Lightning Arrow

Level 3 Transmutation spell available to Rangers. A ranged attack for 4d8 Lightning that then bursts for 2d8 Lightning to everything within 3m of the target, and it still does half damage on a miss. A Ranger’s best single-slot damage by a wide margin.

Spell description: After the arrow hits, smaller bolts snake out from the target towards nearby creatures.

Spell properties

• Damage: 4d8 Lightning to the target, plus 2d8 Lightning to nearby creatures
• Damage type: Lightning
• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Area: 3m (10ft) radius burst
• Attack type: Ranged weapon Attack Roll
• Save: DEX save for the burst (half damage on success)
• Conditions applied: On a miss, the target still takes half damage.
• Cost: Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Casting Lightning Arrow at a higher level increases both the arrow damage and the burst damage by 1d8 Lightning for each spell slot level above the 3rd.

How to obtain Lightning Arrow

• Ranger at Class level 9

Source items: Hellfire Engine Crossbow, Scroll of Lightning Arrow

When to cast Lightning Arrow

Fire it at the enemy standing in the middle of a group. The target eats 4d8, everyone next to it eats 2d8, and even a miss still does half to the main target. There is no bad outcome, which is rare for a spell built on an attack roll.

Lightning plays with water. Get the enemies wet with a thrown bottle or a Create Water first and the whole burst does double. It also chains to anything standing in the same puddle, so a wet corridor is your best friend.

The upcast raises both parts of the damage, so a Level 4 slot on a Ranger who has reached level 9 is worth it. Ranger slots are scarce, though. This is the spell you save them for.