Gust of Wind is a 2nd-level evocation spell for Druids, Sorcerers, and Wizards (Rangers too in 2024). A line of wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts from you for up to 1 minute (concentration). A creature that starts its turn in the line makes a Strength save or is pushed 15 feet away from you, and moving toward you inside the line costs double movement. It also blows away gas and fog and puts out small flames.
Gust of Wind does no damage. It controls where creatures stand. You aim a 10-foot-wide corridor of wind, and everything in it has a hard time getting closer to you.
Two effects stack. Each creature that starts its turn in the line saves or gets shoved 15 feet down the line. Then any movement toward you inside the line costs 2 feet for every 1 foot. A creature that fails its save and then walks back toward you can easily end its turn no closer than it started.
The other job is clearing air. The wind disperses gas and vapor, and Cloudkill ends when strong wind disperses it. It also snuffs candles and torches and has a 50% chance to put out lanterns.
The weaknesses are real. There is no damage, a creature can step sideways out of a 10-foot line, and strong creatures pass the Strength save often. It shines in corridors, on ledges, and on bridges, where stepping aside isn't an option.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | 2 |
| School | Evocation |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | Self (60-foot line) |
| Components | V, S, M |
| Material | A legume seed |
| Duration | Up to 1 minute |
| Concentration | Yes |
| Ritual | No |
| Save/Attack | STR |
| Classes | Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard |
| Metric | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Slot Efficiency | Situational. Excellent at a chokepoint or a cliff edge, weak in open ground. |
| Action Economy | One action, then a bonus action whenever you want to re-aim it. |
| Opportunity Cost | Concentration for a spell that deals no damage. |
When worth the slot: Narrow corridors, bridges, ledges, and any fight where a poisonous cloud needs to go away.
When NOT worth the slot: Open battlefields and enemies with strong Strength saves.
Gust of Wind has no higher-level effect in either edition. A higher slot gives you nothing extra.
Why it works: A 10-foot-wide line fills a 10-foot corridor. Enemies can't step out of it, so they have to fight the wind the whole way.
This avoids the mistake of: Casting it in a cavern where enemies walk around it.
Why it works: The push goes "away from you in a direction following the line." Aim the line across a cliff edge or bridge and a failed save sends the creature over. Falling deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage per 10 feet, up to 20d6, and the creature lands prone unless it takes no damage.
This avoids the mistake of: Pushing enemies 15 feet across flat ground for no damage.
Why it works: On each of your turns you can change the line's direction as a bonus action. If enemies come at you from two sides, turn the wind toward whichever group is closer.
This avoids the mistake of: Leaving the line pointed at a group that already walked out of it.
Why it works: "The gust disperses gas or vapor." The cloud spells agree. In 2014, Cloudkill ends when "strong wind disperses the fog," Fog Cloud ends when a wind of at least 10 mph disperses it, and Stinking Cloud disperses after 1 round of strong wind (at least 20 mph). The 2024 texts of all three name Gust of Wind as a wind that disperses them.
This avoids the mistake of: Fighting blind inside an enemy's fog.
Why it's bad: In 2014, the save happens when a creature "starts its turn in the line." Nobody is pushed at the moment you cast it.
Do this instead: Cast it before enemies act. Their own turns trigger the save. The 2024 version adds a save on casting.
Why it's bad: The wind affects "each creature." Your fighter standing between you and the enemy also saves or gets pushed toward them.
Do this instead: Aim the line where your allies aren't, or warn them to step out.
Why it's bad: The double cost applies only "when moving closer to you." A creature moving sideways or away pays normal cost and can leave the line in 5 or 10 feet.
Do this instead: Use walls, corridors, and ledges so there is nowhere sideways to go.
These are the 2014 rules. The 2024 changes are in their own section below.
The 2024 version keeps the level, school, 60-by-10-foot line, 15-foot push, Strength save, double-cost approach, and 1-minute concentration duration. Several details changed.
The save odds above don't change in 2024. The ogre, hill giant, and goblin warrior keep the same Strength modifiers.
It creates a 60-foot-long, 10-foot-wide line of wind from you for up to 1 minute (concentration). Creatures in the line make a Strength save or get pushed 15 feet away from you, and moving toward you costs double. It also disperses gas and puts out small flames.
15 feet away from you, in a direction following the line, on each failed Strength save.
Yes. It affects each creature in the line, including your party.
No. The spell text doesn't mention ranged attacks or projectiles, so they work normally.
Yes. The push follows the line, so aim it over the edge. The creature takes falling damage of 1d6 per 10 feet and lands prone unless it takes no damage.
Yes. It disperses gas and vapor, and Cloudkill ends when strong wind disperses it. In 2014, Stinking Cloud's own text has strong wind disperse it after 1 round. The 2024 versions of Fog Cloud, Stinking Cloud and Cloudkill name Gust of Wind directly.
Yes, for up to 1 minute. When your concentration breaks, the wind stops.
Druids, Sorcerers, and Wizards in 2014. The 2024 rules add Rangers.
Citations: SRD 5.1 (2014 rules), SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules)
Includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
This page includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Loreify is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
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