Blight 5e D&D Guide

Blight is a 4th-level necrotic offensive spell with utility elements. It is part of the Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard spell lists.

Blight has many interesting features, the most well-known being the disadvantage it gives plants (and plant creatures) on their saving rolls.

Not only providing a significant advantage but adding to roleplay scenarios.

Blight 5e

4th-level Necromancy

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 30 feet

Components: V, S

Duration: Instantaneous

Necromantic energy washes over a creature you choose and that you can see within range, draining the moisture and its vitality.

The target must make a Constitution saving roll. On a failed save, the target takes 8d8 Necrotic damage, or only half as much damage on a successful save.

Note: Blight does not affect undead or constructs.

If you were to target a plant creature or magical plant, it must take the saving roll with a disadvantage, and the spell will deal maximum damage to it.

However, if you were to target a nonmagical plant that is not a creature, such as a shrub or a tree, it doesn’t make a saving roll. Instead, it simply withers and dies.

At Higher Levels: When you cast Blight using a spell slot of the 5th level or higher, its damage will increase by 1d8 for each slot level above the 4th.

Which Classes Can Pick Blight?

Traditional classes such as the Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard have Blight in their spell lists and need no other requirements.

Full casters such as the Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard can unlock and use Blight at level 7.

Note: Bards can unlock Blight through Magical Secrets upon turning level 10.

Because Warlocks have a different affinity to magic, one wouldn’t think they also obtain Blight at level 7; however, they do.

Is Blight Good in 5e?

Blight isn’t a bad spell in practice; it’s just that it can’t keep up with the other 4th-level spells. Compared to them, Blight can’t keep up.

Advantages – Blight

High Damage Output

Blight has a surprisingly high damage output (8d8), strengthened by the fact that even if enemies succeed in their saving roll, they’ll still take a ton of damage (4d8).

No Material Component

Material components complicate the casting process of a spell. Having expensive or rare materials could make the spell uncastable until the necessary items are acquired.

Note: Forgetting a Material component can put you in a life-or-death situation, so prepare carefully before heading into battle.

Disadvantages – Blight

Low Range

Compared to other 4th-level attack spells (or even Fireball), Blight has a very low range.

The problem lies with the casters. Spellcasters are squishy and usually targeted by enemies due to their utility and control spells.

If Blight had a longer range, the enemies would have to travel further to get their hands on the caster. The frontline and the supports could then effectively stop them before they get to the spellcasters.

Specific Counter (Creature/Plant)

Of all the creatures, Blight gives plants a disadvantage on their saving roll.

Even though Myconids, Treants, and Wood woads are dangerous in the early game, the late game doesn’t present many dangerous plant monsters.

It makes the spell nearly useless in the long run, even when used correctly.

Note: Only three plant creatures have a CR above 15, with the highest being 21 (when factoring in homebrews).

No Effect on Undead or Constructs

Unfortunately, undead and construct types of creatures are some of the most common creatures in 5e.

A spell that completely factors out many creatures can create dangerous scenarios for a player.

Mediocre Scaling

Blight has mediocre scaling, as it isn’t bad but isn’t good, either. Compared to the utilities of other spells, it can’t compete.

Note: You should also factor in other spells that are better to use with a higher-level spell slot.

If Blight were AoE, similar to Fireball, it would have been much more useful.

How Should I Use Blight?

Luckily Blight is straightforward to use. It leaves little to the imagination yet gives players an excellent roleplaying chance.

Dealing the Death Blow

You can use Blight’s high-damage output against creatures even if they fail their saving rolls.

If you know a creature is below a certain HP, you can target them and try to make the killing blow. Remember, you’ll still be doing 4d8 Necrotic damage on a failed save.

Note: This is most useful if there is an enemy your party desperately needs to get rid of.

Targeting Plant Creatures

If you were to roleplay a nature-hating spellcaster, Blight would be just the spell for you. Any plant creature, tree, or small grove doesn’t stand a chance against you.

In all honesty, using Blight would render most plants useless against your whole party, even if only one person had the spell.

Spells Blight Competes With

Spells like Dimension Door, Banishment, Fireball, Polymorph, Wall of Fire, Conjure Woodland Beings, Greater Invisibility, etc., are just better functional spells Blight competes with.

Fireball

Even though Blight (8d8 Necrotic) has greater damage than Fireball (8d6 Fire), it dominates Blight with its range (150 feet) and AoE damage.

Banishment

A spell like Banishment enables players to target the most dangerous enemy and take them out of the battle.

What’s even better is that creatures not native to the current plane can be banished forever, allowing the party to fight without worry.

Wall of Fire

Wall of Fire accomplishes two tasks with one spell. It doesn’t only deal damage (5d8 Fire) based on position but also gives enemies a reason to stay away from you.

Note: Enemies within the wall’s area take damage if they end within 10 feet of the damaging wall and if they pass through the wall itself.

Having space is incredibly important for a party. It allows them to reorganize themselves, catch a breather and even briefly yell a new plan to the rest of the party.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Blight Work on Undead?

As mentioned in the description of Blight, it cannot affect the undead, nor can it affect constructs.

Final Thoughts

Blight might be useful to players who enjoy using it or roleplayers playing an evil nature-hating wizard. Overall, the spell on its own isn’t bad.

Unfortunately, Blight can’t compete with spells that have effects shadowing its high damage. Not all spells are as useful as they may seem the first time!