A blast of cold air erupts from your hands. Each creature in a 60-foot cone must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 8d8 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
A creature killed by this spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.
At higher levels
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 5th.
Cone of Cold damage by spell slot level
Spell slot level
Damage
Average
5th
8d8 cold
36
6th
9d8 cold
40.5
7th
10d8 cold
45
8th
11d8 cold
49.5
9th
12d8 cold
54
Averages are the dice’s expected total. A target that succeeds on its Constitution save takes half. Roll any row in the dice roller.
How Cone of Cold plays
A 60-foot cone of freezing air blasts out from your hands. Every creature in it makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 8d8 cold damage on a failure, 36 on average, or half on a success. A creature killed by it becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.
It asks for a Constitution save instead of the usual Dexterity. That matters against nimble enemies like rogues and monks, which tend to pass Dexterity saves, though big brutes and undead often have strong Constitution. Because the cone starts at you, you’ll usually need to be near the front of the fight to catch much with it.
When to pick Cone of Cold
Sorcerers and wizards at 9th level who want a second big area spell alongside Fireball, especially one that works on fire-resistant enemies like devils and fire elementals.
Mind your allies. A 60-foot cone is enormous. Line it up from the side of the fight, not through your own front line.
It isn’t much stronger than a Fireball cast at 5th level (10d6, about 35). Take it for the different save and damage type, not for raw damage.
Common questions
How much damage does Cone of Cold do?
8d8 cold, 36 on average, and half on a successful Constitution save. Each slot level above 5th adds 1d8.
How big is a 60-foot cone?
It extends 60 feet from you, and its width at any point equals its distance from you, so it’s 60 feet wide at the far end. You aren’t in your own cone.
What does the frozen statue part do?
A creature killed by the spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws. It’s already dead, so it has no effect in combat; it’s flavor, and a good clue for players who find frozen bodies later.
Cone of Cold or Fireball at 5th level?
About the same damage: 36 for Cone of Cold against 35 for a 5th-level Fireball. Fireball reaches 150 feet and asks for Dexterity; Cone of Cold starts at you and asks for Constitution. Carry both if you can.
Can druids cast Cone of Cold?
Not under the 2014 rules: it’s a sorcerer and wizard spell. The 2024 rules add it to the druid list.
The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:
Range: Self (60-foot cone) → Self.
Added to the Druid spell list.
Casting time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a small crystal or glass cone)
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Evocation
Level
5
Classes
Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
You unleash a blast of cold air. Each creature in a 60-foot Cone originating from you makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 8d8 Cold damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature killed by this spell becomes a frozen statue until it thaws.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 5.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
