D&D: Five of the Best 5th-Level Spells
For some classes, this is as good as it gets. 5th-level spells are the last little bits of “normal D&D” before everything gets funky.
Ah, 5th-level spells. The last bastion of “normal D&D”. Beyond this point, spells start to get dramatic. But many 5th-level spells punch way above their weight.
Check out some of the best 5th-level spells in D&D.
Wall of Force
Wall of Force is one of the best 5th-level spells because it can absolutely end a single encounter. It works on a number of creatures without a saving throw. With this spell, you can create either section of an invisible, impassible wall. Or you can use the “domed” version to trap a creature, even a flying one, inside an inescapable bubble.
Use this spell to isolate the toughest combatant while you mop up everything else. You’ve got to play very carefully, but this spell lets you direct the fight.
Animate Objects
Animate Objects is another perennial best 5th-level spell. This is the one that doesn’t seem all that great if you don’t understand math. But in a nutshell, with Animate Objects you can animate up to ten objects (and you want to animate 10) which then can attack on your turn with nothing more than your bonus action, dealing a potential 10d4+40, which is just a fantastic pile of damage.
It’s ten attacks you can direct as you see fit. So that means you can split the attacks as needed. Animate Objects is a force multiplier like a few others.
Circle of Power
Circle of Power is the rare Paladin spell to make the list. This spell is the perfect reminder that Paladins are best when they’re not just smiting, but making the lives of their friends easier. And Circle of Power does the latter extremely well.
When you cast this spell, an aura of warding magic emanates from you, and friendly creatures in your 30-foot aura are protected from magic. That is, they make all saving throws against spells and other magical effects with advantage. And when they succeed on a saving throw that allows for half damage, they instead take no damage.
Stack that on top of the innate bonus to save auras of some Paladins, and you’ll never fail a save again.
Transmute Rock
And here we have the sleeper hit 5th-level spell. This spell is incredible because it affects a 40-foot cube and is a rare spell that lasts for a fight and doesn’t take your concentration. Which is already worth nothing.
But on top of that, this spell lets you transform stone (one of the most common terrain types) on creatures that immediately turn it into a massive mud pit. Any creature in the area immediately sinks in. They must save or be restrained, but even if they make the save, creatures are still slowed to 1/4 their speed. This means your targets won’t actually move out of the area unless they’re extremely fast.
It’s one of the best battlefield control spells in the game.
Danse Macabre
Danse Macabre is the Necromancy spell you’ve been dreaming of since you decided to play a Necromancer. This spell takes up to five corpses nearby and, in a single action, immediately turns them into undead who are under your command.
This means you can now actually do the thing whereas your enemies fall they only make your army grow stronger. With a single bonus action, you can command the creatures to attack a target, which can multiply your own action economy fivefold.
What are your picks for best 5th level spells?
