Insect Plague
Level 5 · Conjuration
- Concentration
- Damage
- Save
- AOE
- Summon
Listed under conjuration, Insect Plague costs a 5th-level slot for cleric, druid, and sorcerer casters. Cast time: Action. Range 300 feet, components V/S/M, duration up to 10 minutes. Material: a locust. Marked concentration. Effect: Swarming locusts fill a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point you choose within range. At higher levels: The damage increases by 1d10 for each spell slot level above 5.
Stat Block
- Level
- 5
- School
- Conjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 300 feet (20-foot radius sphere)
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 10 minutes
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer
- Material
- a locust
Description
Swarming locusts fill a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point you choose within range. The Sphere remains for the duration, and its area is Lightly Obscured and Difficult Terrain. When the swarm appears, each creature in it makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 4d10 Piercing damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature also makes this save when it enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there. A creature makes this 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
Conjuration is the school of making something appear where nothing was. Summoned creatures, conjured objects, opened portals — every spell in the school changes the contents of a space. The school tag on Insect Plague is obvious from the effect — the spell places matter or creatures into the world that were not there before the cast. The 5th-level slot is precious; Insect Plague earns its slot or doesn't.
Class Fit
- Cleric: Clerics often prep Insect Plague for a single arc — a kidnapping arc, a planar arc, a politics arc — and swap it out when the arc ends. Concentration is the binding cost — Insect Plague can't share a slot with another concentration spell.
- Druid: Druid concentration is precious. Most Druids prep one big concentration spell and one non-concentration utility per day; Insect Plague fits one of those slots. As a concentration spell, Insect Plague occupies the caster's single concentration slot.
- Sorcerer: Twin Spell turns single-target spells into two-target spells; if Insect Plague is single-target, Twin doubles its value. Insect Plague has an at-higher-levels rule; the spell's per-slot scaling makes upcasting worthwhile in the right context.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Insect Plague
- What level spell is Insect Plague?
- In D&D 5e, Insect Plague is classified as a level 5 spell of the Conjuration school. Available classes: Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer.
- How much damage does Insect Plague deal?
- The damage roll on Insect Plague is 4d10 of piercing damage at base. Upcast slots add to that figure.
- What save does Insect Plague require?
- Insect Plague calls for a Constitution save against the caster's DC. Success conditions are described in the spell text.
- What is the range of Insect Plague?
- From the caster's position, Insect Plague reaches 300 feet.
- Is Insect Plague a concentration spell?
- Concentration is required for Insect Plague, with a maximum duration up to 10 minutes. The concentration rules apply: one at a time, and Con saves on damage.
- What components and casting time does Insect Plague need?
- Note: Insect Plague requires V, S, M. Beyond that — Material component: a locust.