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Freezing Sphere

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Freezing Sphere
  • Level: 6
  • School: Evocation
  • Class: Sorcerer, Wizard
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 300 feet
  • Components: V, S, M (a miniature crystal sphere)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

A frigid globe streaks from you to a point of your choice within range, where it explodes in a 60-foot-radius Sphere. Each creature in that area makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 10d6 Cold damage on failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

If the globe strikes a body of water, it freezes the water to a depth of 6 inches over an area 30 feet square. This ice lasts for 1 minute. Creatures that were swimming on the surface of frozen water are trapped in the ice and have the Restrained condition. A trapped creature can take an action to make a Strength (Athletics) check against your spell save DC to break free.

You can refrain from firing the globe after completing the spell's casting. If you do so, a globe about the size of a sling bullet, cool to the touch, appears in your hand. At any time, you or a creature you give the globe to can throw the globe (to a range of 40 feet) or hurl it with a sling (to the sling's normal range). It shatters on impact, with the same effect as a normal casting of the spell. You can also set the globe down without shattering it. After 1 minute, if the globe hasn't already shattered, it explodes.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 6.

Tactical Usage​

Delayed Devastation: Freezing Sphere provides flexible cold damage with delayed detonation options. This 6th-level evocation spell excels at area damage with tactical timing control.

Optimal Timing: Deploy for immediate area damage or delayed detonation, when cold damage is advantageous, or for tactical area denial.

Resource Management: Uses a 6th-level spell slot - available from character level 11+. Instant or delayed effect with substantial area coverage.

Target Selection: 60-foot range with 60-foot radius explosion affects massive encounter areas.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Area Control: Combine with positioning spells to optimize sphere placement
  • Damage Enhancement: Layer with vulnerability effects to maximize cold damage
  • Timing Magic: Pair with other delayed effects for coordinated devastation

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Spell Save DC: Higher spellcasting ability improves success against enemy Dexterity saves
  • Elemental Affinity: Sorcerers with cold bloodline enhance damage and spell effectiveness
  • Evocation Mastery: Wizards specializing in evocation gain enhanced cold magic effectiveness

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple freezing spheres can devastate different battlefield areas.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: Small crystal sphere - obtainable from crystal merchants or magical suppliers.

Component Handling: Crystal component represents cold energy focus and delayed magical storage.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different crystal types might reflect regional magic or elemental connections.

Economic Considerations: Moderate component costs for powerful area damage capability.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Massive cold damage (10d6 in 60-foot radius) dramatically affects encounter balance and positioning.

NPC Usage: Cold-focused spellcasters or tactical enemies might use freezing sphere for area devastation.

Environmental Considerations: 60-foot radius explosion affects enormous encounter areas. Delayed option provides tactical flexibility.

Campaign Integration: Powerful damage magic for high-level encounters requiring substantial area damage.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: 60-foot radius explosion affects massive encounter areas. Can freeze water and environmental moisture.

Weather Influence: Cold damage enhanced in appropriate conditions, potentially creating environmental hazards.

Structural Interactions: Can damage structures and create ice formations within explosion radius.

Elemental Interactions: Cold damage interacts with creature resistances and environmental conditions.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with instant or delayed effect. Delayed sphere can wait up to 1 minute.

Target Limitations: All creatures within 60-foot radius explosion. Dexterity save for half damage.

Duration Interactions: Instant detonation or delayed up to 1 minute. Sphere can be thrown as action.

Mechanical Interactions: 10d6 cold damage in 60-foot radius. Can be delayed and thrown for tactical positioning.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Environmental modification, ice creation, temperature control, or impressive magical demonstrations.

Social Encounters: Dramatic magical displays, environmental modification, or intimidation through cold power.

Exploration Applications: Creating ice bridges, freezing water obstacles, or environmental temperature control.

Utility Functions: Environmental modification, ice creation, temperature control, or cold demonstration.

Same School: Other evocation spells like fireball (3rd level fire explosion), lightning bolt (3rd level line damage), meteor swarm (9th level ultimate area).

Similar Effects: fireball (3rd level fire area), delayed blast fireball (7th level enhanced fire), meteor swarm (9th level ultimate area).

Progression Options: ice knife (1st level cold projectile), freezing sphere (6th level cold area), meteor swarm (9th level ultimate area).

Complementary Magic: web (group enemies), wall of ice (area control), counterspell (prevent enemy responses).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Excellent area damage for high-level play (11+) where massive damage affects encounter balance.

Upcast Benefits: Additional 1d6 damage per slot level above 6th increases devastation potential.

Campaign Phases: Peak effectiveness in high-level campaigns where area damage provides maximum tactical impact.

Comparative Value: Exceptional area damage that justifies 6th-level slot for massive cold devastation.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: A small sphere of intense cold energy forms in your hand, ready for immediate detonation or tactical deployment.

Effect Manifestation: The sphere explodes in a massive burst of freezing energy that flash-freezes everything within its enormous radius.

Personal Style: Cold specialists create spheres of perfect ice, while others manifest swirling blizzard energy.

World Integration: Represents powerful cold magic available to high-level evokers, often associated with elemental ice, winter magic, or devastating cold spells.