A THREE FOR A QUARTER

RPG SUPPLEMENT

Spellcraft
A guide to making
custom spells for 5th
edition D&D
Brian Scott Coon
5/17/2016

All Interior Art by Patrick E.

Pullen, except Black Blade of
Disaster by Brian Scott Coon.

This guide will help you create your own magic

spells or convert old ones. Included are
formulas to better understand the various
powers of each spell and what amount of
damage they should deal.
 Greetings, this is a guide for helping
DM’s create their own custom spells. The
Dungeon Master’s Guide provides a basic
framework for this on pages 283 and 284.
This guide expands on that, and provides
formulas to do so. These formulas require
only simple math to figure out appropriate
damage and effects for each spell. Even
though we have these formulas, the end result
should always be double-checked next to
existing spells.
Contents
1: Creating damaging spells
2: Creating healing spells
3: Variables
4: Creating non-damaging spells
5: Choosing spell’s class list
6: New spells
Creating a damaging spell
A spell designed to deal damage is usually one
of two varieties, those that target a single
creature or ones that deal damage over an
area. In either case, calculating how much
damage a spell of a particular level should deal
can be troublesome because of several
variables. However, these variables can be
used to create a spell if they are organized like
they are in this guide:
 A = Base damage
 B = Damage type: Different damage
types can be more effective due to
fewer creatures having resistances to
those types. Common damage types
are acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison,
and thunder. Uncommon damage
types are bludgeoning, necrotic,
piercing, psychic, and slashing. Rare
damage types are Force and Radiant.
 C = Saving Throw/Attack type:
Some spells require a spell attack roll,
others require saving throws. Like
damage type, the required saving
throw has a lot to do with a spell’s
power because some saving throw
types aren’t as common and fewer
features provide bonuses to them. An
easy save is a Dexterity saving throw.
An average save is a Strength,
Constitution, or Wisdom saving
throw. A hard save is an Intelligence
or Charisma saving throw. A saving
throw can negate all damage or cut it
in half. Finally, a spell may require an
attack roll that might do half damage

when it misses.
D = Casting Time: Usually, a spell
requires 1 action to cast. Rarely, a
damaging spell only requires a bonus
action. Spells that are faster to cast
won’t do as much damage.
 E = Range: Spells with a very long
range can be considered a bit more
powerful, but this is generally a small
factor. This variable scales with the
level of the spell, so what is
considered medium range for a 1st or
2nd level spell is not the same as a 9th
level spell.
 F = Area size: Spells that cover a
large area can affect more targets.
Therefore, they deal less damage than
smaller ones. This variable scales with
the spell level. A spell that targets a
single creature won’t have this
variable.
 G = Everything Else: Finally, any
number of other things can factor into
the strength of a magic spell. These
usually have to do with a spell’s power
being stretched out over several turns
instead of the damage being dealt all at
once. A spell that keeps dealing
damage deals less damage than one
that deals it all at once. Other spells
require a costly component. There are
even more such factors to consider.
This guide will go over some of the
most common ones
Creating a Single Target damage spell Variable B: Damage Type
The formula for calculating the
damage for a spell that targets only a single Variable B: Common Damage Type
creature is: (Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison, or Thunder)
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Cantrip - -
Damage = (A+B+C) × D × E × G 1st +1d10 (+5.5) +1d6 (+3.5)
2nd +1d10 (+5.5) +1d6 (+3.5)
3rd +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7)
The first three variables A, B, and C 4th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7)
are given as dice values and numerical values 5th +4d10 (+22) +2d6 (+7)
of the average dice roll. Add up the dice or 6th +5d10 (+27.5) +3d6 (+10.5)
7th +6d10 (+33) +5d6 (+17.5)
values on the tables to determine the spell’s 8th +6d10 (+33) +7d6 (+24.5)
damage. You can use the number of dice, but 9th +7d10 (+38.5) +9d6 (+31.5)
it might be easier to use numbers and convert
back to dice later. Once you have that total Variable B: Uncommon Damage Type
value, multiply it for each of the other (Bludgeoning, Necrotic, Piercing, Psychic, or Slashing)
variables D, E, and G. Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Cantrip - -
Let’s go over a spell and see how this 1st - -
works. 2nd - -
3rd +1d10 (+5.5) +1d6 (+3.5)
4th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5)
Variable A: Base Damage 5th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5)
6th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7)
Variable A: Base Damage 7th +4d10 (+22) +3d6 (+10.5)
8th +4d10 (+22) +5d6 (+17.5)
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets 9th +5d10 (+27.5) +6d6 (+21)
Cantrip 1d10 (5.5) 1d6 (3.5)
1st 2d10 (11) 2d6 (7)
2nd 3d10 (16.5) 4d6 (14) Variable B: Rare Damage Type
3rd 5d10 (27.5) 6d6 (21) (Force, Radiant, or Un-typed)
4th 6d10 (33) 7d6 (24.5) Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
5th 8d10 (44) 8d6 (28) Cantrip lower die (-1) lower die (-1)
6th 11d10 (60.5) 12d6 (42)
7th 12d10 (66) 13d6 (45.5)
8th 13d10 (71.5) 14d6 (49) So Disintegrate deals force damage. That’s a
9th 18d10 (99) 17d6 (59.5) nasty damage type that is useful against
demons and dragons and other creatures
For our first spell let’s examine disintegrate, a immune to types like acid or fire. So that gives
6th level spell that targets one creature. no bonus to the damage.
Looking at the table it should deal a base
damage of 11d10 or 60.5 points of damage. Variable C: Saving Throw / Attack type
So we’ll say 60.5 points.
Variable C: Easy Save for half damage
(Dexterity)
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Cantrip can't can't
1st - -
2nd +1d10 (+5.5) -
3rd +2d10 (+11) -
4th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5)
5th +2d10 (+11) +2d6 (+7)
6th +6d10 (+33) +5d6 (+17.5)
7th +8d10 (+44) +6d6 (+21)
8th +11d10 (+60.5) +9d6 (+31.5)
9th +15d10 (+82.5) +14d6 (+49)
Variable C: Easy Save for no damage Variable C: Hard Save for no damage
(Dexterity) (Intelligence or Charisma)
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Cantrip - - Cantrip - -
1st +1d10 (+5.5) +1d6 (+3.5) 1st - -
2nd +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5) 2nd - -
3rd +3d10 (+16.5) +1d6 (+3.5) 3rd +1d10 (+5.5) -
4th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7) 4th +1d10 (+5.5) -
5th +3d10 (+16.5) +3d6 (+10.5) 5th +1d10 (+5.5) -
6th +8d10 (+44) +6d6 (+21) 6th +3d10 (+16.5) +1d6 (+3.5)
7th +10d10 (+55) +8d6 (+28) 7th +4d10 (+22) +2d6 (+7)
8th +12d10 (+66) +10d6 (+35) 8th +5d10 (+27.5) +4d6 (+14)
9th +17d10 (+93.5) +16d6 (+56) 9th +10d10 (+55) +8d6 (+28)

Variable C: Average Save for half damage Variable C: Attack, Miss for half damage
(Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom) Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets Cantrip can't can't
1st -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
Cantrip can't can't 2nd -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
1st - - 3rd -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
2nd - - 4th -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
3rd +1d10 (+5.5) - 5th - -1d6 (-3.5)
4th +1d10 (+5.5) - 6th - -
5th +1d10 (+5.5) - 7th - -
6th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7) 8th - -
7th +4d10 (+22) +3d6 (+10.5) 9th - -
8th +5d10 (+27.5) +4d6 (+14)
9th +8d10 (+44) +7d6 (+24.5)
Variable C: Attack, Miss for no damage
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Variable C: Average Save for no damage Cantrip - can't
(Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom) 1st - -
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets 2nd - -
Cantrip - - 3rd - -
4th - -
1st +1d10 (+5.5) - 5th +1d10 (+5.5) -
2nd +1d10 (+5.5) - 6th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5)
3rd +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5) 7th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7)
4th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5) 8th +4d10 (+22) +3d6 (+10.5)
5th +3d10 (+16.5) +1d6 (+3.5) 9th +6d10 (+33) +5d6 (+17.5)
6th +5d10 (+27.5) +3d6 (+10.5)
7th +6d10 (+33) +4d6 (+14)
8th +7d10 (+38.5) +6d6 (+21) Variable C: Automatic Damage
9th +12d10 (+66) +10d6 (+35) Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets
Cantrip can't can't
Variable C: Hard Save for half damage 1st -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
2nd -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
(Intelligence or Charisma) 3rd -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets 4th -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
Cantrip can't can't 5th -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5)
1st -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5) 6th -2d10 (-11) -2d6 (-7)
2nd -1d10 (-5.5) -1d6 (-3.5) 7th -2d10 (-11) -2d6 (-7)
3rd - - 8th -2d10 (-11) -2d6 (-7)
4th - - 9th -4d10 (-22) -4d6 (-14)
5th - -
6th +2d10 (+11) +1d6 (+3.5)
7th +3d10 (+16.5) +2d6 (+7) Disintegrate forces a single creature to make a
8th +4d10 (+22) +3d6 (+10.5) Dexterity saving throw or take a bunch of
9th +6d10 (+33) +5d6 (+17.5)
damage. If the target makes the saving throw
it doesn’t take any damage. So we use the
table for an easy save for no damage. We add
another 44 points to our current total of 60.5
points, for a total of 104.5 points.
So far the spell is dealing way more
damage than what it should. By the book,
Disintegrate deals 10d6+40 points of damage.
The average damage of that is 75 points not
104.5. There are still more variables to
consider though.
Variable D: Casting Time
Almost all damaging spells have a
casting time of 1 Action; this has no
multiplier, so the damage stays the same.
For a spell with a casting time of 1
bonus action, we must take into consideration
who might be casting it. A spell that only
appears on the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, or
wizard lists has a multiplier of 0.75. A spell
that appears on any other list has a multiplier
of 0.6.
For Disintegrate there are no surprises
there. It has a casting time of 1 action so no
change is made.
Variable E: Range
Ranges of spells are a hard thing to
quantify. First, spells of lower level will always
be shorter in range then those of higher level.
Having a really short range is not much of a
penalty. A short range is worth a 1.1
multiplier. Most spells should have a range
around that of other spells of that level.
Longer ranges make a spell more dangerous
by allowing the caster to deal damage before
the other side can close the distance. This can
be significant, but it still depends on the spell
level. The spell Meteor Swarm has a range of 1
mile. That sounds like it should be long range,
but it isn’t. As a 9th level spell it won’t affect
the spell damage because creatures can
regularly teleport at those higher levels. A
spell with a longer range has a multiplier of
0.75.
For Disintegrate it has a range of 60
feet. That’s pretty short for a 6th level spell.
We can call that short range. So 104.5 times
1.1 equals 114.95. We are getting farther away
from our target of 75, and we are stuck with a
decimal. We can round up to 115 before
continuing. The next step will fix the damage
back to where we expect it to be.
Variable G: Everything Else
This may be the last variable to
consider, but it can have the most impact. A
spell with many control aspects or one that
imposes harmful conditions will deal less
damage than one that doesn’t. Some spells
cover their area with poisonous gas or raging
inferno, these spells are called zones. Other
spells attack again and again. In any case this
becomes something that is hard to put a
figure on, but some examples will come later.
For now let’s look back at Disintegrate.
It has a nasty effect if it drops a creature to 0
hit points. The target becomes disintegrated
and can’t be brought back to life easily. This is
furthermore damning to PCs. A player can
normally come back from 0 hit points, but not
with a disintegrate spell. This major status effect
is worth a 0.75 multiplier. Seventy five percent
of 115 points is 86.25 points.
With disintegrate there’s more still. The
spell automatically disintegrates a 10 foot cube
of non-magical matter making it a utility spell
as well. This is not its primary use however,
while nice to have it doesn’t make the spell
more deadly so the damage shouldn’t be
affected much. Still it deserves a multiplier of
0.9, a ten percent reduction. 86.25 times 0.9 is
77.625 points
Finally, disintegrate has a higher
minimum damage. While average damage is
what counts, a higher minimum damage does
prevent bad luck from being a factor. This
minor benefit can give us a 0.95 multiplier
dropping the average damage five more
percent, for a new total of 73.74375
Final Steps
So 73.74375, round that up to 75.
Now that we have 75 we need to convert that
back into dice format. A d6 has an average
roll of 3.5 points. Therefore, 10d6 has an
average roll of 35. We choose 10d6+40 points
of force damage as our final damage roll.
 That’s how the disintegrate spell is
reversed engineered with this guide. Creating
your own spell follows the same procedure,
but your result will be your own unique
creation.
Creating a Multi Target Damage Spell
Now let’s move on to spells that affect
several targets. The formula for calculating the
damage for a spell that targets multiple
creatures is:
Damage = (A+B+C) × D × E × F × G
The new variable F is the only difference.
Variable F: Area of Effect
One of the biggest factors of a multi-
target spell is the area of effect. Most spells
that potentially hit multiple targets have an
area of effect. While this doesn’t have to be
true, this variable can account for the number
of targets the spell usually affects. A small area
of effect is not much of a penalty unless the
area is really small. The spell can also be
selective, which means the spell only affects
creatures the target wishes, allowing the caster
to avoid his or her friends. If a spell is not
selective, a small area can even be useful. For
example, the spell flame strike has a radius of
10 feet. That’s compact. A careful caster can
pinpoint the area to avoid friendly fire and
still hit multiple creatures, so that’s no
multiplier.
Let’s look at cloud of daggers. It is a 2nd
level spell, so the base damage is 14. Even
though it often hits only one creature, the
spell has an area so it counts as a multi-target
spell. Slashing damage gives no modifier to a
2nd level spell. The spell deals damage with no
attack roll or saving throw allowed, so we
subtract 3.5 points and end up with 10.5
points. The casting time and range are not
exceptional, so again no change. The area of
effect for cloud of daggers is a 5-foot cube, a
single square. It is a pitiful area of effect,
because it generally only hits one target. It is
so small an area of effect it deserves a 1.5
multiplier. However, there is one final factor
to consider and that is the spell is a zone that
lasts for 1 minute. It can be used to block
corridors and such. It is very handy for
controlling the battlefield. A zone is a 0.6
multiplier.
10.5 times 1.5 times 0.6 equals 9.45,
lets round that up to 10 or 4d4 slashing
damage.
Creating a Cantrip
Creating a cantrip is simple. The thing
to remember is cantrips with a single target
have a very minor special effect added to the
damage they deal. Fire bolt for instance can set
things on fire. If the cantrip doesn’t have this
benefit, and in addition might have a minor
hindrance as well, it can receive a +1 increase
to the size of the die used for it.
For example, the spell eldritch blast
should deal 1d8 damage. It is a force spell so
the 1d10 base damage is lowered down to
1d8. However, it just deals damage. Also, at
higher levels it doesn’t work as well with true
strike and similar effects, so it gets raised back
up to a d10.
Spells with very good effects or two or
more effects are lowered by one die size. Ray
of frost deals 1d8 cold damage because it also
reduces a creature’s speed by 10 feet. Shocking
grasp deals 1d8 lightning damage because it
grants advantage when the target is in metal
armor and the target can’t make reactions
until its next turn if the spell hits.
Damage dealing cantrips automatically
improve when the caster reaches 5th level, 11th
level, and 17th level.
Damage at higher levels
Damage dealing spells usually improve
when you use a higher spell slot to cast them.
The total damage should not be higher than
what spells of that higher slot level can
accomplish. Usually this means the spell adds
a single die of damage for each level higher.
Creating a Single Target Healing Spell Creating a Multi Target Healing Spell
Now let’s move on to healing spells. The formula for a healing spell with
The formula for a healing spell with one target more than one target is:
is:
Healing = A × D × E × F × G
Healing = A × D × E × G
Again the only difference is an area of effect.
Variable A: Base Healing
Spell Level Single Target Multiple Targets Variables
Cantrip can't can't
1st 2d8 (9) 1d4 (2.5) The A, B, and C variables are pretty
2nd 3d8 (13.5) 1d8 (4.5) straightforward. When dealing with spells with
3rd 5d10 (27.5) 2d8 (9)
4th 7d10 (38.5) 3d8 (13.5) more than one damage type, and the spell
5th 10d10 (55) 4d8 (18) deals at least half damage of a more common
6th 16d10 (88) 6d10 (33) type use the higher increase. For example, ice
7th 18d10 (99) 12d6 (42)
8th 20d10 (110) 17d6 (59.5) storm deals cold and bludgeoning damage, but
9th 30d10 (165) 16d10 (88) more cold damage so we use the higher
increase of a common damage type (cold).
Let’s look at healing word. It is a 1st level spell, Also, use your own judgment for spells that
so the base healing is 2d8 or 9 points. It has a have a saving throw to end the effect. A spell
casting time of 1 bonus action so that’s a 0.75 that automatically works, but offers a save to
multiplier because it is available to bards and end the effect, would still use the automatic
clerics only. 9 times 0.75 is 6.75 points. It has chart. If the saving throw in that case is a hard
a range of 60 feet because the nature of the save apply a 0.9 multiplier, if it is an easy save
spell being available to only a few classes, but apply a 1.1 multiplier.
most healing spells should have a range of
touch. Healing spells usually let the caster add Variable D: Casting Time
their spellcasting modifier to the roll so we Bonus actions have been explained up
count that as 4 points, not quite the normal to this point, but for reference a spell that
maximum of +5 for an ability score of 20. only appears on the bard, cleric, druid,
Subtracting 4 from 6.75 gives us a total of sorcerer, or wizard lists has a multiplier of
2.75 pretty close to the average of 1d4 (2.5). 0.75. A spell that appears on any other list has
So that gives us 1d4 + spellcasting modifier a multiplier of 0.6. Another important part is
healing amount. if the spell requires you to use your action to
Heal is a 6th level healing spell. It also make the spell work (see wrathful smite), then a
has a range of 60 feet because it is higher bonus action casting time has no multiplier.
level. Looking at the chart, it should heal 88 All damaging spells in the player’s handbook
points. However, it also has a nice secondary are like this.
effect of removing blindness, deafness, and For spells with even longer casting
disease. That is equivalent to the lesser times than 1 action, a multiplier may raise
restoration spell, a 2nd level spell. That’s two damage even more. Be careful with using this.
tiers lower than heal. So that deserves a 0.8 While a spell that takes 3 rounds to cast may
multiplier. 88 times 0.8 is 70.4, so it restores sound practical, the bonus damage may make
70 hit points. the spell too good. But for example, prayer of
healing has a 10 minute casting time. Because
it’s a healing spell only available to a select
class this is acceptable. This is enough to grant
a ×3 multiplier.
Variable E: Range
Because range is something that scales
with level we will use categories to organize
this:
 Short Range (multiplier ×1.1):
Cantrips, and spells of 5th level and
lower don’t have a short range.
Neither do healing spells. Spells of
higher level have a short range of 60
feet or less if the spell is a simple
ranged spell.
 Medium Range (no multiplier):
Cantrips, and spells of 5th level and
lower have a medium range of 150
feet or less. Spells of 6th, 7th, and 8th
levels have a medium range of 500
feet or less. Spells of 9th level have a
medium range of 1 mile.
 Long Range (multiplier ×0.75):
Cantrips, and spells of 5th level and
lower have a long range of up to 300
feet. Healing spells should almost
never have a range of 150 feet or
more, but that can be considered long
range for a healing spell. Spells of 6th,
7th, and 8th level have a long range up
to a mile away. Spells of 9th level can
strike across planar borders or
anywhere within sight.
 Extreme Ranges (multiplier ×0.5 or
less): At even more distances it
becomes hard to explain how the spell
works, but spells that can attack
through scrying sensors can be
considered extreme. Healing spells
that can heal someone 300 feet away is
extreme.
The thing to remember is range, like all other
factors within a spell, is as much a flavor
effect as a number crunching game. If the
spell would have a short range because of its
name or design, then there doesn’t need to be
a modification. For instance, any word of
power spell has a range of 60 feet or less,
because the target needs to hear you.
Variable F: Area of Effect
Area of effect also scales with level.
Spells with zone effects have smaller areas
usually. There are a few sizes of areas:
 Small Area (multiplier ×1.5): Cantrips
don’t have a small area. Spells of 5th
level and lower have a small area of
effect of only a 5 foot radius sphere or
2 targets. Spells of 6th, 7th, and 8th level
have a small area of effect of a 10 foot
radius sphere or affect 4 targets or
fewer. Spells of 9th level have a small
area of effect of a 20 foot radius
sphere or affect 7 or fewer targets.
 Medium Area (no multiplier): Cantrips
have a medium area of just 2 targets.
Spells of 5th level and lower have a
medium area of effect of a 20 foot
radius sphere, or about 7 targets.
Spells of 6th, 7th, and 8th level have a
medium area of effect of a 40 foot
radius sphere or affect 10 targets or
fewer. Spells of 9th level have a
medium area of effect of a 60 foot
radius sphere or affect 20 or fewer
targets.
 Large Area (multiplier ×0.5 or less):
Cantrips have a large area if it can hit
more than just 2 targets. Spells of 5th
level and lower have a large area of
effect of up to a 40 foot radius sphere,
or about 10 targets. Spells of 6th, 7th,
and 8th level have a large area of effect
of up to a 60 foot radius sphere or
affect 20 targets or fewer. Spells of 9th
level have a large area of effect of up
to a 360 foot radius sphere or affect
50 or fewer targets.
 Selective (multiplier ×0.5): If the
caster can cast the spell among his or
her friends without hitting them, the
spell deserves the selective multiplier
too.
So let’s look at the spell chain lightning. It is a
6th level spell that deals lightning damage and
allows a dexterity saving throw for half
damage. So that’s 70 points average damage.
It has a normal range, but a small area of
effect because it only hits up to four creatures
within a 30 foot radius. That’s a 1.5 multiplier.
It only targets enemies, so it’s selective for a
0.5 multiplier. 70 × 1.5 × 0.5 = 52.5. That’s
good for a 10d8 roll.
Variable G: Everything Else
Now we get to it, the real measure of
a spell and what it does. Here is my list:
 Additional effect, 1 tier lower spell
(multiplier ×0.65): If a damaging or
healing spell includes an effect of
another spell of a lower tier in level, it
gets this multiplier. Example, vampiric
touch has the effect of a cure wounds
spell which is 1st level, the tier below.
 Additional effect, 2 tiers lower spell
(multiplier ×0.8): Like above, but the
additional spell effect is much lower
level.
 Choose able damage type (multiplier
×0.8): If the spell allows you to
choose the type of damage it deals use
this multiplier. Example, chromatic orb
lets the caster choose a common
damage type, so it uses the common
bonus and this modifier.
 Costly component (multiplier ×1.1):
When a spell’s damage seems too low,
you might want to consider giving it a
costly component, such as circle of
death’s black pearl worth 500gp. The
price of the component scales with
level. Use other spells of similar level
for guidelines. Don’t use this just to
make more powerful spells that
eclipse ones that already exist.
 Costly consumed component
(multiplier ×1.2 or higher): Like
above, but you need a dose for each
casting. This is generally only used to
explain non-damaging spells and how
they let the miraculous happen.
 Difficult terrain, duration (multiplier
×0.5): The spell’s area is difficult
terrain until the spell ends. Particularly
nasty when combined with a zone.
Example: hunger of hadar.
 Difficult terrain, one round (multiplier
×0.9): After the spell deals damage its
area becomes difficult terrain until the
end of the caster’s next turn. Example:
ice storm.
 Harmful condition, minor (multiplier
×0.8): When the spell hits it applies a
minor condition such as the target
can’t take reactions, is grappled,
knocked prone, or pushed up to 10
feet. Example: thunderwave.
 Harmful condition, moderate
(multiplier ×0.6): When the spell hits
it applies a moderately powerful
condition such as blinded, frightened,
poisoned, or restrained. Example:
wrathful smite.
 Harmful condition, major (multiplier
×0.4 or less): When the spell hits it
applies a very powerful condition such
as paralyzed, or stunned. Spells like
this don’t currently exist. The spell
would be considered more of a non-
damaging spell with the damage a
minor feature of the spell.
 Repetitive strike with bonus action
(multiplier ×0.2): The spell strikes as
you cast it, and then stays around to
strike each turn with your bonus
action. Its duration is Concentration,
up to 1 minute. Example: arcane sword.
 Repetitive strike with action
(multiplier ×0.4): Like a repetitive
strike that uses your bonus action, but
the caster must spend an action each
turn to repeat the strike. The spell
usually has a duration of
Concentration 1 minute, but may be
Concentration 10 minutes without any
extra cost. Example, vampiric touch.
 Lingering damage (multiplier ×0.75):
The spell deals damage and then deals
half as much damage at the end of the
target’s next turn. Example, acid arrow.
 The formula gives you the initial
damage amount.
 Zone (multiplier ×0.6): The spell’s
area doesn’t disappear. It strikes each
time a creature enters or starts its turn
within the zone. A zone uses the
caster’s concentration and typically
lasts up to 10 minutes. You can
usually move a zone slowly. Example:
cloudkill.
 Zone, fierce (multiplier ×0.5): This is
like a regular zone, but the spell also
strikes and deals damage as it is cast.
Also, the zone strikes when a creature
enters or ends its turn there. Example:
incendiary cloud.
 Zone, no concentration (multiplier
×0.2): Though unnecessary, you may
want to make a spell that has a small
zone for little damage that doesn’t
require concentration.
 Zone, offensive (multiplier ×0.3): This
is like a regular zone, but with the
added effect that the caster can move
it and strike with a bonus action. A
creature is not affected when they
enter the zone, only when it ends its
turn there. The zone usually has a
center that occupies its space, and the
actual zone is everything within a
distance from the center. Example:
flaming sphere is a ball that occupies one
square of space and burns everything
within 5 feet of it, so it is about a 15
foot cube area. A higher level spell
might have a “center” that is large in
size (10 foot by 10 foot space) and
affects everything within 10 feet.
Creating Non-damaging Spells
Creating spells that do things other
than deal damage is a harder problem than
creating ones that do. There’s a fine art of
crafting something of beauty that is balanced
against spells that already exist. No formula
might ever be perfect for this. We can only
come up with guidelines.
For non-damaging spells we will use a
different method to create them. Many non-
damaging spells already exist, so make sure
the spell is necessary to begin with. Plenty of
ideas are sure to be practical. Just make sure
not to create a spell that only serves to make
another spell obsolete.
Level modifying system
Variables in the following non-
damaging system modify the spell’s level
instead of the damage. Rather than start with
a spell’s level and figure out the damage, a
non-damaging spell starts with what it does
then we determine the correct level to place it.
This works best when you make a powerful
spell weaker or a weak spell more powerful.
 Additional effect, 1 tier lower spell
(modifier +2 levels): If you just want
to make a spell better, think about
using this variable. You add the effect
of a spell (or two spells) one tier
lower. The lower level spell must be
from the same school. Someone could
conceive of a clairvoyance spell with the
added benefit of being able to use
detect magic and see invisibility spells on
the viewed area. Such a spell might be
5th level because it combines a 3rd level
spell with a 1st level spell and a 2nd
level spell. Even though it is gaining
the effect of two spells this is still just
a 2 level modifier.
 Additional effect, 2 tiers lower spell
(modifier +1 level): Like above, but
you add a much weaker effect to a
strong spell.
 Additional effect, same tier (modifier
+2 levels for 1st or 2nd level spells, +3
levels or more for higher level spells):
It’s probably not a good idea to allow
spells to gain the effect of a spell close
in level. There should be other
balancing factors involved. A smaller
range or duration might be necessary.
 No concentration (modifier +3
levels): The concentration mechanic is
 engrained into 5th edition. Most spells Point Buy System
that have duration longer than The point buy system is a system for
instantaneous require it. However, making either damaging or non-damaging
some don’t require concentration spells. This system gives a numerical build
because the effect is minor or not point value to each spell based on its level.
offensive, such as armor of agathys. The easiest way to use this system is to start
Therefore it’s not ridiculous to think with a spell and then modify it using modifiers
other spells such as fly should have from the spell formula system.
higher level versions that allow their
use while letting you concentrate on Point Buy System
something offensive. The spell in Spell Level Build Points
question might deserve a longer Cantrip 5
duration for free as well, and should 1st 10
be slightly weaker than its 2nd 20
concentration version. So for instance 3rd 40
flight might be a 6th level spell that 4th 50
replicates fly and has duration of 1 5th 60
hour (no concentration). 6th 80
7th 100
 Remove most effects (modifier -2
8th 120
levels): You can remove most of the
9th 160
benefits of a spell to create a new
spell. You must remove a good
Let’s create a spell called solid fog. It was in
portion of the spell. For example:
previous editions of the game. It starts with
removing most of the effects of a haste
the fog cloud spell, a 1st level spell. We want to
spell could make a spell designed just
make the spell difficult terrain. So looking at
to speed up attacks. We make a slight
the spell formula system, the difficult terrain
change, so it doesn’t grant another
for whole duration is a 0.5 multiplier. Because
action and instead requires the target
fog cloud is 1st level and has a build point cost
to use its bonus actions. We removed
of 10 it sets our target number (10). A 2nd
the negative drawback suffered when
level spell has a build point cost of 20. If we
haste ends, and it has a different
set solid fog at 2nd level and then apply the 0.5
theme. We compare it to other 1st
multiplier we end up with the target of 10.
level buffs like bless and see that it
Therefore solid fog is a 2nd level spell.
doesn’t overshadow those. Bless seems
Another way to look at this is the spell
a little better actually, so we give it
formula modifiers need to be inverted by
another new unique minor benefit to
dividing 1 by the modifier. A 0.5 multiplier is
fit with the divination theme.
actually a ×2 multiplier (1 divided by 0.5 is 2).
 Swap out specifics (no modifier): One A 0.2 multiplier is a ×5 multiplier. A 1.5
of the easiest ways to create a new multiplier is a ×0.7 multiplier and so on.
spell is to change elements within it
without changing its relative power.
The simplest change is choosing a
new damage type, but changing
monster types works too. For
example: the new spell spawn ooze is
derived from the create undead spell, but
it makes oozes not undead.
Inverted Spell Formula Multipliers
 Long range (multiplier ×1.3)
 Extreme range (multiplier ×2)
 Small Area (multiplier ×0.6)
 Large Area (multiplier ×2)
 Selective Area (multiplier ×2)
 Difficult terrain, duration (multiplier
×2)
 Zone (multiplier ×1.6)
Inverted Level Modification Multipliers
The modifiers used in the level
modification system are converted differently.
 -3 levels becomes a ×0.5 multiplier
 -2 levels becomes a ×0.6 multiplier
 -1 level becomes a ×0.8 multiplier
 +1 level becomes a ×1.2 multiplier
 +2 levels becomes a ×1.6 multiplier
 +3 levels becomes a ×2 multiplier
The point buy system has its weak points. The
spell formula system can make very minute
changes within a level’s range. By contrast,
you must make more changes to a spell with
this system to raise a spell’s level or lower it.
New modifiers
 Grant a saving throw where one was
not allowed before (multiplier ×0.5):
This is a strange one. Sometimes you
want to take a spell that used to not
allow a save and instead grant the
targets a saving throw to avoid the
spell. For example: We can modify the
sleep spell to grant the target a Wisdom
saving throw. The resulting cantrip is
called lullaby. Still, it seems a little too
good for a cantrip, so a little onset
time and requires concentration
become good balancing factors.
Choosing the spell’s class list
An important step in the creation of
any spell is choosing what classes have access
to it. You can do this step first or last, but it
has to be right. First, look at existing spell
lists. Second, the following list points out the
types of spells each class uses:
 Bard: Charms and non-damaging
illusions. Inspirational and
supernatural buffs and debuffs.
Healing spells and even resurrection
magic. Scrying magic. All spells are
verbal in nature. Words of power.
 Cleric: Best healing magic. Best
resurrection magic. Spiritual buffs and
debuffs. Banishment magic. Radiant
damage and force damage, but limited
otherwise for damaging magic. Scrying
magic.
 Druid: Good healing magic. True
resurrection magic, but otherwise
reincarnate instead of raise dead. Nature
buffs. Great nature based damaging
spells. Shapechanging magic. Scrying
magic.
 Paladin: Some healing and
restoration magic. Inspirational buffs.
Banishment magic. Lesser scrying
magic.
 Ranger: Limited healing and
restoration magic. Nature buffs.
Nature magic. Spells that assist in
traveling. Lesser scrying magic.
 Sorcerer: All the variety of the wizard
but only the simplest spells. Magic is
most useful in combat.
 Warlock: Powerful enchantment and
psychic magic. Illusions. Spells often
have a dark flavor to them.
Banishment magic. Scrying magic
 Wizard: Supernatural buffs and
debuffs. Great damaging spells. Great
utility spells. No healing without
additional cost. Banishment magic.
Scrying magic.
 New Spells
Black Blade of Disaster
9th level evocation
Classes: Warlock, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S, M (a black sapphire, worth
5,000 gp, which the spell consumes.)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You draw out entropy and decay
from a black gem and fashion it
into a sword of darkness. It lasts
for the duration.
When the sword appears, it
strikes at a target within 5 feet of it.
The target must make a Dexterity
saving throw. On a failed save, the
target takes 20d6 force damage. If
this damage reduces the target to 0
hit points, it is disintegrated.
A disintegrated creature
and everything it is wearing and
carrying, except magical items,
are reduced to a pile of fine
gray dust. The creature can
be restored to life only by
means of a true resurrection or a
wish spell.
Until the spell ends, you can
use your action on each of your
turns to move the sword up to 30
feet to a spot you can see and the
sword strikes again. The same target or
another within 5 feet of the sword’s new
location must make a Dexterity saving throw
with the same result of failure.
Formula = (99 [base] + 93.5 [weak save for
no damage]) × 1.2 [costly consumed
component] × 0.4 [repetitive strike with
action] × 0.75 [disintegration] = 69.3
Flight
6th level transmutation
Classes: Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S, M (the wings of a bee)
Duration: 1 hour
One willing creature gains a flying speed of 40
feet for the duration. When the spell ends the
target falls if it is still aloft, unless it can stop
the fall.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, you can
target one additional creature for each slot
level above 6th.
Lightning Field
4th level evocation
Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet (40-foot cube)
Components: V, S, M (a spool of copper
beaten into a thin wire, and a lodestone)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes.
You create an area charged with energy, in a
cube 40 feet on each side. Electrical arcs flow
through the area without damaging objects.
When you cast the spell, each creature
within the area that is in physical contact with
the ground, walls, or ceiling, takes 4d6
lightning damage and must make a
Constitution saving throw. A creature has
disadvantage to the saving throw if it is
wearing armor made of metal. If the creature
fails this save, it cannot take reactions until
the start of its next turn. A creature also takes
damage and must make a saving throw when
it enters the spell’s area for the first time on a
turn or ends its turn there, unless it is flying,
jumping through, or otherwise not in contact
with the ground, walls, or ceiling.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the
damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level
above 4th.
 Mnemonic Enhancer
th
4 level transmutation
Classes: Wizard
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a piece of chalk and a
small stone slate, or an abacus)
Duration: Instantaneous
Casting this spell allows you to prepare more
spells than usual or gain multiple lower level
spell slots. When you cast this spell choose
one of the following two options. Regardless
of which choice you make, this spell cannot
be cast again until you finish a long rest.
(option 1) Prepare additional spells:
Immediately after you cast this spell, you can
choose an additional five spells to add to your
daily prepared spells. To do so, the spells
must be in your spellbook, but you do not
need to read your spellbook at the time you
cast mnemonic enhancer. You do not gain the
spell slots needed to cast these spells. These
prepared spells are lost after you finish a long
rest.
(option 2) Gain spell slots: When you cast
this spell you gain two 1st level spell slots.
These slots are used normally to cast spells
you have prepared. These spell slots are lost
after you finish a long rest.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can
choose additional spells to prepare or spell
slots to gain, consult the following table, a 9th
level slot allows you to prepare every spell in
your spellbook:
Prismatic Fog
9th level conjuration
Classes: Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes.
You create a 30-foot-radius sphere of roiling
fog centered on a point within range. The
sphere spreads around corners, and its area is
heavily obscured. It lasts for the duration and
strong winds do not affect it. The fog sheds
dim light out to 20 feet. The fog is unaffected
by the create or destroy water spell.
Within the fog are seven vibrant
colors that swirl about. When a creature
enters the spell’s area for the first time on its
turn or starts its turn there, that creature must
make a Dexterity saving throw. For each
creature, roll a d8 to determine the colors that
affect it.
1. Red. The creature takes 10d6 fire
damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one.
2. Orange. The creature takes 10d6
acid damage on a failed save, or
half as much damage on a
successful one.
3. Yellow. The creature takes 10d6
lightning
damage on a
failed save, or
half as much
damage on a
successful one.

Spell Slot of Additional

Enhancer Prepared Additional Slots
5th 7 more two 2nd
6th 10 more two 3rd or three 1st
7th 12 more two 4th or three 2nd
8th 14 more two 5th or four 2nd
9th all two 6th or four 3rd
4. Green. The creature takes 10d6
poison damage on a failed save, or
half as much damage on a
successful one.
5. Blue. The creature takes 10d6
cold damage on a failed save, or
half as much damage on a
successful one.
6. Indigo. On a failed save, the
creature is slowed (new condition
detailed at end of this guide). It
must then make a Constitution
saving throw at the end of each of
its turns. If it successfully saves
three times, the effect ends. If it
fails its save three times, it
permanently turns to stone and is
subjected to the petrified
condition. The successes and
failures don’t need to be
consecutive; keep track of both
until the creature collects three of
a kind.
7. Violet. On a failed save, the
creature is blinded. It must then
make a Wisdom saving throw at
the start of your next turn. A
successful save ends the blindness.
If it fails the save, the creature is
transported to another plane of
existence of the DM’s choosing
and is no longer blinded.
(Typically, a creature that is on a
plane that isn’t its home plane is
banished home, while other
creatures are usually cast into the
Astral or Ethereal planes.)
8. Special. The creature is struck by
two colors. Roll twice more,
rerolling any 8.
Prowess
1st level divination
Classes: Bard, Paladin, Ranger
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute.
One creature is granted a higher awareness
that guides its attacks. Choose a willing target
that you can see within range. Until the spell
ends the target can use a bonus action on its
turn to make a weapon attack.
In addition, the target gains an
additional reaction each turn. It loses this
extra reaction if it can’t take reactions for any
reason.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you
can target one additional creature for each slot
level above 1st.
Solid Fog
2nd level conjuration
Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of dried,
powdered peas combined with powdered
animal hoof)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes.
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of heavy
fog centered on a point within range. The
sphere spreads around corners, and its area is
heavily obscured. The fog is unnaturally thick,
and its area is difficult terrain. Any weapon
attack roll made by an attacker within the fog
or against a target within the fog has
disadvantage, even if the attacker has
blindsight. This includes ranged weapon
attacks that pass through the fog. Creatures
within the area also have disadvantage to
Dexterity saving throws. The fog lasts for the
duration or until a wind of severe or greater
speed (at least 20 miles per hour) disperses it.
 two gray oozes you have created with this
spell, rather than creating new ones. If the 24
Spawn Ooze hour period ends and you do not reassert
5th level conjuration control, the creature becomes hostile, without
Classes: Warlock, Wizard the spell keeping it alive it quickly dissolves
Casting Time: 1 minute into harmless protoplasm within 1 minute.
Range: 10 feet At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
Components: V, S, M (a small portion of the using a 6th level spell slot, you can spawn or
type of ooze for each one you are going to reassert control over four gray oozes. When
spawn, in a specially prepared glass bottle, you cast this spell using a 7th level spell slot,
worth 100 × the ooze’s challenge you can spawn or reassert control over five
rating gold pieces. For example: a gray gray oozes, or one gelatinous cube or ochre
ooze component costs 50 gp. jelly. When you cast this spell using an 8th
Duration: Instantaneous level spell slot, you can spawn or reassert
control over six gray oozes, or two gelatinous
You create two gray oozes that are under your cubes or ochre jellies. When you cast this spell
control. The material component for the spell using a 9th level spell slot, you can spawn or
allows you full mental control. If you lose the reassert control over eight gray oozes, three
material component, you lose control of the gelatinous cubes or ochre jellies, or one black
creatures. pudding.
As a bonus action on each of your
turns, you can mentally command any
creature you have created with this spell if it is
within 120 feet of you (if you control multiple
creatures, you can command any or all of
them at the same time, issuing the same
command to each one). You decide what
action the creature will take and
where it will move during its next
turn, or you can issue a general
command, such as to guard a
particular chamber or corridor.
If you issue no commands, the
creature only defends itself
against hostile creatures. Once
given an order, the creature
continues to follow it until its
task is complete.
The creature is under
your control for 24 hours, after
which time it stops obeying any
command you have given it. To
maintain control of the creature
for another 24 hours, you must
cast this spell on the creature
before the current 24-hour
period ends. This use of the spell
reasserts your control over up to
 Please leave a review or rate this
Slowed condition: This is a new condition that product on DMsguild.
replicates the slow spell. This was begging to
be defined by the rules.

Slowed
 A slowed creature’s speed is halved, it
takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity
saving throws, and it can’t take
reactions.
 On its turn, a slowed creature can use
either an action or a bonus action, not
both. Regardless of the creature’s
abilities or magic items, it can’t make
more than one melee or ranged attack
during its turn.
 If the creature attempts to cast a spell
with a casting time of 1 action, roll a
d20. On an 11 or higher, the spell
doesn’t take effect until the creature’s
next turn, and the creature must use
its action on that turn to complete the
spell. If it can’t, the spell is wasted.

Final Thoughts

That’s it for this guide. It is only

supposed to assist good DM spell design.
Always use inspiration and imagination as the
first steps to making creative spells. I always
start with a concept first, and decide if the
spell is iconic or clever enough.
The point buy system came last. Its
inclusion makes the level modification system
a little redundant, but I still like it for quick
and dirty spell design. If anything use them
both to double check your work.
The mnemonic enhancer spell came about
from fulfilling a need. It is included here for
your benefit, but it’s not the kind of spell that
can be easily created with this guide. It was
made from scratch.

People are free to add to my system as long as

they point others to it without reproducing it.