Prismatic Spray

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• Level: 7
• School: Evocation
• Class: Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: Action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous

Eight rays of light flash from you in a 60-foot Cone. Each creature in the Cone makes a Dexterity saving throw. For each target, roll 1d8 to determine which color ray affects it, consulting the Prismatic Rays table.

Prismatic Rays

• 1. Red. Failed Save: 12d6 Fire damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage.
• 2. Orange. Failed Save: 12d6 Acid damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage.
• 3. Yellow. Failed Save: 12d6 Lightning damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage.
• 4. Green. Failed Save: 12d6 Poison damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage.
• 5. Blue. Failed Save: 12d6 Cold damage. Successful Save: Half as much damage.
• 6. Indigo. Failed Save: The target has the Restrained condition and makes a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it successfully saves three times, the condition ends. If it fails three times, it has the Petrified condition until it is freed by an effect like the Greater Restoration spell. The successes and failures needn't be consecutive; keep track of both until the target collects three of a kind.
• 7. Violet. Failed Save: The target has the Blinded condition and makes a Wisdom saving throw at the start of your next turn. On a successful save, the condition ends. On a failed save, the condition ends, and the creature teleports to another plane of existence (GM's choice).
• 8. Special. The target is struck by two rays. Roll twice, rerolling any 8.

Tactical Usage

Randomized Area Damage. Prismatic Spray delivers substantial damage across a 60-foot cone while providing unpredictable effects that can dramatically alter encounter dynamics through random ray assignments.

Multiple Target Engagement. The cone area effect allows engagement of numerous enemies simultaneously, making it excellent for handling large groups or clustered opponents.

Special Effect Potential. The possibility of double ray effects on natural 8 rolls creates opportunities for devastating combinations or powerful control effects on individual targets.

Spell Combinations

Positioning Optimization. Movement spells like Misty Step or battlefield control effects help achieve optimal cone positioning to maximize the number of affected enemies.

Follow-Up Coordination. Party members can exploit the varied conditions created by different rays, particularly restraint and blindness effects that create vulnerable targets.

Damage Amplification. Effects that create vulnerability or enhance damage can significantly improve the spell's devastating potential across multiple damage types.

Material Component Details

Component-Free Casting. Prismatic Spray requires no material components, eliminating resource concerns and allowing focus on positioning and timing rather than preparation logistics.

Somatic Requirements. The spell requires clear gesture space for the dramatic hand movements involved in creating and directing the multi-colored ray effects.

Verbal Components. Spoken incantations accompany the visual spectacle, potentially alerting enemies to the incoming magical assault but adding to the spell's dramatic impact.

Creator Notes

Dramatic Encounter Moment. Prismatic Spray creates visually spectacular moments that can completely change encounter dynamics through random effect distribution and high damage potential.

Random Effect Management. The unpredictable nature of ray assignments requires flexible encounter design that can adapt to various condition combinations and damage outcomes.

Area Effect Balance. The cone shape and random effects provide powerful area capabilities while maintaining uncertainty that prevents guaranteed tactical outcomes.

Environmental Interactions

Cone Shape Considerations. The 60-foot cone requires appropriate positioning and spatial awareness to maximize effectiveness while avoiding friendly fire in tight quarters.

Line of Effect Requirements. Standard area spell rules apply, requiring clear paths from caster to targets within the cone area for effects to reach intended victims.

Environmental Hazard Synergy. Different ray effects might interact with environmental features, creating additional hazards or complications based on terrain and surroundings.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Individual Ray Assignment. Each target receives one randomly determined ray effect, with separate saving throws and damage calculations for each affected creature.

Double Ray Mechanics. Natural 8 results trigger two separate ray effects on the same target, potentially creating powerful combinations or devastating damage totals.

Saving Throw Types. Most rays require Dexterity saves for damage, while special rays like Indigo and Violet use Constitution and Wisdom saves respectively for their unique effects.

Effect Duration Variation. Damage effects are instantaneous, while condition effects like restraint and blindness have specific duration and recovery mechanics.

Alternative Applications

Crowd Dispersal. The spectacular visual effects and area damage make prismatic spray excellent for scattering large groups of weaker enemies or civilian crowds.

Demolition Support. Multiple damage types can effectively damage various materials, structures, or obstacles that might resist single damage type applications.

Intimidation Enhancement. The dramatic visual spectacle and devastating potential create excellent psychological pressure during negotiations or standoff situations.

Related Spells

Area Damage Alternatives. Fireball provides reliable single-type damage, while Lightning Bolt offers line effects, and Cone of Cold delivers similar area coverage with consistent damage type.

Prismatic Magic Series. Prismatic Wall offers defensive applications with similar ray mechanics, while Color Spray provides lower-level area effects with different tactical applications.

Random Effect Magic. Wild Magic effects, Confusion, and similar spells share the unpredictable nature that creates dynamic encounter scenarios through uncertain outcomes.

Scaling Analysis

High-Level Impact. As a 7th-level spell, Prismatic Spray represents significant resource investment with correspondingly powerful area effects and damage potential.

Damage Scaling Absence. The spell provides consistent effects regardless of higher-level slot usage, making it efficient for its intended level without additional scaling benefits.

Campaign Phase Utility. The spell becomes available during high-level play where large-scale encounters and powerful enemies justify the dramatic area effects and resource investment.

Narrative Flavor

Spectacular Light Show. The spell should emphasize the brilliant, multicolored light display that accompanies the devastating magical assault, creating memorable visual moments.

Ray Manifestation. Different colored rays can be described with unique visual characteristics, energy patterns, and impact effects that reflect their specific damage types and magical properties.

Unpredictable Magic. The random nature of ray assignment offers opportunities for dramatic surprise, unexpected outcomes, and chaotic magical energy that defies precise control or prediction.