Cone of Cold

A blast of cold air erupts from your hands. Each creature in a 60-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 8d8 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature killed by this spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.

At a Glance

Level
5th
School
Evocation
Casting Time
1 action
Range
Self (60-foot cone)
Duration
Instantaneous
Concentration
No

How Cone of Cold Works

Casting Time1 action
RangeSelf (60-foot cone)
ComponentsV, S, M (a small crystal or glass cone)
DurationInstantaneous
Saving ThrowConstitution

Available to:

Damage

8d8 cold(Constitution)

At Higher Levels

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 5th.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistake
Forgetting it's a 60-foot cone originating from you, not a point
Common Mistake
Not accounting for the width of the cone at maximum range
Common Mistake
Forgetting frozen statues can be toppled and shattered for gruesome effect
Common Mistake
Not positioning to maximize targets hit by the cone

DM Tips

DM Tip
Excellent AoE damage spell for 5th level
DM Tip
The frozen statue effect is mostly flavor but can be narratively significant
DM Tip
Good damage type with decent scaling
DM Tip
Positioning is key - you need to be in a good spot to hit multiple enemies

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading