A beam of crackling energy streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage. The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels: two beams at 5th level, three beams at 11th level, and four beams at 17th level. You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam.
How Eldritch Blast plays
You make a ranged spell attack against a creature up to 120 feet away and deal 1d10 force damage on a hit. That alone is an ordinary cantrip. What makes it the warlock’s signature is how it grows: it fires two beams at 5th level, three at 11th and four at 17th, each with its own attack roll, and you can aim them at the same target or spread them around.
Force damage is the other half of its strength. Almost nothing in the game resists it: none of the monsters in the SRD are resistant or immune. And warlocks can improve it with Eldritch Invocations. Agonizing Blast adds your Charisma modifier to every beam, Repelling Blast pushes the target 10 feet per beam, and Eldritch Spear stretches the range to 300 feet.
When to pick Eldritch Blast
Every warlock who plans to fight at range should take it, and almost every warlock does. With Agonizing Blast it out-damages nearly every other cantrip in the game.
Split your beams to finish off wounded enemies, or put them all into one target when it matters. Each beam is rolled separately, so each one can hit, miss or crit on its own.
Watch your position. Like any ranged attack, it has disadvantage if an enemy is within 5 feet of you. Repelling Blast is a good way to make room.
Common questions
Does Eldritch Blast scale with warlock level or character level?
Character level, like every cantrip. A fighter or sorcerer who takes one level of warlock at 5th character level fires two beams, which is why it’s such a popular multiclass dip. Invocations like Agonizing Blast still need warlock levels.
Do I roll damage separately for each beam?
Yes. Each beam is its own attack roll and does its own damage, so Agonizing Blast adds your Charisma modifier to every beam that hits, and each beam can be a critical hit.
Can I fire the beams at different targets?
Yes. You choose a target for each beam. The rules don’t say whether you name every target before rolling; many tables let you roll one beam at a time and switch targets after the first one drops. Ask your DM.
Does Hex work with Eldritch Blast?
Yes. Hex, from the Player’s Handbook, adds 1d6 necrotic damage every time you hit the cursed target, so it applies to each beam that hits.
What is Agonizing Blast?
A warlock Eldritch Invocation available from 2nd level that adds your Charisma modifier to the damage of Eldritch Blast. It applies to every beam.
Does Repelling Blast push a creature 40 feet with four beams?
Each beam that hits can push the creature up to 10 feet in a straight line away from you, so yes, up to 40 feet if all four hit.
Eldritch Blast compared with other attack cantrips
The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:
Same level, casting time, range, components, duration and dice; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.
Casting time
Action
Range
120 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Evocation
Level
Cantrip
Classes
Warlock
You hurl a beam of crackling energy. Make a ranged spell attack against one creature or object in range. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Force damage.
Cantrip Upgrade. The spell creates two beams at level 5, three beams at level 11, and four beams at level 17. You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
