Incendiary Cloud
- Level: 8
- School: Conjuration
- Class: Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: 150 feet
- Components: V, S
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
A swirling cloud of embers and smoke fills a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point within range. The cloud's area is Heavily Obscured. It lasts for the duration or until a strong wind (like that created by Gust of Wind) disperses it.
When the cloud appears, each creature in it makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 10d8 Fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature must also make this save when the Sphere moves into its space and when it enters the Sphere or ends its turn there. A creature makes this save only once per turn.
The cloud moves 10 feet away from you in a direction you choose at the start of each of your turns.
Tactical Usage
Mobile Area Denial: Incendiary Cloud creates a moving hazard that forces enemy repositioning while dealing consistent damage. Direct the cloud's movement to control battlefield geography and force tactical decisions.
Concentration Control: The cloud moves away from you each turn, requiring positioning consideration to maintain optimal placement. Plan movement routes that keep the cloud effectively positioned while maintaining your safety.
High-Level Damage: The 10d8 fire damage represents substantial area damage potential, making it competitive with other 8th-level spells. The movement and obscurement add tactical value beyond pure damage output.
Spell Combinations
Wall of Force Herding: Use Wall of Force to direct enemy movement into the cloud's path. The immovable wall forces tactical choices while the cloud provides area damage and movement pressure.
Gust of Wind Counter: Be aware that Gust of Wind can disperse your cloud prematurely. Consider Counterspell preparation or positioning to prevent enemy dispelling of your expensive area effect.
Misty Step Positioning: Use Misty Step to maintain optimal positioning for cloud direction while avoiding its damage area. The bonus action teleport allows continued cloud control from safe distances.
Material Component Details
Component-Free Advantage: Incendiary Cloud requires only verbal and somatic components, making it reliable even when material components are unavailable or when equipment is restricted.
Somatic Precision: The somatic components involve dramatic gestures that summon the cloud into existence. The obvious nature of the casting makes surprise difficult but creates impressive magical displays.
Vocal Commands: The verbal component likely includes directional commands that guide the cloud's movement. This creates opportunities for dramatic spellcasting and clear indication of tactical intent.
Creator Notes
Wind Interaction: The cloud's vulnerability to strong winds creates environmental interaction opportunities. Consider weather conditions, indoor air circulation, or enemy wind magic when planning usage.
Heavily Obscured Area: The cloud blocks line of sight completely, affecting both allies and enemies. Plan for this visual obstruction when coordinating party tactics and spell targeting.
Movement Predictability: The cloud's predictable movement pattern allows tactical planning by both sides. Smart enemies will adapt positioning to avoid predictable cloud paths.
Environmental Interactions
Fire Spread: In flammable environments, the cloud might ignite additional fires, creating expanding hazards beyond the spell's direct area. Consider environmental fire spread in forests, buildings, or around combustible materials.
Air Circulation: Indoor environments with limited air circulation might trap the cloud longer or change its movement patterns. Confined spaces could create more persistent hazards.
Height Advantage: The cloud's spherical area affects flying creatures and elevated positions. Use terrain height differences to maximize the cloud's three-dimensional area coverage.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Save Frequency: Creatures save when the cloud appears, when it moves into their space, when they enter it, or when they end their turn there, but only once per turn maximum.
Direction Control: You choose the direction at the start of each turn, allowing tactical repositioning but preventing reaction-based direction changes during enemy turns.
Obscurement Totality: The heavily obscured area blocks vision completely, preventing targeted spells and ranged attacks that require seeing the target clearly.
Alternative Applications
Escape Cover: The heavily obscured area provides excellent concealment for retreating parties. The damage deters pursuit while the visual obstruction prevents targeted attacks during withdrawal.
Area Clearing: Use the cloud to clear areas of weaker enemies or force evacuation of specific locations. The combination of damage and movement makes it excellent for area denial.
Siege Breaking: The mobile nature makes Incendiary Cloud effective against fortified positions or entrenched enemies who cannot easily retreat from the advancing hazard.
Related Spells
Cloudkill: Similar mobile cloud with poison damage instead of fire and longer duration. Compare based on expected enemy resistances and whether fire or poison better serves encounter needs.
Wall of Fire: Provides fire damage with different area control mechanics - stationary barrier versus mobile hazard. Choose based on whether movement or positioning control better serves tactical needs.
Meteor Swarm: Alternative 9th-level area damage with different targeting and damage patterns. Compare resource costs and tactical requirements when considering ultimate area damage options.
Scaling Analysis
High Levels Only (15+): Incendiary Cloud becomes available at high levels where 8th-level spell slots represent significant but not ultimate resource investment for major encounter control.
Large-Scale Encounters: Most effective in encounters with multiple enemies or large battlefield areas where the mobile area effect can affect multiple targets over several turns.
Campaign Phase Utility: Excellent for climactic battles, large-scale conflicts, or encounters where battlefield control and area damage combine to create tactical advantages.
Narrative Flavor
Cloud Formation: Smoke begins pouring from your gestures, rapidly expanding into a roiling mass of superheated gases and burning embers. The cloud pulses with internal fire while obscuring everything within its boundaries.
Movement Pattern: The cloud drifts across the battlefield with purposeful direction, leaving trails of ash and smoke in its wake. Embers fall like deadly snow while the interior burns with supernatural intensity.
Environmental Impact: The cloud's passage leaves scorch marks and lingering heat distortion. The air crackles with residual energy while the acrid smell of magical combustion lingers long after the cloud has passed.