1st Level Spell #74: Witch Bolt (5E)

[@ChancesSpellbook]

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[@TDSFounder]

After playing a Storm Sorcerer with this spell, you can get a lot of use out of Witch Bolt by using Spell Sniper. Specifically, because keeping the connection doesn't count as casting a spell but an action, if you Quicken another spell you can essentially get keep stacking more damage on the enemy. All you have to do is hit once and depending on the size of the arena and your party composition, you've effectively got a DoT spell on the enemy, which can easily be arranged through the use of something like True Strike or the Help Action.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

That is a very interesting point! I always have a nasty habit of overlooking subclasses! Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Feel free to use the Discount Code 'COMMENT', and get a free One Shot at chancesguild.com/collections/job-board!

[@Erik-um1zn]

True Strike is also a concentration spell, so it is not able to be used in conjunction with Witch Bolt. While Spell Sniper does improve the spell by overcoming one of its weaknesses (short range), there are so many downsides to this spell that it really not make it that much better.

[@chaoscommentary2179]

I can kinda see this working Like magic missiles, the missiles never miss and it’s grate to do at lest some damage to say a monster the party is struggling to hit. So say witch bolt you hit it and you don’t feel like burning up more spell slots you can keep zapping it for free with no attack roll. But then again you could just use tol the dead it’s a cantrip and also a D12 and 60 feet

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Exactly! I think it's super cool thematically, but mechanically it falls a little short!

[@XThexReaperX]

You could probably get the most bang for your buck from Witchbolt by placing it in a portable Glyph of Warding(which you can get around the idiotic 10 rule by sticking it in your demiplane if you're a warlock or in a bag of holding if you're not), allowing you to imbue it with the highest spell slot you can use with a trigger for it to activate upon a creature charging within 25ft of you. That's however many 1d12s striking your opponent with the initial burst of lightning, followed up with a minute's worth of 1d12s you don't have to maintain concentration on and can actually do stuff while it does its thing. Expensive for a one-off magical item? Yes, it is, but by that same token so are a lot of DnD spells/magical items, and this at least gives you a method to use said spell in a manner that lets you take a long rest to recover your spell slots and can avoid being interrupted. The only way I could see it being better is if someone(maybe an Artificer) could turn the spell into a Magic Item. I could see someone turning a Wand of Magic Missile into a Wand of Witch Bolt, or going Mjolnir(or Stormbreaker) with it if they want to spend the time and energy to make it a multi-shot or continuous use item rather than a one and done item.

[@Treblaine]

If this is cast on a Flesh Golem then it will heal them up to 10d12 damage so quite a fun spell for an enemy spellcaster to cast on their Flesh Golem "creation".

[@CurlyHairedRogue]

I’m just picturing an Izzet Goblin Artificer that somehow gets this as an artificer spell. Running circles around them by disengaging every turn and forcing them to disengage from the barbar they’re fighting to attack this cackling midget with an amped-up Tesla coil on his back.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Hahah That would be sooo awesome!

[@CurlyHairedRogue]

Chance's D&D Spellbook right?? For the record though, it’s actually really for making enemies disengage. It’s like a minor fear effect! ^_^

[@thehiddenninja3428]

@@CurlyHairedRogue Either that or make them attack you in order to break your concentration

[@CurlyHairedRogue]

The Hidden Ninja good luck then, artificers gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, and it can be stacked with warcaster for extra concentration durability.

[@GeminiLibra73]

Dungeon Dudes did a nice revision of this in one of their spell-fixing vids.

[@thehiddenninja3428]

With spell sniper this goes to 60 feet, so you could use it to kite a melee opponent. With Distant spell this goes to 120 feet, so there's no risk of them moving either 30 feet closer to you to attack, or 30 feet away bringing them beyond range. So you could successfully kite!

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Haha Jeez, poor creature!

[@pencilbender]

you can also twin it in stead of using distant

[@RevRa-3]

Alrighty. Here's the dealio. Make a Variant Human Evocation Wizard, taking the Lightning Elemental Adept feat for your free feat. Invest your free points into Intelligence and Constitution. Then for your first ASI, forego it and get the Spell Sniper Feat for the Wizard to increase that range to 60 feet. Then use two more of the ASIs to max out your Intelligence. Use one of your remaining ASIs to grab the Resilient Feat in Constitution, making you proficient in those as well. Then grab the War Caster feat at the end for Advantage in Constitution Saves for Concentration. I think I mitigated the downsides of the spells. The range is now 60 feet. It ignores all cover but full, and at 5th Level you can Overchannel it for an initial flat 60+5 Lightning Damage on that first turn. And while I'm not too sure about this, I think the Overchannel carries over into the other additional d12? Not entirely sure on that part, but if it doesn't theb the bare minimum damage you get on all of those additional d12 is 20 additional Lightning Damage thanks to Elemental Adept. EDIT: So I came in clutch today with Witch Bolt at the latest session. We were fighting a Black Dragonborn, and my Warlock hit him with a 4th Level Witch Bolt. 44 Lightning Damage on the first burst and that was enough to finish off the Dragonborn.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Very cool! Ermac you've done it again!

[@zwordsman]

So you rolled 44 on the 4d12? Thats some good rolls

[@SpidermanandhisAmazingFriends]

Forgive my double post, but using this with Glyph of Warding can set up an interesting trap. Just also have the Glyphs also have Stinking Cloud and a few counter spells. This is a nice resource drain to get things started.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Very interesting! Sounds like a very evil trap!

[@tinear4]

Though this spell is almost universally disparaged, I still wish it was on the list for Tempest domain clerics. They at least could pair it with Thunderbolt Strike for battlefield control.

[@themalcontent100]

I think that this spell might be better as an enchantment on a turret. A turret that has only one spell slot. Or as a scroll where the wizard wants to horde his spell slots. If the player doesn't have time for full rests, and wants to save his spells for the next battle.

[@lightseekerdarkdevourer7635]

Question for devout DnD players. "Can you use your haste action to trigger witch bolt?" Here is the argument. Witch bolt drops when any action is used other than itself (2:11) Haste strictly states what actions can be made with the +1 action. It counts as an action because haste says so, but it does not include triggering spells. Hence If you use hasted action ever you drop witch bolt. I really wanted to create a sorcerer with 120ft witch bolt and cook big bad real fast with auto hits. (seriously, the dice hate me hence auto hitting being a fav.) Bonus action cast with quicken, immediately use action to trigger witch bolt (2d12), action serge from fighter class(3d12), then haste action(4d12+ other modifiers) descent damage for lv 1 spell on first turn no less. perhaps 3rd lv witch bolt and no higher (12d12 total dice)

[@molluskscommawethe]

Ok, so divination wizard/tempest cleric (Krig Crimson, the hobgoblin). Every day is a ~10-15% chance to have a 20 in one of my portents (while I am preparing spells.) I do not depend on a critical hit to be effective but having one in my pocket will allow me to delete a powerful enemy that day. Destructive wrath (2nd lvl tempest) also maximizes crit damage, so as an example, at the earliest opportunity (4th level), chromatic orb upcast to 2nd can achieve 64 lightning/thunder damage on a target. Witch bolt will surpass chromatic orb at a 5th level slot, doing 120 lightning damage on a channeled crit. With a 9th level slot, witch bolt will crit for 216 damage, enough to bypass legendary resistance and one-shot most adult dragons (if there are any in the court of the crimson Krig that need to be made an example of.) I started this wanting to be a gish, and look what it got me.

[@moonlight2870]

This is actually decent in warlocks. They always gonna cast it at the maximum level, and have limited spell slots so the extra d12 every round can be useful. But also, you could use it witha melee sorcerer. Grab yourself a glaive use witchbolt 10 ft away from your opponent then cast booming blade with the glave and the quick spell metamagic. Now your opponent can't move away from the bolt or move closer to hit you, or else they'll take damage from booming blade. You can't do this forever, and honestly there's MUCH better use for your spell points. But it's a funny little interaction.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Very interesting idea!

[@andersonborges8069]

But I disagree regarding warlocks, Eldritch Blast just outdamages it, especially lvl 5+

[@wayneslater5531]

Since Tasha's, Booming blade requires the target to be within 5 feet of you. So this doesn't work anymore. And after level5, Eldrich Blast will put out more damage round after round than a sustained WB will.

[@zbane8832]

I mistakenly stated the caster could take other actions, when the spell says they cannot. Apologies, all you can do with your action is automatically deal 1d12 lighting damage every turn. Works for me still as a low level control effect.

[@SpidermanandhisAmazingFriends]

If you are really desperate for that generic Ghostbusters feel witch bolt is the answer for you.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Haha that would be one way to look at it!

[@MegaVergan]

I had a villian use it against an npc who was an allie of the party while interrogating another player.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Oof that's evil!

[@TDSFounder]

It's Force Lightning basically. If the range was longer then it'd be decent, but aside from Bonus Action Cantrips or if you have some means of making the enemy vulnerable to lightning, the only thing I'd think its good for is continuous damage on an enemy who is hard to hit but low HP. Oh wait, it doesn't state that you need to keep seeing the enemy so even if they turn invisible you can keep shocking them as long as they stay in range or you chase them or have Spell Sniper, right?

[@ChancesSpellbook]

I definitely think a range boost could help Witch Bolt out! I'm not too sure about the Invisibility though, I'd run it past your DM

[@ThaCowGuy]

Huh, question if i were to use witchbolt as a sorcerer and use quickened spell would you say to maintain concentration would also be bonus actions? I read both the descriptions and it doesn’t specifically clarify all i can see is that DMs approval is required, would love to hear your thoughts about this tho

[@RevRa-3]

Probably not Lambo, while the casting would be the Bonus Action the additional d12s would still br an action to use

[@ThaCowGuy]

Ermac Macro not so sure about this since quickened spell specificly says its a bonus action instead of action for this casting and the “action” is just to maintain focus not a recasting

[@RevRa-3]

@@ThaCowGuy It changes the casting time to a Bonus Action. It doesn't make the additional effects a bonus action

[@zwordsman]

RAW it won't change it. But, a nice GM would let you switch it

[@binolombardi]

ThaCowGuy If you cast the spell as a bonus action, and hit, then you would be able to use your action on the same turn to deal another 1d12 damage automatically. This is only possible on the first turn you cast. The following list of spells can be cast as a bonus action if quickened and have an action given the the spells themselves that can be used I. The same turn. Some are much better than others. Witch bolt Maximilian’s earthen grasp Call lightning Vampiric touch Control water Watery sphere Control winds Dispel evil and good Enervation Mislead Wall of light Eye bite Investiture of flame Investiture of ice Investiture of stone Investiture of wind Sunbeam Project image Whirlwind Shape change

[@JustHANO]

3rd - 4th level divine soul sorcerer. 1st turn spiritual weapon, 2nd turn witch bolt plus distant metamagic (or spell sniper). If it lands, 6.5 auto dpr, plus spiritual weapon dpr is better than guided bolt plus cantrips depending on the creature ac right?

[@commanderroddi7742]

As warlock, early onHex and Eldritch blast is better. Wizzards and Sorcerers shoud get chromatic orb and forebolt. Better results that way

[@guyclykos]

It's a good damaging spell for someone who's level 2 but I'll definitely be swapping it out later on.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

I agree! That's what I assume is the most common practice! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Feel free to use the Discount Code 'COMMENT', and get a free One Shot at chancesguild.com/collections/job-board!

[@Erik-um1zn]

Its not even good for level one. Really, it's only good in the most narrow or contrived situations.

[@lukeamparo6586]

Does the Meta Magic distant spell double the range the spell has during its duration or just the initial hit? If one is in Greater Invisibility can one cast this spell but not concentrate thus keeping invisibility? Also like this spell as some menacing or evil character who uses it like Palpatine in Star Wars. UNLIMITED POWEAAHHH⚡️⚡️⚡️😈

[@randus7053]

Would be better if it added ability modifier, generally magic missile seems better in terms of damage.

[@WolfHreda]

Time for the question: Is it twinnable? The only hang-up I could see here is the fact that it's a concentration spell.

[@Runningtail]

UNLIMITED POWER!

[@choochooshoe4222]

Does witch bolt not hit the targets between the caster and the target? I imagine that any creature finding itself between the line when it gets activated would also take the damage along the way?

[@MattNeisinger]

Flavor-wise, I really wanted to like this spell, but there's just too much wrong with it. Emperor Palpatine would never use this.

[@bendowling522]

Making it 60 ft range, bonus action damage on subsequent turns, and make it second level for balance.

[@belcoot1]

You're right the spell isn't one of the best however I did find good used in it. A DM of mine had a hero versus Villains campaign and I was part of the villain side. So I found a band of mercenaries and captured leader. using shackles, witch Bolt, and a long night of torture I convinced him to join our cause under the guise of himself. He was the perfect little figure-head from my small army.

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Haha that was a little darker than I was expecting, but still... Good job! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Feel free to use the Discount Code 'COMMENT', and get a free One Shot at chancesguild.com/collections/job-board!

[@JackBlack-qn7us]

Question. Do you need to reroll to hit for secondary damage?

[@Erik-um1zn]

no.

[@zwordsman]

I wish Alchemist ARtificer had this.. they realllly need long lasting spell effects. and damage. Could get it via magic initiate... buut it won't count as a Alchemist Spell, so i couldn't do much with it probably. (at that point why not magic missle if one wantd a one use attack.. though wtich bolt could give you several turns i guess) if it was and allowed the +INT efect. it would be solid for them. inherently though you could use witchbolt to target an ally for effects.. like making more witch bolt valid lightnings. or fishing with it. it does require hurting your ally with it. but it makes hilarious roleplay for electric fishing. though that does require the GM to rule it would actually do anything in the water. so might not work

[@ChancesSpellbook]

I think this might be a little too good if the Artificer got their hands on this! I like where your heads at though!

[@zbane8832]

Okay, this is imo a good spell for a few reasons. Firstly, it's only level 1, so the resource drain is minimal. Secondly, it can easily be cast on an opponent engaged with a front line fighter, giving that opponent the option to retreat beyond its range, which will require either a disengage from the fighter or provoke an opportunity attack from the fighter (possibly more that one depending on how many other characters are on the front line and able to make an opportunity attack upon any "lit up" retreating enemy. Twinned, this doubles the jeapordy to the enemy front line obviously. So it becomes a tactical option. Second, the spell does not require the caster to "see" the target, so going invisible won't help, as that's not cover additionally the invisible enemy can be targeted by witch bolt, as the description doesn't disallow targeting opponents who cannot be seen. All this for one measly first level spell. At my table (and maybe not your) I would remove the disadvantage to hitting an invisible enemy under the effect of a witch bolt as well. All that being said, the caster isn't required to use any actions on subsequent turns to inflict more damage, it's merely an option. The caster can still spellcast, help, dodge, disengage melee attack, move and anything else he or she desires. The onus is placed on the target to decide how it wishes to deal with the "locked" spell. All for only 1 measly first level spell. So that's my 2 cents about a spell I view as battlefield control.

[@Erik-um1zn]

You are in error on your interpretation of the spell. The spell caster is required to use their action on the following turns to continue the spell, or the spell ends.

[@zbane8832]

Look up one post...

[@leonemaledetto1500]

It's literally worst than a cantrip

[@ChancesSpellbook]

Yeah, I think it could use a little reworking!