Scorching Ray

Level 2 Evocation spell available to Sorcerers and Wizards. Three rays of fire, each rolled as its own ranged spell attack for 2d6 Fire damage. Dump all three into one target or spread them about, and because every ray rolls separately, this scales with attack bonuses like almost nothing else at this level.

Spell description: Hurl three rays of fire. Make a ranged spell attack for each ray. For each ray that hits, you deal 2d6 Fire damage. You can hurl the rays at one target or several.

Spell properties

• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Attack: Attack roll
• Damage: 2d6 Fire per ray
• Cost: Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Hurls an additional ray for each spell slot level above the 2nd.

How to obtain Scorching Ray

• Sorcerer, Wizard at Class level 3

Source items: Circlet of Blasting, Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle, Hellfire Hand Crossbow, Scroll of Scorching Ray

When to cast Scorching Ray

Every ray is its own attack roll, so anything that boosts one attack boosts all three. Advantage, high ground, Bless, and above all flat damage riders like the Callous Glow Ring or the Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle, all applied per ray. Stack two or three of those and this stops being a decent nuke and becomes the hardest-hitting spell you own.

The flip side is that it can miss with everything and achieve nothing at all. Fireball at least does half on a save. Do not cast this into Disadvantage, and do not fire it at long range without high ground.

Spreading the rays is usually a trap. Three targets means three chances to miss and nothing dead at the end of it. Put all three into the scariest thing on the field and remove it.