Eldritch Blast vs Fire Bolt
The two iconic cantrip attacks. Force-vs-fire and one-beam-vs-many shape the choice.
Eldritch Blast
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Concentration
- No
- Ritual
- No
- Classes
- Warlock
You hurl a beam of crackling energy. Make a ranged spell attack against one creature or object in range. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Force damage.
Full entry →Fire Bolt
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Concentration
- No
- Ritual
- No
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
You hurl a mote of fire at a creature or an object within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Fire damage. A flammable object hit by this spell starts burning if it isn't being worn or carried.
Full entry →Which one should you pick?
- Pick Eldritch Blast: Pick Eldritch Blast (warlock-only) for scaling beams at level 5 / 11 / 17 — and combine with Agonizing Blast for Charisma damage.
- Pick Fire Bolt: Pick Fire Bolt for a single big die (1d10 → 4d10) on any Int caster; one damage roll keeps Quickened Spell efficient.
- Tiebreaker: Eldritch Blast outdamages once you have multiple beams; Fire Bolt wins against enemies with damage thresholds (single hit > threshold).