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List of bugged spells

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This list aims to catalogue spells which do not function as would be expected based on their tooltips, or which have other problems - or missing information - in their description, function, or location. This list is unlikely to be comprehensive as it is likely there are many issues with spells of which we are unaware.

As this list deals with problems that have a high likelihood of being changed in patches and hotfixes, it is likely that entries will be incorrect following an update.

All entries are currently correct as of Hotfix 29.

Spells[edit | edit source]

Name Bugs
Absorb Elements Absorb Elements

  • Absorb Elements can apply its damage bonus multiple times to a single weapon attack.
Accursed Spectre (reaction) Accursed Spectre (reaction)

  • The feature has a once-per-long-rest limit set incorrectly in the game files. As a result, it can be used an unlimited number of times per rest.
Acid Breath Acid Breath

  • The tool-tip incorrectly describes the area of effect as a cone, while it is instead a line.
Blade Barrier Blade Barrier

  • Spell save DC for this spell is not functioning properly. The initial spell save DC for damage caused by casting and entering the wall is fixed at 15, the DC for starting a turn inside the wall is fixed at 3, and the DC for starting a turn near the wall is fixed at 10.
Blink Blink

  • Despite purposely ignoring the functor which breaks Concentration, a StatusGroup error still breaks Concentration when vanishing.
Brace (Melee) Brace (Melee)

  • When used with Savage Attacker, it will roll each dice 3 times and use the highest result.
    • The tooltip is showing 4 rolls but it appears to be a bug as of patch 6.
  • When used with Savage Attacker and Great Weapon Fighting, it will do a first roll and reroll if it's a 1 or 2, and then roll 2 more times and use the highest result.
    • The tooltip is showing 4 to 6 rolls but it appears to be a bug as of patch 6.
Branding Smite Branding Smite

  • Branding Smite cast at the fourth level incorrectly lists tooltip damage using the second level of the spell.
Bulwark Rebuke Bulwark Rebuke

  • This ability incorrectly calculates half damage on a saving throw as 1d4Damage TypesForce instead of (2d4)/2Damage TypesForce.
Channel Divinity: Cloak of Shadows Channel Divinity: Cloak of Shadows

  • Contrary to its description, it does not actually require the user to be obscured, and can be used in plain view of others, even in bright light.
Cloudkill Cloudkill

  • If upcast to level 6, Cloudkill will create an invisible cloud due to the surface lacking an attached particle effect.
    • NPCs will not automatically leave this cloud, as its surface ID is missing from character PathInfluence.
    • Recasting Cloudkill after it was upcast to level 6 will cast the level 5 version of the spell instead.
Concussive Smash (Spiritual Weapon) Concussive Smash (Spiritual Weapon)

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Counterspell Counterspell

  • Arcane Ward will only ever be fed 3 charges, regardless of spell Level used, due to how an additional hidden Counterspell is cast based on success/failure
Curriculum of Strategy: Artistry of War Curriculum of Strategy: Artistry of War

  • The damage per apparition shown on the in-game tooltip is correct (2d6 + 6Damage TypesForce), but the overall damage listed is incorrect. The tooltip claims it deals 12d6 + 6Damage TypesForce instead of 12d6 + 36Damage TypesForce damage total.
Cutting Words Cutting Words

  • Cutting Words may target friendly characters whose failed rolls prompted the effect, as opposed to the enemy character who rolled a save
Dawnburst Strike Dawnburst Strike

  • The description in-game notes an incorrect DC 13  Constitution saving throw save. It requires a Weapon Action save with a +2 DC bonus.
  • Despite the in-game description stating only enemies in the light must save against becoming blinded, the blindness affects all creatures in the area, even allies.
Death Burst (Mud) Death Burst (Mud)

  • The tooltip states that this action deals 4d6Damage TypesBludgeoning damage, but it actually deals 4d6Damage TypesForce.
Defensive Duellist Defensive Duellist

  • Unlike similar reactions (Shield Master: Block), the icon for Defensive Duellist in the reactions tab does not "gray out" when the reaction is unavailable due to an incompatible equipped weapon.
Deflect Missiles Deflect Missiles

  • This feature seems to behave weirdly with certain weapons, possibly due to bugs.
    • Deflect Missiles does not trigger at all against attacks from Giantbreaker.
    • Against dual wielding Hand Crossbows, the first attack will always hit; the second attack can be reduced by Deflect Missiles, but Deflect Missiles (Return) never triggers.
Destructive Wave Destructive Wave

Detect Thoughts Detect Thoughts

  • Despite the tooltip saying this spell uses either Intelligence or Wisdom, only the creature’s Intelligence is used, even if its Wisdom is higher. This is likely an oversight.
Diving Strike Diving Strike

  • If this attack misses and Reckless Attack Reckless Attack is triggered in response, the attack roll will not actually get rerolled, so it will always still miss. However, if Reckless Attack is already active, the attack roll will be made with Advantage Icon.png Advantage as expected.
Dominate Person Dominate Person

  • The level 10 Enchantment Wizard feature Split Enchantment Split Enchantment will allow targeting 2 humanoids with Dominate Person, but will not result in dominating both, even with failed saves, as the second instance of domination ends the effect of the first.
Drunken Inhale Drunken Inhale

  • The tooltip says that targets still take half damage on a successful save, but they actually take (2d8)/2Damage TypesPoison damage which is a quarter of the normal damage.
Edge of Darkness Edge of Darkness

  • The ingame tooltip for this action is inaccurate and missing key information:
    • The tooltip does not mention the fact that once you strike the main target, an additional attack is made against every creature within the 3 m / 10 ft radius around that target, including allies.
      • These additional attacks also deal Weapon DamageDamage TypesPiercing damage, including all normal weapon damage bonuses, despite some inconsistencies in the combat log.
      • On-hit reactions such as Divine Smite Divine Smite can be applied to each creature hit by this action (at the cost of multiple spell slots, in the case of Divine Smite).
    • The tooltip claims there is an associated Constitution saving throw, but this is not true.
Elemental Retort Elemental Retort

  • Silence Silence does not prevent Lorroakan from casting this spell despite technically requiring a verbal component.
Elemental Weapon Elemental Weapon

  • Elemental Weapon lacks upcast versions for all variants above spell level 4 except Elemental Weapon: Acid Elemental Weapon: Acid. Additionally, Elemental Weapon: Thunder Elemental Weapon: Thunder is bugged at level 4 due to a mistake in the Root Spell ID. This makes all variants except acid unusable by a level 9+ Hexblade who only have level 5 spell slots.
Find Familiar Find Familiar

  • There are many bugs associated with familiars, with many of them not getting proper bonuses to attacks or damage based on their attributes, and some of them not requiring attack rolls for their basic attacks at all. [Needs Verification]
Fist of Four Thunders Fist of Four Thunders

Flaming Sphere Flaming Sphere

  • The DC for the Flaming Sphere's attack is always calculated using the caster's Wisdom modifier, even for wizards.
Fly (Illithid Power) Fly (Illithid Power)

  • While it is supposed to replace the Jump action's keybinding, this interaction is unreliable and seems to be bugged. It will often initially work, but then be reset to Jump when e.g. loading a saved game.
Giant's Rage Giant's Rage

  • The throw damage bonus does not scale with Barbarian level. At level 9 the normal Rage damage bonus increases to +3, but the throw damage bonus remains at +4.
Greataxe Slash Greataxe Slash

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Greatsword Slash Greatsword Slash

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Hail of Thorns Hail of Thorns

  • The damage tooltip for Hail of Thorns displays it benefitting from weapon damage increasing effects, such as Sharpshooter: All In Sharpshooter: All In, but none of these effects function.
Halberd Slash Halberd Slash

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Heart of the Storm: Lightning Heart of the Storm: Lightning

  • Despite its tooltip stating otherwise, Heart of the Storm activates on cantrips.
Heart of the Storm: Thunder Heart of the Storm: Thunder

  • Despite its tooltip stating otherwise, Heart of the Storm activates on cantrips.
Hellfire Orb Hellfire Orb

  • The description states that "Hellfire burns with more fervour than any mortal flame, ignoring Resistance and Immunity to Fire damage." However, this spell does not actually ignore resistance or immunity to fire damage.
Hellflame Cleave Hellflame Cleave

  • Despite the tooltip saying that Hellfire ignores resistances and immunities, it does not.
Heroes' Feast Heroes' Feast

Hex Hex

  • If a creature has Hex applied, and lands a Critical Hit against the caster that triggers any "on hit / damage" abilities to damage the hexed creature, the damage of Hex Hex is doubled along with the regular damage of the crit.
    • For example, a Goblin Warlock casts Armour of Agathys Armour of Agathys on themselves, and then Hex Hex5Damage TypesCold damage from Armour of Agathys Armour of Agathys in the process. This triggers Hex Hex to deal an additional 1d6Damage TypesNecrotic to Lae'zel, which is then erroneously doubled to 2d6Damage TypesNecrotic due to the Critical Hit.
Hunger of Hadar Hunger of Hadar

  • The spell mistakenly uses a fixed Spell Save DC of 12 instead of the caster's, although this only affects the 2d6Damage TypesAcid damage as the rest of the spell's effects do not require a saving throw.
Immolating Gaze Immolating Gaze

  • The additional damage against Burning Burning creatures is currently bugged; it only applies to creatures that succeed the saving throw. On a failure the damage is still 2d8.
Invoke Duplicity Invoke Duplicity

  • The illusion is destroyed when it is targeted by any effect, even if it is the target of a friendly Mass Healing Word Mass Healing Word.
Keeper's Fee Keeper's Fee

  • This spell does absolutely nothing. Despite what is shown by the in-game tooltip, it does not inflict Cursed: Strength Cursed: Strength. It is supposed to apply Disarmed Disarmed, but the condition application is incorrectly tagged as an AI hint rather than actually applying the condition.
Lacerate (Spiritual Weapon) Lacerate (Spiritual Weapon)

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin

  • The Difficulty Class (DC) of the Slayer's Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin, Piercing Growl Piercing Growl, Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge, Slay Slay, and Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath uses the Spellcasting ability of the last class you took a first level in, but at the Slayer's new stats. This makes it incredibly hard to successfully use their effects, as Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Rangers will receive a +0 roll bonus from Intelligence/Wisdom, while Barbarians, Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks will receive a -1 roll bonus from Charisma.
Lightning Breath Lightning Breath

  • The tool-tip incorrectly describes the area of effect as a cone, while it is instead a line.
Magic Awareness Magic Awareness

  • This effect incorrectly provides a D4 Physical.png 1d4 bonus to Saving Throws instead of adding a character's Proficiency Bonus.
Maul Blow Maul Blow

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Moonbeam Moonbeam

  • Despite being an Evocation spell, Moonbeam does not interact with Sculpt Spells Sculpt Spells.
Multiattack (Malus Thorm) Multiattack (Malus Thorm)

Multiattack (Slayer) Multiattack (Slayer)

  • The description for this ability states it conditionally deals an additional 4d6Damage TypesSlashing damage, but no such effect exists.
Ochre Sputum (grease) Ochre Sputum (grease)

  • The in-game description mentions it creates an Acid Acid surface when instead it creates a Grease Grease surface.
Phalar Aluve: Shriek Phalar Aluve: Shriek

  • Despite its description, Shriek affects all saving throws and attack rolls made by the affected target.
Phalar Aluve: Sing Phalar Aluve: Sing

  • The in-game tooltip specifies that the bonus to saving throws applies to Charisma, Wisdom, or Intelligence ones. This is not true. The bonus applies to all saving throws, including death saving throws.
Piercing Growl Piercing Growl

  • The Difficulty Class (DC) of the Slayer's Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin, Piercing Growl Piercing Growl, Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge, Slay Slay, and Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath uses the Spellcasting ability of the last class you took a first level in, but at the Slayer's new stats. This makes it incredibly hard to successfully use their effects, as Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Rangers will receive a +0 roll bonus from Intelligence/Wisdom, while Barbarians, Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks will receive a -1 roll bonus from Charisma.
Piercing Strike (Spiritual Weapon) Piercing Strike (Spiritual Weapon)

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Produce Flame Produce Flame

  • The damage on the tooltip for Produce Flame is not marked correctly for the increases at level 5 and 10. The tooltip for the throwing action, Produce Flame: Hurl Produce Flame: Hurl, is marked correctly, and the damage scales correctly.
  • The version of this Cantrip granted by the Asmodeus Tiefling subrace uses the character's Wisdom modifier to hurl the flame, rather than Charisma as stated in the Produce Flame: Hurl Produce Flame: Hurl tooltip.
Produce Flame: Hurl Produce Flame: Hurl

  • On the turn that Produce Flame Produce Flame is cast, this ability will not cost an action to use.
  • The version of this Cantrip granted by the Asmodeus Tiefling subrace, uses the character's Wisdom modifier to hurl the flame, rather than Charisma. See: Tiefling - Bugs.
  • On Clerics the damage on the tooltip for Produce Flame is not marked correctly for the increases at level 5 and 10. The tooltip for the throwing action, Produce Flame: Hurl Produce Flame: Hurl, is marked correctly, and the damage scales correctly. It has the same chance to hit as Guiding Bolt Guiding Bolt.
Prowl Prowl

  • The bonus damage from Prowl only works at druid levels 6 or 7. See the Bugs section of Prowling Prowling for details.
  • At druid levels 6 or 7, you will continue to concentrate on Prowl even after the invisibility ends. This will prevent you from recasting Prowl and the tooltip will say "Must take a Short Rest". However, you can manually end your concentration which will allow you to freely use Prowl again.
    • This does not apply to druid levels 8 and above for the same reason that the bonus damage is broken.
Psionic Suggestion: Halt Psionic Suggestion: Halt

Ram Ram

  • This attack always uses the caster's Wisdom to determine the spellcasting DC, regardless of the summoner's actual spellcasting ability.
Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge

  • The Difficulty Class (DC) of the Slayer's Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin, Piercing Growl Piercing Growl, Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge, Slay Slay, and Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath uses the Spellcasting ability of the last class you took a first level in, but at the Slayer's new stats. This makes it incredibly hard to successfully use their effects, as Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Rangers will receive a +0 roll bonus from Intelligence/Wisdom, while Barbarians, Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks will receive a -1 roll bonus from Charisma.
Shield (spell) Shield (spell)

  • Due to a scripting error, this spell does not grant charges of Arcane Ward Arcane Ward.
Shield Blow Shield Blow

  • The description of this ability states it requires a Dexterity saving throw. This is incorrect, as it requires a Strength saving throw.
Shield Master: Block Shield Master: Block

  • This passive currently provides no effect on a failed save.
Slay Slay

  • The Difficulty Class (DC) of the Slayer's Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin, Piercing Growl Piercing Growl, Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge, Slay Slay, and Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath uses the Spellcasting ability of the last class you took a first level in, but at the Slayer's new stats. This makes it incredibly hard to successfully use their effects, as Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Rangers will receive a +0 roll bonus from Intelligence/Wisdom, while Barbarians, Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks will receive a -1 roll bonus from Charisma.
Song of Rest Song of Rest

  • An exploitable bug presently exists wherein this ability incorrectly recharges whenever the party fast travels to a different region (ie the dialog box for confirming travel to a different region appears), allowing unlimited short rests. Most recent test Patch 6, Hotfix 25.
Spear Thrust Spear Thrust

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath

  • The Difficulty Class (DC) of the Slayer's Let the Slaughter Begin Let the Slaughter Begin, Piercing Growl Piercing Growl, Relentless Lunge Relentless Lunge, Slay Slay, and Sumptuous Blood Bath Sumptuous Blood Bath uses the Spellcasting ability of the last class you took a first level in, but at the Slayer's new stats. This makes it incredibly hard to successfully use their effects, as Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Rangers will receive a +0 roll bonus from Intelligence/Wisdom, while Barbarians, Bards, Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks will receive a -1 roll bonus from Charisma.
Synaptic Consumption Synaptic Consumption

  • It is dangerous for a creature to fail a save against this ability: if failing the first saving throw against this and starting with an ability score of 11 or below, the affected entity is inflicted with Atrophy Atrophy at the start of its turn and dies instantly, without another saving throw. This happens whenever any remaining ability score is the same as or lower than the penalty that would be applied at the start of its turn. Consider the following two examples:
Example one: during combat, a full-illithid creature uses this ability on an entity whose lowest ability score is 13. A save is rolled immediately and, if failed, the target's abilities are reduced by 5, where the lowest is reduced to 8 (13-5).
  • At the start of the afflicted creature's turn (in the same round) another save is rolled: if failed, that ability is reduced to a 7 (13-6).
  • At the start of the entity's next turn, no save is rolled because, at the start of its turn, its lowest ability score (now a 7) is the same as the penalty that would be applied (-7); it dies instantly from Atrophy Atrophy.
Example two: during combat, a full-illithid creature uses this ability on an entity whose lowest ability score is 11. A save is rolled immediately and, if failed, the target's abilities are reduced by 5, where the lowest is reduced to 6 (11-5).
  • At the start of the entity's turn (in the same round), no save is rolled because, at the start of its turn, its lowest ability score (now a 6) is the same as the penalty that would be applied (-6); it dies instantly from Atrophy Atrophy.
Tides of Chaos Tides of Chaos

  • Tides of Chaos as a passive toggle is currently (as of v4.1.1.6072089) bugged and does nothing; it is only usable as a reaction.[Needs Verification]
Trident Thrust Trident Thrust

  • The in-game tooltip is incorrect - all the damage dealt is Damage TypesForce damage.
Trip Attack (Ranged) Trip Attack (Ranged)

  • Despite the tooltip stating it lasts for one turn, Prone afflicted by this attack will last until the target's Long Rest (or until helped).
Vow of Enmity Vow of Enmity

  • A Paladin can cast Vow of Enmity on themselves to gain Advantage Icon.png Advantage on Attack Rolls against all targets for 10 turns.
Wall of Fire Wall of Fire

  • The saving throw for ending turn inside the wall is not shown in the combat log.
  • Spell save DC for the damage when exiting the wall is fixed at 10.
Wall of Ice Wall of Ice

Wall of Thorns Wall of Thorns

  • The in-game tooltip says the duration is 1 turn, but this is incorrect. The duration may be until Long Rest.
  • Spell save DC for Wall of Thorns is currently fixed at 3, and Entangling vines is at 12. (checked in Hotfix #29)