Sacred Flame

Cantrip Evocation spell available to Clerics. It calls down a flame-like radiance for 1d8 Radiant on a Dexterity save. Because it is a save rather than an attack roll, it ignores Armour Class entirely, which makes it a dependable poke against heavily armoured enemies.

Spell description: Conjure a flame-like radiance that deals 1d8 Radiant.

Spell properties

• Damage: 1d8 Radiant
• Damage type: Radiant
• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Save: DEX save
• Attack type: Ranged
• Cost: Action
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

At character level 5, damage increases to 2d8 Radiant. At character level 10, damage increases to 3d8 Radiant.

How to obtain Sacred Flame

• Cleric at Class level 1
• Sanctified Stalker (Ranger) at Class level 3
• College of Lore (Bard) at Class level 6 via Magical Secrets
• Bard at Class level 10 via Magical Secrets
• Granted by features: Magic Initiate: Cleric

When to cast Sacred Flame

It is a save, not an attack roll, so it ignores Armour Class entirely. That makes it your reliable poke against heavily armoured enemies your weapon attacks keep bouncing off, and Radiant is resisted by almost nothing.

The downside is the Dexterity save: nimble enemies dodge it completely, and there is no half-damage on a save. Against slow, armoured targets it is excellent. Against a rogue it is a coin flip.

Radiant also shines in Act 2 and against undead, and it pairs beautifully with the Radiating Orb items that stack Disadvantage every time you hit.