Lightning Bolt 5e
Lightning Bolt is a 3rd-level spell that blasts a line 100 feet long and 5 feet wide from you. Each creature in the line makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 8d6 lightning damage (average 28) on a failure or half on a success. Each slot level above 3rd adds 1d6 damage.
Pick a slot and press Roll.
Lightning Bolt at a glance
| Level | 3rd-level evocation |
| Casting time | 1 action |
| Range | Self (100-foot-long, 5-foot-wide line) |
| Components | V, S, M (2014: a bit of fur and a rod of amber, crystal, or glass; 2024: a bit of fur and a crystal rod) |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Classes | Sorcerer, Wizard |
| Resolution | Dexterity saving throw; half damage on a success |
| Damage type | Lightning |
Lightning Bolt damage by slot level
| Slot | Dice | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd-level slot | 8d6 | 8 | 28 | 48 |
| 4th-level slot | 9d6 | 9 | 31.5 | 54 |
| 5th-level slot | 10d6 | 10 | 35 | 60 |
| 6th-level slot | 11d6 | 11 | 38.5 | 66 |
| 7th-level slot | 12d6 | 12 | 42 | 72 |
| 8th-level slot | 13d6 | 13 | 45.5 | 78 |
| 9th-level slot | 14d6 | 14 | 49 | 84 |
How Lightning Bolt works
How it works: A bolt of lightning shoots out from you in a direction you choose, forming a line 100 feet long and 5 feet wide. Every creature in the line makes a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure it takes 8d6 lightning damage; on a success it takes half. Roll the damage once for all targets.
Upcasting: Each slot level above 3rd adds 1d6, the same scaling as Fireball. A 5th-level Lightning Bolt deals 10d6 (average 35).
Lightning Bolt vs Fireball: Both deal 8d6 at 3rd level, so the difference is shape. Fireball hits a wide 20-foot-radius sphere at range and suits clustered groups. Lightning Bolt starts at you and reaches enemies lined up in a corridor or approaching in single file, and its narrow line makes it easier to avoid allies standing beside the path.
Side effects: Flammable objects in the line that no one is wearing or carrying catch fire. Against creatures that resist or are immune to fire, Lightning Bolt is the safer 3rd-level area spell.
Lightning Bolt: 2014 vs 2024 rules
| 2014 PHB | 2024 PHB | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 8d6 lightning | 8d6 lightning |
| Upcasting | +1d6 per slot above 3rd | +1d6 per slot above 3rd |
| Area | 100-foot by 5-foot line from you | 100-foot by 5-foot line from you |
| Save | Dexterity, half on success | Dexterity, half on success |
Lightning Bolt FAQ
How much damage does Lightning Bolt do in 5e?
It deals 8d6 lightning damage at 3rd level, from 8 to 48 with an average of 28. Creatures that pass the Dexterity save take half.
Is Lightning Bolt or Fireball better?
They deal the same 8d6 damage. Fireball covers a 20-foot-radius sphere at a point up to 150 feet away, while Lightning Bolt is a 100-foot line from you. Choose by how the enemies are positioned and what they resist.
Does Lightning Bolt scale with higher spell slots?
Yes. It adds 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd, reaching 14d6 (average 49) with a 9th-level slot.
Related
Other 3rd-level spells
- Animate Dead
- Bestow Curse
- Blink
- Clairvoyance
- Counterspell
- Daylight
- Dispel Magic
- Fear
- Fireball
- Fly
- Gaseous Form
- Glyph of Warding
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Contains content from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.