Blade Barrier
Level 6 · Evocation
- Concentration
- Damage
- Save
Blade Barrier occupies the evocation school at level 6, available to cleric. Cast time: Action. Range 90 feet, components V/S, duration up to 10 minutes. Marked concentration. Effect: You create a wall of whirling blades made of magical energy.
Stat Block
- Level
- 6
- School
- Evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- up to 10 minutes
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Cleric
- Material
- —
Description
You create a wall of whirling blades made of magical energy. The wall appears within range and lasts for the duration. You make a straight wall up to 100 feet long, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick, or a ringed wall up to 60 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, and 5 feet thick. The wall provides Three-Quarters Cover, and its space is Difficult Terrain. Any creature in the wall's space makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 6d10 Force damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature also makes that save if it enters the wall's space or ends it turn there. A creature makes that save only once per turn.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
The Evocation tradition is direct. A spell is cast, an energy is released, a creature loses hit points. The school is the simplest to read and the hardest to play well, because positioning is the difference between a good Fireball and a TPK. Blade Barrier sits in Evocation because the spell focuses magical energy into a visible, immediate effect. Level-6 slots are rare; Blade Barrier earns its cast when the fight truly needs it.
Class Fit
- Cleric: Clerics often prep Blade Barrier for a single arc — a kidnapping arc, a planar arc, a politics arc — and swap it out when the arc ends. Blade Barrier's concentration requirement makes it vulnerable to a single failed save when the caster takes damage.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Blade Barrier
- What level spell is Blade Barrier?
- Blade Barrier sits at level 6 in the Evocation school of magic, prepared by Cleric.
- How much damage does Blade Barrier deal?
- Blade Barrier deals 6d10 force damage as its base effect.
- What save does Blade Barrier require?
- Targets of Blade Barrier make a Dexterity saving throw against the caster's spell save DC. On a success, the spell's effect is reduced or negated; see the description for exact terms.
- What is the range of Blade Barrier?
- From the caster's position, Blade Barrier reaches 90 feet.
- Is Blade Barrier a concentration spell?
- Blade Barrier runs on concentration for up to 10 minutes. The caster can drop it on their next turn or lose it to a failed save after taking damage.
- What components and casting time does Blade Barrier need?
- Blade Barrier requires V, S, on a standard one-action cast.