Top 10 D&D 5e Reaction Spells
The best D&D 5e spells that use a reaction — Shield, Counterspell, Absorb Elements, Hellish Rebuke, and six more.
Reactions are the rarest action type in 5e — one per round, triggered by specific events. The spells that use them punch far above their slot level because they happen exactly when you need them.
- 1.Shield
+5 AC on a single attack. The most-cast reaction in the game.
Auto-counters enemy spells of slot ≤ yours.
- 3.Absorb Elements
Half elemental damage plus +d6 to your next melee attack.
Warlock; 2d10 fire damage when you take damage. Strongest level-1 reaction damage.
- 5.Silvery Barbs
Force an attacker to reroll the hit. Strixhaven Press.
No-save fall protection for five creatures. Niche but life-saving.
- 7.Banishing Smite
Paladin; dump a target to the banished plane on a hit.
- 8.Wrathful Smite
Paladin; frightened on a Wis save.
- 9.Beast Bond
Druid; reaction-cast 1-hour telepathy with an animal. Niche utility.
- 10.Identify
Not technically reaction — but the only ritual that doesn't need 10 minutes when needed urgently.