).
Scaling Analysis
Level Progression: Peak effectiveness in high-level play (13+) where divine authority becomes paramount.
Upcast Benefits: No improvement from higher spell slots - pure 7th-level divine manifestation.
Campaign Phases: Most valuable in high-level campaigns where divine authority and mass enemy control are needed.
Comparative Value: Exceptional mass control magic that justifies 7th-level slot for battlefield domination.
Narrative Flavor
Casting Description: You speak a word of ultimate divine authority that resonates with the fundamental power of creation itself.
Effect Manifestation: Sacred syllables ripple outward with divine force as the word of your deity reshapes reality through pure divine will.
Personal Style: Different deities manifest divine words through unique sacred languages, tonal harmonies, or reality-altering pronunciations.
World Integration: Represents ultimate divine authority available only to highest-level divine servants, associated with divine judgment, religious hierarchy, or moments of supreme sacred power.