Cone of Cold 5e D&D Guide

Cone of Cold is a 5th-level damage spell belonging to the Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard spell lists.

The cold winds howl in the mountains. Spellcasters wielding immense power copy the same winds, unleashing them through their fingers, leaving the ones affected as living statues frozen in ice.

The Player’s Handbook says the following:

Cone of Cold 5e

5th-level Evocation

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Self (60-foot cone)

Components: V, S, M (one small crystal or glass cone)

Duration: Instantaneous

A blast of cold air bursts from your hands. Each creature that’s in a 60-foot cone must make a Constitution saving roll.

A creature will take 8d8 cold damage on a failed save or only half as much damage on a successful one.

A creature killed by this spell will become a frozen statue until it thaws.

At Higher Levels: When casting this spell using a 6th-level spell slot or higher, the damage will increase by 1d8 for each slot level above the 5th.

Which Classes Can Pick Cone of Cold?

Traditional classes, such as a Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard, can freely unlock Cone of Cold.

All three classes can unlock and use this spell at level 9 as they unlock their 5th-level spell slot.

Subclasses like the Circle of the Land – Arctic (Druid), The Hexblade (Warlock), The Genie (Warlock), The Fathomless (Warlock), and the Artillerist (Artificer).

The Circle of the Land – Arctic (Druid), The Hexblade (Warlock), The Genie (Warlock), and the Fathomless (Warlock) can unlock and use this spell at level 9.

However, the Artillerist (Artificer) can only unlock this spell at level 17.

Is Cone of Cold Good in 5e?

Cone of Cold is a good spell. It is high-level and more expensive when compared to 3rd-level spells like Fireball and Lightning Bolt.

Even so, it can still be considered a solid spell for dealing AoE damage.

Advantages – Cone of Cold

Large Area of Effect

The range this spell has is 60 feet in a cone shape. Its AoE is much greater than many spells out there, including the range of Fireball and Lightning Bolt.

It has the potential to decimate all low-level creatures charging at a player. If this doesn’t tell you the spell can pack some serious punch, then I don’t know what can.

High Damage

Cone of Cold deals 8d8 Cold damage to all enemies hit within range.

Not only that, but its Cold damage is superior to Poison and Fire damage, as it has fewer creatures resistant to it.

You also have the chance to instantly kill low-level creatures who don’t have a large HP pool.

Disadvantages – Cone of Cold

Terrible Upscaling

Even though Cone of Cold has some fantastic base stats, its upscaling could be better.

Using a spell slot higher than level 5 will decrease the number of higher-level spells you can use but only give you plus 1d8 more damage.

Trading a high-level spell for something as simple as a bit more damage isn’t worth it. It might have been worth it if it had increased AoE and damage.

Material Component

Cone of Cold doesn’t have a challenging Material component (small crystal or glass cone) to acquire while in towns. However, the problem lies when you find yourself in the wilderness.

Not being able to buy or find the material you need means you cannot cast the spell. Well, until you find a town, at least.

Spells Similar to Cone of Cold

Spells similar to Cone of Cold are, Rime’s Binding Ice, Sleet Storm, Ray of Frost, and Freezing Sphere.

Freezing Sphere is a great 6th-level spell that can be used as an alternative to Cone of Cold.

When or How Should I Use Cone of Cold?

Ice Walls

When you cast Cone of Cold underwater, you create a 60-foot-long cone of ice. If you’d like, you can use it as a wall to block portals or stop enemies for a moment.

You can make smaller walls, use Telekinesis to pick them up, and put them down over ravines or open chasms as bridges.

Freezing Lakes or Rivers

Sometimes your party needs to cross over bodies of water.

But, if the current is too strong, the temperatures are too low, or it’s too deep, you can try and use Cone of Cold to freeze the water.

With it, you can construct a makeshift bridge and allow your party to cross over safely.

False Guards and Traps

Killing enemies using Cone of Cold will freeze their bodies until the ice eventually thaws. If you’re clever, you can use this to set up traps or seem like the area is guarded.

Ignorant travelers or low Intelligence creatures might see these frozen corpses as guards and stay away from an area.

Others might even investigate the site and fall into whatever trap you set for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Targets of Cone of Cold Overcome the Freezing?

Creatures killed or brought to 0 HP in D&D don’t usually get death saves as player characters do.

Therefore, even if they could overcome the freezing, they’ll have to be alive (and able to make death saves) first.

Player Characters

Players, on the other hand, get death saves. The DM may incorporate some save for players targeted with Cone of Cold.

The only problem is that the players will have a greater advantage over the creatures.

Does Telekinesis Work on Cone of Cold?

If you freeze a lake or river, you should be able to use Telekinesis to remove the piece of ice from the body of water.

Make sure the ice doesn’t exceed 1000 pounds if you’re using the spell.

This will remove water from the body and allow players to do with the peace of ice as they wish.

Final Thoughts

Cone of Cold acts as a brief, high-damage spell that even beginners can easily use. It requires very little learning and can be used in many different ways.

Players who don’t only want to deal damage but also provide utility will love using this spell.

So before choosing your upcoming spells, see if Cone of Cold might be useful for your character.