Poison Spray — Complete D&D 5e Spell Guide

Table of Contents

• •Quick Answer
• •Overview
• •Stat Block
• •When NOT to Use This
• •Spell Slot Efficiency
• •Pro Tips
• •Common Mistakes to Avoid
• •Usage Tips
• •Rules Notes
• •Synergies
• •Anti-Patterns
• •Tactical Modules
• •Countermeasures
• •Poison Spray in the 2024 Rules
• •Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answer

Poison Spray is a cantrip for Druids, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards that deals 1d12 poison damage, the largest damage die any SRD cantrip starts with. In the 2014 rules it is a conjuration spell with a 10-foot range: a creature you can see makes a Constitution save or takes the damage. In the 2024 rules it is a necromancy spell with a 30-foot range that uses a ranged spell attack instead. Damage rises to 2d12 at 5th level, 3d12 at 11th, and 4d12 at 17th.

Overview

Poison Spray trades reliability for size. A d12 averages 6.5, more than Fire Bolt's d10. But poison is the damage type SRD monsters are most often immune to. Of the 334 creature stat blocks in the 2014 SRD, 64 are immune to poison damage and 3 more resist it. That includes every construct, every undead except the vampire and vampire spawn, 18 of the 23 fiend stat blocks, and 11 of the 16 elementals.

So it is a specialist: against humanoids, beasts, giants, and most monstrosities it hits harder than anything else at the same level, and against a crypt of skeletons it does nothing.

The 2014 version also has only 10 feet of range. The 2024 rewrite triples the range and switches to an attack roll, which changes which targets it is good against.

Stat Block

When NOT to Use This

• •The target is undead, a construct, or a fiend. A zombie, a skeleton, and an imp are all immune.
• •The target has a strong Constitution save (2014). A troll has +5 and fails DC 15 only 45% of the time.
• •You'd have to walk into melee to get within 10 feet (2014).
• •An enemy within 5 feet can see you (2024). The 2024 spray is a ranged attack, so it has disadvantage.

Spell Slot Efficiency

When worth the action: Living targets with a weak Constitution save (2014) or low AC (2024).

When NOT worth the action: Undead, constructs, fiends, and most elementals.

Damage by character level

2014 save vs 2024 attack against SRD monsters

A 5th-level caster with +7 to hit and spell save DC 15. The 2014 column uses each monster's Constitution save, and the 2024 column uses its AC. Critical hits are included for the 2024 attack.

The table uses 2014 stat blocks for both columns. The 2024 version ties against the mage and wins everywhere else, mostly because tough monsters have high Constitution and modest AC, and it reaches three times as far. The 2014 version's edge: as a save, it ignores AC and takes no disadvantage in melee.

How it compares at 5th level

Against AC 15 and a +2 Constitution save, no resistances:

Pro Tips

Tip #1: Check the creature type before you cast.

Why it works: Poison immunity follows creature type. In the 2014 SRD, all constructs and most undead, fiends, and elementals are immune; no humanoid, beast, or giant stat block is.

This avoids the mistake of: Wasting a turn on a skeleton, then another on a zombie.

Tip #2: Aim the 2014 version at low Constitution.

Why it works: A 2014 mage (+0) fails DC 15 70% of the time; a troll (+5) only 45%.

This avoids the mistake of: Spraying the toughest brute in the room, which has the best save against it.

Tip #3: Pair it with Potent Cantrip.

Why it works: A 2014 Evocation Wizard of 6th level or higher deals half damage when a creature succeeds on a save against their cantrip. Against the troll at DC 15, that raises expected damage from 5.9 to about 9.4. The 2024 Potent Cantrip (Evocation level 3) also covers missed attack rolls, so it still applies.

This avoids the mistake of: Forgetting a subclass feature that turns a bad save matchup into steady damage.

Tip #4: In 2024, Warlocks can make it their Agonizing cantrip.

Why it works: The 2024 Agonizing Blast invocation adds your Charisma modifier to the damage of one Warlock cantrip of your choice that deals damage, and Poison Spray is a Warlock cantrip. With +4 Charisma at 5th level against AC 15, that is about 11.7 expected damage per cast. The 2014 Agonizing Blast only works with Eldritch Blast.

This avoids the mistake of: Assuming the 2024 invocation still requires Eldritch Blast.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Expecting it to poison the target

Why it's bad: Poison Spray deals poison damage only. It doesn't give the poisoned condition in either edition.

Do this instead: Treat it as plain damage. If you want the condition, use a different spell.

Casting the 2024 version point-blank

Why it's bad: A ranged attack within 5 feet of an enemy who can see you has disadvantage. Against the cultist that drops expected damage from 11.1 to about 8.4.

Do this instead: Step back first. With 30 feet of range, you don't need to stand next to anyone.

Targeting an unseen creature (2014)

Why it's bad: The 2014 text needs a creature you can see. Invisible or hidden enemies can't be chosen.

Do this instead: In 2024 the text just says "a creature within range," so you can attack a guessed location with disadvantage. In 2014, use an area spell or reveal the target first.

Usage Tips

• •Worked example (2014, level 1): A 1st-level Wizard with 16 Intelligence has DC 13. A cultist (Con save +0, 9 hit points) fails on 12 or lower, 60% of the time. A failed save deals 6.5 on average, so the expected damage is 3.9 per cast. The cultist goes down from one failed save only when the d12 shows 9 or more (4 of 12 outcomes).
• •Worked example (2024, level 1): The same Wizard has +5 to hit. Against the cultist's AC 12 the spray hits on a 7 or higher, 70% of the time. Expected damage is about 4.9 per cast, and it can be cast from 30 feet away instead of 10.
• •Undead check: A ghoul, wight, mummy, and shadow are immune to poison in both editions.

Rules Notes

• •2014: a creature you can see within 10 feet makes a Constitution save or takes 1d12 poison damage. 2024: ranged spell attack against a creature within 30 feet, 1d12 poison on a hit.
• •Damage only; no poisoned condition.
• •Scaling uses total character level, not your level in one class. The 2024 SRD's multiclassing rules say so. The 2014 SRD text says only "when you reach 5th level," and its multiclassing section doesn't mention cantrips; Wizards of the Coast's 2014 rulings (Sage Advice, outside the SRD) give the same character-level answer.

Synergies

• •Twinned Spell (2014): It targets one creature, so a Sorcerer can twin it for 1 sorcery point.
• •Bane (2014 version of the spray): Subtracting 1d4 from the save raises the fail chance.
• •Faerie Fire (2024 version): Advantage on the attack roll.
• •Druid Potent Spellcasting (2024): At Druid level 7, add your Wisdom modifier to its damage. At level 15, Improved Elemental Fury adds 300 feet to the range of Druid cantrips with a range of 10 feet or more, so Poison Spray reaches 330 feet.

Anti-Patterns

• •Spraying undead, constructs, or devils.
• •Walking a 2014 Wizard into melee range to cast it when Fire Bolt reaches 120 feet.

Tactical Modules

• •Humanoid fights: No 2014 SRD humanoid is immune to poison (only the assassin and duergar resist it), so bandits, cultists, and guards are ideal targets.
• •Long-range Druid (2024): At Druid level 15, a 330-foot spray is more than double a longbow's 150-foot normal range.

Countermeasures

• •Threat: Poison immunity. Response: Another damage type. Fallback: Help or Dodge.
• •Threat: The enemy keeps you beyond 10 feet (2014). Response: A ranged cantrip. Fallback: Close the distance behind cover.
• •Threat: High Constitution (2014) or high AC (2024). Response: Pick the target with the weaker defense. Fallback: Leave that target to allies.

Poison Spray in the 2024 Rules

The 2024 Player's Handbook rewrites Poison Spray. It keeps the four classes, damage die, scaling, V, S components, and instantaneous duration.

Here is what changed:

• •School: necromancy instead of conjuration.
• •Range: 30 feet instead of 10.
• •Targeting: "a creature within range" instead of "a creature you can see."
• •Resolution: a ranged spell attack against AC instead of a Constitution save. It can now score critical hits, and Shield or Mirror Image can stop it.
• •Close combat: as a ranged attack, it now has disadvantage when an enemy within 5 feet can see you.

Several class features also touch it. Tieflings with the Abyssal legacy know Poison Spray and gain resistance to poison damage. The 2024 Agonizing Blast invocation can add Charisma to it. The Druid's Potent Spellcasting option adds Wisdom at level 7 and extends its range by 300 feet at level 15. The Magic Initiate feat lets any character learn it from the Druid or Wizard list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much damage does Poison Spray do in 5e?

1d12 poison damage, 6.5 on average, rising to 2d12 at 5th level, 3d12 at 11th, and 4d12 at 17th: on a failed Constitution save (2014) or a hit (2024).

What is the range of Poison Spray in 5e?

10 feet in the 2014 rules. 30 feet in the 2024 rules.

Is Poison Spray a saving throw or an attack roll in 5e?

In the 2014 rules, the target makes a Constitution saving throw. In the 2024 rules, you make a ranged spell attack.

Does Poison Spray give the poisoned condition in 5e?

No. In both editions it deals poison damage and nothing else. Creatures immune to poison damage take none.

Is Poison Spray good in 5e?

Against living creatures, it has the biggest dice of any SRD single-target cantrip. Against undead, constructs, and fiends it usually does nothing. The 2014 version's 10-foot range is a real drawback; the 2024 version is a solid main cantrip if you carry a backup damage type.

What creatures are immune to Poison Spray in 5e?

Any creature immune to poison damage. In the 2014 SRD that is 64 of 334 stat blocks, including zombies, skeletons, ghouls, wights, imps, every devil, fire elementals, and every golem. Three more stat blocks resist poison damage.

Is Poison Spray better than Fire Bolt in 5e?

On damage, yes. Against AC 15 at 5th level, the 2024 Poison Spray averages about 9.1 per cast and Fire Bolt about 7.7. Fire Bolt has four times the range of 2024 Poison Spray and twelve times the 2014 range, it can target objects, and fewer monsters ignore fire than ignore poison.

Who can cast Poison Spray in 5e?

Druids, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards in both editions. In 2014, High Elves can take it as their Wizard cantrip. In 2024, Abyssal Tieflings know it, and the Magic Initiate (Druid or Wizard) feat grants it.

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.