Ray of Sickness Spell Guide 5e

Ray of Sickness Damage Table

Ray of Sickness starts off at a very impressive 2d8 damage for a first-level spell. Every level after that grants it an additional 1d8.

We have calculated the minimum, average and max damage for this spell at each level:

Ray of Sickness Compared to Other First Level Spells

First-level attack spells have a bit of variance to them outside of simply dealing damage.

If all you want is to deal damage, go with Magic Missile. Sure, the damage output is not as great as Ray of Sickness, but you will consistently deal more average damage over time with Magic Missile.

If you want a chance to deal loads of damage, go with Chaos Bolt or Witch Bolt. Those will also deal more damage than Ray of Sickness.

Even Chromatic Orb or Guiding bolt will do more damage than Ray of Sickness in a single go.

But remember, Ray of Sickness has the nifty ability of potentially poisoning your target.

From the Player’s Handbook: A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

So, poisoning a creature will stop your target from being able to fight back or do anything useful like make perception, investigation, or athletics checks.

In short, Ray of Sickness isn’t the heaviest damage-dealing spell at first level, but it will add versatility to your castings.

Common Questions About Ray of Sickness

To find an FAQ list for this particular spell, I had to go down to the crypts underneath the Black Citadel, and I want you to know I wouldn’t do that for just anybody.

Can You Use Ray of Sickness To Poison Food or Drink?

According to the RAW, no. Ray of Sickness targets creatures only. However, as a rule of cool variation, I would allow Ray of Sickness to be cast on food or drink and make the damage be a part of the saving throw. I would grant half damage on success.

At that point, though, we might as well just create a homebrew spell.

Can You Use Ray of Sickness as a Component for  Creating a Poison?

There are no rules for this. I would allow it as a DM, provided the player used the spell slot to make the poison and had proficiency in alchemist tools. I would then also make them pay at least 25 gp in material components per level of the spell slot used to make the poison.

After that, the poison would deal damage and bestow the poisoned effect on a failed save and half as much damage on a successful save with no poison effect.

Can You Use a Metamagic With Ray of Sickness?

You can! Twin Spell, Silent Spell, Transmute Spell, Quick Spell, and Empower Spell are all valid options for Ray of Sickness.

Have you ever seen one of those movies where one person gets sick and then blows chunks all over another person who in turn gets sick, and they projectile vomit all over another person who gets sick and so on in a violent expulsion of chain regurgitation?

Twin spell would be like that. 

If a Target Is Immune To Poison and the Poisoned Condition, Are They Immune To Ray of Sickness?

Yes. Just because this is a spell does not mean it overcomes that immunity.

That’s all for now, folks. May your adventures be rewarding, your loot boxes be full, and your enemies be at a disadvantage.