Ice Storm
- Level: 4
- School: Evocation
- Class: Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: 300 feet
- Components: V, S, M (a mitten)
- Duration: Instantaneous
Hail falls in a 20-foot-radius, 40-foot-high Cylinder centered on a point within range. Each creature in the Cylinder makes a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 2d10 Bludgeoning damage and 4d6 Cold damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
Hailstones turn ground in the Cylinder into Difficult Terrain until the end of your next turn.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The Bludgeoning damage increases by 1d10 for each spell slot level above 4.
Tactical Usage
Area Denial Excellence: Ice Storm creates a 20-foot radius of difficult terrain that persists until your next turn, making it excellent for battlefield control. Use it to block chokepoints, separate enemy groups, or create advantageous positioning opportunities.
Dual Damage Optimization: The combination of bludgeoning and cold damage types ensures effectiveness against creatures with single-type resistance. The substantial damage output makes it competitive with other 4th-level damage spells.
Long Range Advantage: The 300-foot range allows safe casting from extreme distances, making Ice Storm perfect for opening encounters or maintaining damage output while staying beyond enemy reach.
Spell Combinations
Wall of Fire Combo: Create Wall of Fire to force enemies into specific areas, then use Ice Storm to damage clustered targets. The fire/ice contrast provides both thematic appeal and tactical positioning advantages.
Entangle Setup: Use Entangle to restrain enemies, then follow with Ice Storm for guaranteed area coverage. Restrained creatures cannot easily escape the storm's radius, maximizing damage potential.
Misty Step Positioning: Cast Ice Storm from optimal range, then use Misty Step to reposition for follow-up attacks or defensive positioning. The long range allows flexible tactical repositioning after casting.
Material Component Details
Mitten Symbolism: The mitten component provides whimsical yet practical symbolism - protection from cold while channeling winter's fury. This unusual component creates memorable roleplay opportunities and thematic connections.
Component Accessibility: Mittens are common winter gear in cold climates but might be rare in tropical regions. This creates interesting preparation challenges and regional considerations for spell availability.
Magical Focus Alternative: While mittens provide thematic resonance, spellcasting focuses can replace the component. However, using actual mittens reinforces the spell's winter weather connection and atmospheric elements.
Creator Notes
Difficult Terrain Duration: The difficult terrain lasts until the end of your next turn, creating temporary battlefield control that affects movement but doesn't persist long-term. Plan encounter flow accordingly.
Weather Theme Integration: Ice Storm works excellently in winter campaigns or arctic settings where it feels natural. Consider environmental storytelling opportunities that reinforce the spell's thematic elements.
Damage Scaling: Only bludgeoning damage scales with higher-level slots, not cold damage. This creates interesting resource allocation decisions about when upcast versions provide sufficient value.
Environmental Interactions
Natural Weather Integration: In storms or winter conditions, Ice Storm blends seamlessly with natural weather, potentially masking its magical nature or enhancing its dramatic impact through environmental synergy.
Fire Suppression: The cold and precipitation effects can extinguish normal fires, provide cooling relief in hot environments, or create dramatic steam clouds when interacting with fire sources.
Terrain Modification: The temporary difficult terrain represents actual hailstone accumulation that affects movement. Consider how this interacts with existing terrain features or environmental hazards.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Cylinder Dimensions: The 20-foot radius, 40-foot high cylinder creates a substantial area of effect that can affect flying creatures at significant heights as well as ground-based targets.
Damage Timing: Creatures make saves when the storm appears, not on subsequent turns. The difficult terrain persists but doesn't continue dealing damage, making it pure battlefield control after the initial casting.
Cover Interactions: The falling hail comes from above, potentially bypassing some forms of cover that protect against horizontal attacks. Consider three-dimensional positioning when determining cover benefits.
Alternative Applications
Firefighting: The combination of cold and precipitation makes Ice Storm effective at extinguishing large fires, though the bludgeoning damage might cause collateral damage to structures or equipment.
Crowd Dispersal: The area damage and difficult terrain make Ice Storm effective for dispersing hostile crowds in urban environments, though collateral damage considerations apply to civilian targets.
Environmental Modification: Create temporary ice patches for slipping hazards, cooling effects in hot environments, or dramatic weather demonstrations for intimidation or entertainment purposes.
Related Spells
Fireball: Direct damage comparison with fire instead of cold/bludgeoning and no terrain effects. Choose based on damage type preferences and whether battlefield control benefits outweigh pure damage output.
Wall of Fire: Different approach to area control with persistent damage over time rather than instant damage plus terrain modification. Compare based on encounter duration and positioning needs.
Conjure Minor Elementals: Alternative 4th-level spell providing different battlefield presence through creature summoning rather than direct damage and terrain control.
Scaling Analysis
Mid Levels (7-10): Ice Storm becomes available and provides excellent area damage with battlefield control components. The combination of damage and positioning control makes it valuable throughout these levels.
High Levels (11-16): Upcast versions provide increased bludgeoning damage, though competition from higher-level spells reduces relative effectiveness. Consider for situations where specific damage types or area control are priorities.
Campaign Phase Value: Most effective during outdoor encounters or large indoor spaces where the area effect and difficult terrain provide maximum tactical advantage without space constraints.
Narrative Flavor
Storm Manifestation: Dark clouds gather overhead with supernatural speed, crackling with elemental energy. The air grows heavy and cold as the magical storm system forms, promising devastating weather ahead.
Hailstone Assault: Chunks of magical ice begin falling with tremendous force, striking everything in the area with bone-jarring impacts. The hailstones vary in size from marbles to golf balls, creating a deafening percussion of impacts.
Aftermath Effects: The ground becomes treacherous with accumulated hailstones that crunch underfoot and make movement difficult. Frost patterns spread across surfaces while the air remains crisp with lingering cold magic.