Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 ft (5 ft
)
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Concentration
, up to 1 minute
Damage Type: Slashing
You fill the air with spinning daggers in a cube 5 feet on each side, centered on a point you choose within range. A creature takes 4d4 slashing damage when it enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 2d4 for each slot level above 2nd.
Material Component:
a sliver of glass
Verbal Component:
Nimbus di Cultas
Verbal Component (Alternative):
In this place, a shroud that staggers, come forth now my cloud of daggers.
Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Rogue
Tags: Damage
Source: Player's Handbook [5th Edition] (page 222)
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Spell FAQs
Below are commonly asked questions about this spell. Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to spell questions. If you have a FAQ about this spell that you feel other DM's may wish to know, please send us the message!
Using 5-foot squares, does cloud of daggers affect a single square?
The official Sage Advice Compendium says:
Cloud of daggers (5 ft. cube) can affect more than one square on a grid, unless the DM says effects snap to the grid. There are many ways to position that cube.
An example of the placement is shown below.
Does cloud of daggers deal damage when you cast it?
No. The spell clearly states:
A creature takes ... damage when it enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.
In addition, the Sage Advice Compendium verifies:
Some spells and other game features create an area of effect that does something when a creature enters that area for the first time on a turn or when a creature starts its turn in that area. On the turn when you cast such a spell, you're primarily setting up hurt for your foes on later turns.
Can you throw a creature into cloud of daggers' area of effect to cause damage?
Yes, if you are capable of doing do. However that a creature is subjected to such an area of effect only the
first time it enters the area on a turn.
The official Sage Advice Compendium verifies:
Entering such an area of effect needn't be voluntary, unless a spell says otherwise. You can, therefore, hurl a creature into the area ... We consider that clever play, not an imbalance, so hurl away! Keep in mind, however, that a creature is subjected to such an area of effect only the first time it enters the area on a turn. You can't move a creature in and out of it to damage it over and over again on the same turn.
Other Planes and Effects
Below is information about this spell as it relates to other planes and area of effects (i.e. underwater). Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to handle spell effects.
Underwater - Verbal Component
Official rules have been verified by Jeremy Crawford - "No rule prohibits verbal components from working underwater. Keep in mind that if you're talking, you're not holding your breath." Hence, while submerged underwater and holding its breath, a creature can cast a spell that requires a verbal component. After casting the spell, if the creature can't breathe underwater, it immediately runs out of breath. The creature can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round).
