Moonbeam

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• Level: 2
• School: Evocation
• Class: Druid
• Casting Time: Action
• Range: 120 feet
• Components: V, S, M (a moonseed leaf)
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

A silvery beam of pale light shines down in a 5-foot-radius, 40-foot-high Cylinder centered on a point within range. Until the spell ends, Dim Light fills the Cylinder, and you can take a Magic action on later turns to move the Cylinder up to 60 feet.

When the Cylinder appears, each creature in it makes a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d10 Radiant damage, and if the creature is shape-shifted (as a result of the Polymorph spell, for example), it reverts to its true form and can't shape-shift until it leaves the Cylinder. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage only. A creature also makes this save when the spell's area moves into its space and when it enters the spell's area or ends its turn there. A creature makes this save only once per turn.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d10 for each spell slot level above 2.

Tactical Usage

Moonbeam excels as a mobile area denial spell that combines consistent damage output with powerful anti-shapeshifter capabilities. The magic action movement allows repositioning the cylinder to follow fleeing enemies or control battlefield positioning throughout the encounter duration.

Shapeshifter encounters become dramatically easier when Moonbeam forces immediate reversion to true forms and prevents further shape-changing while targets remain within the cylinder. Druids in wild shape, lycanthropes, doppelgangers, and polymorphed creatures lose their primary defensive and offensive advantages.

Battlefield control benefits from the 5-foot radius that blocks narrow passages, creates chokepoints, and forces enemies to choose between movement restriction and continuous damage. The 60-foot movement range per turn allows dynamic positioning that adapts to changing tactical situations.

Spell Combinations

Moonbeam synergizes excellently with movement restriction spells that prevent enemies from escaping the damage area. Entangle, Web, Hold Person, and slow effects create devastating combinations where targets cannot avoid continuous radiant damage.

Herding tactics work well when combined with wall spells or summoned creatures that force enemies into the moonbeam's area of effect. Wall of Fire, Spirit Guardians, and positioned allies can create corridors that funnel enemies through optimal damage zones.

Anti-undead strategies benefit from radiant damage stacking through spells like Sacred Flame, Guiding Bolt, or Spiritual Weapon. Turn Undead can force creatures into the moonbeam area while other radiant effects compound the damage pressure.

Material Component Details

Moonbeam requires a moonseed leaf as its material component, connecting the spell to lunar cycles and natural magical energies. Moonseed plants grow in temperate forests and can be cultivated by druids who understand their magical properties and lunar growth patterns.

Component acquisition typically involves nighttime harvesting during specific lunar phases when the leaves contain maximum magical potency. Full moon collections provide the strongest components, while new moon leaves might be less effective or require additional preparation.

Preservation methods include drying, pressing, or magical stasis to maintain component viability during extended adventures. Urban druids might need to purchase or trade for moonseed leaves when natural collection isn't possible in civilized areas.

Creator Notes

Moonbeam provides excellent crowd control and damage over time that scales well with encounter design while offering unique anti-shapeshifter capabilities that can significantly impact specific enemy types. Concentration requirements create meaningful tactical decisions about spell maintenance.

Movement dynamics require careful consideration of action economy and positioning strategy as players learn to maximize the spell's mobility for optimal damage and control. Enemy intelligence affects how creatures respond to the moveable threat zone.

Shapeshifter encounters gain additional complexity when this spell is available, requiring alternative tactics and backup forms for enemies that rely on transformation abilities. Environmental design can provide cover or escape routes that balance the spell's power.

Environmental Interactions

Moonbeam creates dim light within its cylinder, potentially affecting vision-based abilities and stealth attempts in dark environments. Darkvision users might gain advantages, while light-sensitive creatures could suffer additional penalties.

Underground areas and enclosed spaces might interact uniquely with the celestial energy, creating enhanced effects in areas naturally aligned with lunar power or reduced effectiveness in locations that block celestial influence.

Weather conditions don't affect the spell's function, though atmospheric effects might alter the visual appearance of the silvery beam. Fog, rain, or snow create dramatic visual elements without mechanical impact on damage or movement.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Damage timing occurs when the cylinder appears, when it moves into a creature's space, when creatures enter the area, or when they end turns within it. Multiple triggers per turn are possible, but saves occur only once per turn.

Movement interaction means creatures can potentially trigger saves through forced movement, teleportation, or displacement effects that cause them to enter or leave the cylinder multiple times, though damage limitation prevents excessive exploitation.

Shape-shifting prevention affects any form of transformation while within the cylinder, including wild shape, polymorph effects, lycanthrope changes, and racial shapeshifting abilities. Natural forms cannot be altered while exposed to the moonbeam.

Concentration maintenance requires standard concentration rules, ending the spell if damage, incapacitation, or other concentration effects break the caster's focus on maintaining the celestial energy.

Alternative Applications

Investigation scenarios benefit from shapeshifter detection capabilities that can reveal hidden identities or imposters within groups. Forced reversion to true forms provides definitive identification that cannot be hidden through magical disguise.

Area illumination provides reliable light sources that move as needed, useful for exploration in dark areas or signaling across distances. Dim light creation might be sufficient for many navigation and search applications.

Ritual and ceremony applications include lunar worship, druidic traditions, and celestial magic demonstrations that showcase divine or natural power connections. Peaceful applications might include blessing ceremonies or natural healing rituals.

Related Spells

Radiant damage spells like Sacred Flame, Guiding Bolt, and Daylight provide similar damage types with different delivery mechanisms. Spirit Guardians offers mobile area damage with different movement patterns and damage types.

Area control magic includes Flaming Sphere, Web, and Entangle for battlefield management through different mechanisms. Spike Growth provides movement punishment without the mobile repositioning capabilities.

Anti-shapeshifter magic connects to True Seeing for detection rather than prevention, and Dispel Magic for ending transformation effects rather than preventing them during exposure periods.

Scaling Analysis

Moonbeam scales excellently with higher-level spell slots, gaining 1d10 radiant damage per level above 2nd. 5th-level casting provides 5d10 damage per save, making it competitive with dedicated damage spells while maintaining utility benefits.

Duration consistency means the spell provides extended battlefield control regardless of slot level, though higher damage makes concentration maintenance more valuable and enemy targeting more likely as threat levels increase.

Campaign utility scales with shapeshifter prevalence and encounter design that features mobile enemies or positional challenges. Open battlefields maximize movement potential, while confined spaces might limit tactical flexibility.

Narrative Flavor

Moonbeam manifestation should emphasize the celestial connection and pure lunar energy descending from above like a focused column of moonlight. Silvery radiance creates dramatic lighting effects that highlight the magical nature of druidic power.

Movement descriptions can include shifting moonlight, following lunar gaze, or celestial tracking that demonstrates the caster's control over celestial forces. Graceful repositioning reflects the natural flow of lunar energy across the battlefield.

Anti-shapeshifter effects might involve forced revelations where true forms emerge unwillingly under lunar scrutiny. Painful reversion could reflect celestial judgment against unnatural transformations that violate natural order and cosmic balance.