Fire Bolt
Cantrip · Evocation
- Damage
- Attack Roll
A cantrip in the evocation school, Fire Bolt appears on the sorcerer and wizard lists. Cast time: Action. Range 120 feet, components V/S, duration instantaneous. Effect: You hurl a mote of fire at a creature or an object within range.
Stat Block
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Evocation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 120 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
- Material
- —
Description
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.
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
Evocations are the most demanding spells to position. The same fireball that wins the fight from twenty feet up loses it from twenty feet down. Fire Bolt is Evocation: the spell focuses magical energy into a visible, immediate effect. Cantrips like Fire Bolt scale with character level, not slot cost.
Class Fit
- Sorcerer: Draconic, Wild Magic, Aberrant Mind, Clockwork Soul, and Lunar Sorcerers each get subclass-bonus spells. If Fire Bolt is already on the bonus list, save the known-spell budget. The 120-foot range on Fire Bolt leaves room for the caster to stay in the back line.
- Wizard: At tier 1 Wizards have small prepared lists. Fire Bolt earns its place by either being always-relevant (Shield, Mage Armor) or by being the right answer to a known problem. Fire Bolt reaches 120 feet, which lets the caster stay clear of the front line.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Cantrip; 1d10 fire damage at 120 ft scaling to 4d10. The default Wizard damage cantrip.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Fire Bolt
- What level spell is Fire Bolt?
- The spell Fire Bolt is a cantrip in the Evocation school. Sorcerer, Wizard all have access to it.
- How much damage does Fire Bolt deal?
- Fire Bolt deals 1d10 fire damage as its base effect.
- Does Fire Bolt require a spell attack roll?
- Yes — Fire Bolt requires a spell attack roll. The caster adds their spellcasting modifier and proficiency to d20 against the target's AC.
- What is the range of Fire Bolt?
- From the caster's position, Fire Bolt reaches 120 feet.
- What components and casting time does Fire Bolt need?
- For Fire Bolt: the cast needs V, S, casting is a normal Action.