Hello spellcasters of all shapes and sizes! Welcome to my spellbook and thank you so much for checking out the 44th episode of our first level spell series. Today we’re taking a look at what is hellish rebuke this awesome super thematic spell is usable by the warlock exclusively or rather it’s only found in their spell lists. There’s a couple cool ways of getting it but it’s only on the warlock spell list.
It is found in the player’s handbook. Super cool stuff, honestly i really like this one i’ve seen it used to great effect and i’ve used it to great effect. That being said, let’s take a look at the rough mechanics here and just kind of understanding what’s going on.
Mechanics
- Level: 1st
- Casting Time: 1 Reaction *
- Range/Area: 60 ft
- Components: V, S
- Duration: Instantaneous
- School: Evocation
- Attack/Save: DEX Save
- Damage/Effect: Fire
Essentially your damage die starts out as 2d10 which is pretty dang impressive and you get an additional d10 per spell slot level above first, so it does use a spell slot. So needless to say stacks up pretty damn quick. The effect at a glance is as followed. When you get hit, you can react by burning your attacker with hell flame.
It is a first level spell and not a cantrip. The cast time is one reaction, the range is 60 feet, the duration is instantaneous and the saving throw is dexterity and should they succeed it’s half damage. The components are somatic and verbal meaning you have to gesture with one hand and speak forth an incantation. The school is evocation and the damage type is fire.
I wouldn’t allow people to reskin the damage type by the way just as a quick heads-up. I feel like fire works great but to make a character build work i feel like a little bit comrpomised isn’t more than fine. With that all out of the let’s take a look at the full description here so we know exactly what we’re talking about.
Description:
You point your finger, and the creature that damaged you is momentarily surrounded by hellish flames. The creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. It takes 2d10 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 1st.
* – which you take in response to being damaged by a creature within 60 feet of you that you can see
Hot damn is that cool! You just get hit wipe the blood away with the collar of your sleeve point and when i was surrounded by a hellish inferno just like that the range of 60 feet is also super nice most people use this in terms of melee but it can be applied at distance as well to archers or even fellow spell casters.
For that reason i really do like this, it is just so rich with great roleplay opportunity. That being said, let’s take a look at some alternative uses here.
Alternative Uses
The best one that i can think of off the top of my head is kind of one that plays on the way this spells word it a little bit. There is nothing in this spell that specifies you have to be able to see the creature. It is implied however that you have to point your finger at them but it doesn’t implicitly say that. It just says you pull your finger and the creature that damage your shoe is momentarily sort out by hellish flames. You can also read this hellish rebuke vs armor of agathys.
So as long as they damaged you, you can point and damage them so long as they’re within 60 feet naturally. Now i would run that past your DM, they might disagree on the wording there but by raw and that’s what it says i would also heavily recommend by grabbing the flames of phlegethos, if you’re a tiefling 5e why not this is a great way to better protect himself or just discourage enemies from attacking you in general. It might also be worth looking at the elemental adept feat for the fire.
Conclusion
In any case i really appreciate your time guys. I am so happy you’re sticking through me with all those weird website turbulence. If you can think of any cool uses or if you have any interesting stories or thoughts about hellish rebuke i’d really like to read them down in the comments beneath.
I love interacting with you guys and we are having quite the great community right now and i’m as excited to see how far we can grow it. In any case thank you so much for checking out have a great day and as always happy casting. Also read eldritch blast 5e | hex 5e | darkness 5e | strongest fire spell 5e |