Call Lightning 5e - D&D 5th Edition Spell Book
Call Lightning 5e Spell Effects
3rd-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see within range directly above you. The spell fails if you can't see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can't accommodate the cloud).
When you cast the spell, choose a point you can see under the cloud. A bolt of lightning flashes down from the cloud to that point. Each creature within 5 feet of that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 3d10 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. On each of your turns until the spell ends, you can use your action to call down lightning in this way again, targeting the same point or a different one.
If you are outdoors in stormy conditions when you cast this spell, the spell gives you control over the existing storm instead of creating a new one. Under such conditions, the spell's damage increases by 1d10.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th or higher level, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 3rd.
All information on Call Lightning 5e comes from the DnD Player's Handbook.
Classes That Can Cast Call Lightning 5e
Of all classes in the Player's Handbook, only druids gain access to casting call lightning 5e. Yes, call lightning is purely a druid spell.
You would think that sorcerers, wizards, and even nature domain clerics should perhaps be able to cast the spell, but the official rules say otherwise.
Call Lightning Spell Effectiveness
| Damage | 3rd-Level Spell | 4th-Level Spell | 5th-Level Spell | 6th-Level Spell | 7th-Level Spell | 8th-Level Spell | 9th-Level Spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage Dice | 3d10 | 4d10 | 5d10 | 6d10 | 7d10 | 8d10 | 9d10 |
| Average Damage | 16.5 | 22 | 27.5 | 33 | 38.5 | 44 | 49.5 |
| 3-Target Damage | 49 | 66 | 82 | 99 | 115 | 132 | 148 |
| Average Fighter DPR | 19 | 23 | 27 | 30.5 | 34 | 37.5 | 41 |
Call Lightning Spell Damage
This table provides information on the damage that Call Lightning 5e could do, as compared to a fighter of a similar level (based on the level it would take to cast each spell level). Average fighter DPR refers to their damage per round, which is roughly calculated prior to factoring in hit chance. Also, note that call lightning could easily hit more (or less) than the 3-target damage numbers shown above.
Call Lightning 5e Usefulness
Every spell in D&D 5e that can hit multiple targets has the potential to be absolutely game-breaking when it's cast in the right situation. Try using call lightning in the following ways to maximize its usefulness for you.
- If you're outside, and see multiple enemies clumped together - at least 2, but preferably 3 or more - blast them with call lightning for some huge damage.
- Cast call lightning 5e on any enemies who (somehow) have lightning vulnerability, to double your damage.
- Since you can call down lightning bolts using this spell, every round, for no additional spell slots, try using it when you're besieged. That is, if your enemy has to attack into your position, then the cloud you created can continue to rain down lightning damage upon them.
- For additional value, cast call lightning 5e whenever you happen to be fighting in a storm. Since the spell deals an additional 1d10 damage in stormy weather, this is an excellent time to go crazy with lightning.
- Finally, cast call lightning against enemies with low Dexterity save scores. The higher your hit chance with call lightning 5e, the less likely you are to have your spell damage halved from successful saving throws.
Lightning Damage Resistances, Immunities, and Vulnerabilities
When using call lightning 5e, it's worth knowing ahead of time that in the DnD Monster Manual, there are 35 monsters with lightning damage resistance, 10 monsters with lightning damage immunity, and yes - 0 monsters with lightning damage vulnerability.
Of course, you may come across situations where your dungeon master throws in enemies who have lightning damage vulnerability, but aside from that, call lightning only has liabilities. As with spells like acid splash 5e and burning hands 5e, where tons of monsters have resistance, be very careful about using call lightning on enemies. The worst thing you can have happen is to only deal half damage - or even no damage - against enemies, from casting your 3rd-level spell.
Combine Call Lightning with the Following Spells
Pretty much every damage-based spell becomes more powerful when combined with other spells. Try out some of these high-powered mixtures for some spectacular results.
- Alarm 5e: this one's a little more for fun than optimization. But just imagine setting up the alarm spell while you sleep outdoors. If a group of goblins comes to ambush you, not only are they surprised when your party is already awake, but they'll be absolutely stunned to see the flashing light of an incoming lightning bolt.
- Bane 5e: as with basically every damage spell in D&D, casting bane on your target to lower their saving throw by 1d4 before crushing them with lightning is a major plus. Note that since bane, like call lightning, is also a concentration spell, you'll need to have an ally to set up this combo.
- Haste 5e: since call lightning 5e says that "on each of your turns until the spell ends, you can use your action to call down lightning," it isn't perfectly clear if the limit of lightning bolts is once per turn, or once per action you spend. If the limit is actually actions spent, then having haste maintained on you by an ally actually allows you to effectively double-cast call lightning each turn, causing really massive damage into entire groups of enemies. In any case, this is one where you should strongly consider asking your dungeon master for backup, to let you have some lightning-based fun.
Call Lightning 5e Counters
As with any spell that requires concentration, you have to be cautious about taking damage, or else the spell effect could fade. Also, just note that any enemy who has silence 5e can prevent you from casting call lightning. Meanwhile, enemies affected by Bless 5e have +1d4 on their Dexterity saving throws, making call lighting less likely to hit for full damage.
Perhaps one of the biggest counters to call lightning 5e is that enemies can simply leave the 60-foot radius area that the cloud covers. Once enemies are out of that area, they can no longer be targeted by that same call lightning spell.
Call Lightning-Type Spells in Eternity TTRPG
In the Eternity TTRPG Game System, there are actually a number of spells very similar in nature to Call Lightning 5e. I've provided one example below, in case you're interested in other Games Like DnD which you may not have heard about before.
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Author - Jacob Tegtman
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Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GBbHsUFBR8 Transcription Visit the Final Fantasy Tabletop Roleplaying Legend Edition Website . Final Fantasy fans… it’s finally happening. A brand-new tabletop RPG built specifically to capture the tactical, job-swapping, limit-breaking chaos we love from the Final Fantasy series. But… for those of you who are familiar with Final Fantasy d20, and other predecessors to this Legend Edition, why make a whole new system when Final Fantasy Tabletop RPGs have already existed in the past? And what makes the Final Fantasy Legend Edition so special? Today, we’re diving in to the game that aims to become the definitive way to play in Ivalice—or any Final Fantasy world—at your table. Oh, and did I mention that this is a professionally-designed game book and PDF assets for every conceivable part of your game – and it’s all 100% free? That’s right, free. This is a passion project brought to you by Mildra the Monk and his amazing team that they’ve been working on for years. It’s absolutely incredible what they’ve put together, and you can get it for your table today – at no cost. Hey everyone, welcome back to ETTRPG—your home for tabletop news, deep dives, and world-building inspiration. If you love Final Fantasy, Tactics-style combat, or job systems with way too many builds to ever be able to properly enjoy it all, today’s video is for you. So, Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition is a spiritual successor to the long-running Returners’ Final Fantasy RPG and its offshoots like Final Fantasy 4e and Omega Fantasy. But this isn’t just a rehash—this is a completely modernized, research-driven rebuild of the whole system. The devs, among them Mildra the Monk, who has been a big supporter of us at Eternity TTRPG for years, spent three years dissecting the games, the lore, the combat, and all the unique systems that Final Fantasy fans love. The result? An intermediate-complexity tabletop RPG laser-focused on recreating the true Final Fantasy experience – at the table—without any confusing crunch, or decade-old legacy rules. Ok, as I mentioned, there are other Final Fantasy tabletop systems already. But here’s what it boils down to for why it was worth it for Mildra and his team to create this new system. Number one: Simplicity None of the previous games fully capture the mythos of Final Fantasy while still giving players complete setting freedom . Where earlier systems often tied you to a specific world, tone, or era, Legend Edition was built around a single core design principle, which is: “Mythos over setting.” This means the rules capture the soul of Final Fantasy—Summons, Jobs, elemental affinities, cinematic abilities—but they don’t lock you to Ivalice, Gaia, Spira, or any one timeline. Using this game system, you can: Recreate your favorite Final Fantasy world. Mash up multiple games. Or build your own world entirely from scratch. This is FF energy, but not FF rails , that makes it such a big deal. So, moving on, What Makes Legend Edition Stand Out? The first piece is: Ridiculously Modular Character Building. In the future, I plan to do more videos on Final Fantasy Legend Edition. But let’s content ourselves today by summarizing – at least for this section – that there’s 50+ Jobs drawn from across the franchise. Included are fan favorites and long-time classics such as Dragoon, Black Mage, Thief, Time Mage, Gunbreaker, and dozens more. Using these 50+ Jobs, you do in fact have over 25,000 job combinations available to you, as a player. And these aren't “same-y” class splashes. The track-based advancement system makes each mix feel meaningful, distinct, and highly customizable. Oh—and there are 14 playable races taken from the Final Fantasy universe , each with their own unique ability. This is one of the most flexible JRPG-inspired character engines out there. The second big item that makes the Legend Edition Stand Out is Streamlined, Row-Based Combat, like your favorite Final Fantasy games from back in the day. Legend Edition offers an easy-to-learn row-based combat system that keeps the spirit of classic Final Fantasy battles while speeding everything up. You still get things like: Elemental affinities, Status effects, Skills with cinematic alt uses, And powerful Limit break moments. But, the math is way smoother than you’d expect. You won’t need a calculator, like if you took Final Fantasy I directly to your table. Next up is that the book provide you with Mythos-Driven Campaign Systems. Final Fantasy stories, across all games even back to the originals, are political. Big factions, world tension, and meaningful alliances are core to the franchise. Legend Edition builds this directly into play with: A Reputation & Affiliation system . You also have what’s called “The Holdings system” to build your very own base. The game comes with expanded NPC creation rules, and a robust Skill Game system for non-combat set pieces. This is the stuff that makes your campaign feel like a Final Fantasy game, not just another “game like D&D,” but with a “Final Fantasy” sticker slapped on their for flavor. As if all of the core game’s features are not enough, The Expansion Books Are pretty Wild. The Ultimania Expansion adds: 28 new races , 4 new jobs , 300+ sample items , Airship & Mecha creation systems , plus More Skill Games and Affiliations. Meanwhile, the Enemy Intel Field Guide brings you 200 full NPC stat blocks , a Fully detailed bestiary, and Drop-in encounter prep tools. Basically, everything you need as a Dungeon Master to prep your game with maximum Final Fantasy feel, and minimal effort. Additionally, if you want to run FF Tactics, FFIX, FFX, or even a fully original world—these books give you all the toys for each of those specific settings. Wrapping it all up, Legend Edition emulates the cinematic spirit of Final Fantasy with its Big narrative beats, Cutscene-worthy skill moments, Dramatic faction politics, Summons that feel truly mythic, and Job classes that are meaningful extensions of character identity. If you’ve ever said “I wish Final Fantasy had a premier tabletop version,” this is the game you need to try out at your table, next. So, if you’ve made it this far, I think you and I both know it’s time for you to download your free copy of Final Fantasy Legends Edition. I’ve got that link in the video description below. But I want to hear from you: what do you think? Does Legend Edition finally deliver that top-quality Final Fantasy tabletop experience we’ve all been waiting for? And if so, what will be the first Job class you’ll try out? Let me know in the comments. Hit like, subscribe, and share this video with your party. Let’s get Mildra and his team the recognition on this masterpiece that they truly deserve. Until next time—may your crits be big, and your summons be even bigger.
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwDiy7u-wUo Transcription In Kalero, the canyon walls sing. Not literally — but if you listen closely, as the desert wind slips through the stone crypts and carved tombs, you’ll hear something. A rhythm. A pulse. A beat. And when the Crooked Moon dips behind the cliffs, figures begin to emerge — their bones glowing with blue light, their skulls crowned with curls or braids, their steps half-dance, half-swagger. These are the Relicborn — the living memories of Kalero. Dressed in vibrant fabrics, lacquered patterns, and sometimes… a flashy swashbuckler’s cape or rapier at their side. Today on Eternity TTRPG, we’re diving into one of the most joyful, most soulful, and most stylish ancestries in all of Druskenvald. Crooked Moon continues to be one of my favorite adventure supplements of all time, and you can pick it up on D&D Beyond. Whether you’re a player wanting a character with flair, you’re a DM craving new cultural flavor for your campaign, or you’re just a lore-nerd who loves stylish undead — this one’s for you. The Relicborn are a species native to Kalero, a province lined with towering canyon walls carved into catacombs and mausoleums. But despite being born from tombs, they are anything but gloomy. These are living skeletons , decorated with any number of colors, hand-painted motifs, and glowing patterns. Their bones are encased in a translucent magical substance that gives them full humanoid shape. And if your Relicborn wants big curly swashbuckler hair? Yes. They can actually grow it from their skulls. Where they come from is unique: they’re formed in the crypts of Kalero, rising from ancestral memory and celebratory magic rather than necromancy. Theirs is not a culture of undeath — it’s a culture of joy , reflection , and honoring the past through celebration. Every Relicborn is essentially a walking festival — a living memory kept alive through music, dance, and stories. Relicborn society is built on a delicate balance: the energy of a vibrant celebration and the quiet reflection of ancestral remembrance. Imagine communities built along canyons, with lantern-lit walkways leading into ancient tomb-shrines. Families gather at night to play music, tell stories, and dance under blue and purple moonlight — while their ancestors' spirits look on. Their festivals can last days. Their moments of silence last just as long. They thrive in community — in the stories of who came before, and who they themselves will become. Relicborn live roughly 250 years , and when their time ends… they simply collapse gracefully into a pile of bones, returning to the crypts that first birthed them. All of the fun roleplaying stuff aside, let’s break down how their mechanics reflect their culture, starting with the most signature ability: Dance of Death As a bonus action, you make a DC 15 Charisma Performance or Instrument check. If you succeed, your next attack roll this turn has advantage . If you succeed by 5 or more? You roll one of your Hit Dice (without spending it!) and gain temporary hit points . This is perfect for swashbucklers, bards, rogues — anyone who wants to flavor combat like a deadly dance. Next, they have: Eternal Party Relicborn don’t sleep. Instead, they complete a long rest in four hours so long as they spend it in revelry — music, storytelling, gentle dancing, or shared celebrations. Imagine your party taking a rest and your Relicborn swashbuckler quietly jamming with a bone flute while keeping watch. This one’s pretty good: Moment of Remembrance When a creature you see within 30 feet fails a d20 test, you can use your reaction to add 1d4 to their roll. Once you turn a failure into a success, you can’t use it again until a rest. Relicborn are bursting with character potential. They have Incredible aesthetics. From glowing bones to swashbuckler outfits — you can lean into a Day-of-the-Dead style undead, a pirate, a festival style, or something Gothic. If you were to play a Relicborn… What would your glowing bones look like when you’re afraid, happy, or angry? And when your long life ends — what do you hope those you care about remember about you? Drop your ideas in the comments. And if you enjoyed this deep dive into the Relicborn, hit like, subscribe, ring the bell, and join me next time as we explore another Crooked Moon ancestry. Until then — Keep the music playing. Keep the celebrations bright. And may every memory lead you to your next dance.
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl3c6djcgbo Transcription Imagine your character in a folk-horror saga — not just another adventurer, but someone with a personal fate, a hidden thread that drags them deeper into shadows and tragedy… or redemption. That’s exactly what Fateweaving brings to Druskenvald in The Crooked Moon. The Crooked Moon isn’t just another D&D book. It’s a 600-plus-page folk-horror campaign that plops players into a sun-starved realm of nightmares, rituals, and haunted rails. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your home for deep-dive D&D news breakdowns, world-building insights, and tools to level up your tabletop storytelling. Whether you’re a forever-DM, a lore-monster, or someone who appreciates a well-crafted adventure, we tackle the big ideas behind the games you love. And today, as with many videos I’ve created over the past several months, The Crooked Moon gives us plenty to sink our teeth into. What sets Crooked Moon’s System apart from the standard “roll dice, then fight monsters” is the optional system called Fateweaving — a way to bind each character’s past, motivations, and desires directly into the core of the campaign. Fateweaving gives each character a Thread of Fate — one of 13 possible personal arcs. At character creation (or early on), each player picks a Thread that defines a personal goal: lost memories, cursed lineage, spiritual duty, monstrous ambition — you name it. Then, throughout the campaign’s story, the GM weaves in six Narrative Touchpoints specific to that Thread. These form a full character arc , culminating in a personal climax and catharsis that runs parallel to the main story – they’re something much greater than just “side quests.” The first touchpoint, Incitement , ties a character’s personal quest to the campaign’s opening (often aboard the spectral Ghostlight Express or within the Crooked House). As the story progresses, the character meets allies or NPCs connected to their fate, uncovers secrets, faces a personal trial, then pushes through to their own climax — all while the main horror unfolds. In the end, during the epilogue, each character receives Catharsis — the emotional and narrative payoff for their arc. This means every player is actively living their own horror-tale inside the larger one of your full campaign. You might ask: why bother with all this Fate Weaving stuff? It does add potential complexity to your campaign, after all. So why not just run a normal campaign? It’s because Fateweaving transforms The Crooked Moon – or, any campaign you’re running –into a deeply personal story, for the players. It gives each character agency and meaning — their choices and their backstories matter. It increases emotional engagement for players : horror, hope, tragedy — when stakes are personal, every failure and every success resonates. It helps GMs balance player spotlight : with distinct Threads, you can weave in scenes tailored to each player without derailing the main plot. For players who love roleplay and character development — this is the sweet spot. Let’s pick an example Fateweaving Thread — say the Thread of Deliverance – and run through it really quick, just to give you an idea for how this works. The character begins lost, ejected from the spectral train, given only a broken compass. (this is the “Incitement” step) Later, at a trading post, a shady merchant hints he knows of strange artifacts. (this then, is the “Connection” step) On a creepy riverboat, the character recovers the first piece of a broken family heirloom. (with the “Discovery” step) In a haunted cemetery sanctuary, they wrestle the second piece from a statue’s grasp. (the “Confrontation” step) After the final boss — the Crooked Queen — they reclaim the last piece, reforge the heirloom, and choose either to become a ferryman of souls… or walk away free. (culminating in the “Climax + Catharsis” step) Suddenly, your campaign isn’t just “we stopped the big bad.” It’s the players’ story. Their redemption. Their choices. And in this case – even their soul. If you want to try out Crooked Moon’s Fateweaving system, here’s some very easy ways to get started: L et your players pick Threads early in the campaign – or, if you’re already running one, let them pick at your next session – then collaborate to weave their backstories into the world you’re running. Keep the Touchpoints flexible: treat them as narrative prompts — adapt to what your players do rather than forcing them. Be generous with spotlight time: Fateweaving only works if each character actually plays their arc, and gets to express their character through each important moment. Use Touchpoint rewards to drive engagement: use boons, stat bonuses, and narrative closure — they reinforce the importance of the arc. Don’t be afraid to deviate: mix endings, merge threads, or create custom ones — Crooked Moon’s Fateweaving system is meant as building blocks for you, not a cage you have to live in. If you run your next horror campaign in Druskenvald — or any other world where Crooked Moon’s spooky setting fits — consider using Fateweaving. It’s not just good for story… it’s the kind of DM fuel that turns players into protagonists, and campaigns into personal sagas . That’s it for today! If you enjoyed this breakdown, don’t forget to hit like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more RPG-craft content. And hey — maybe share in the comments which Threads of Fate you’d gravitate toward first. Thanks for watching.