A Cantrip That Does Fireball Damage?!?!?

[jasper]

Wow, just took a look at the Sword Burst cantrip from SCAG, and... Wow... This thing has the potential to do 3rd level Fireball damage* as a cantrip?!?!? How did this pass the Whoa Police?!?!?

*the tank EK is wanting to take it. If he is surrounded by 8 goblins (entirely possible and likely), that's 8x 1d6 damage** with Dex save
**I am aware that a Fireball would do 64d6 to the 8 goblins... BUT, if the EK drops a Fireball on the 8 goblins surrounding him, then he takes Fireball damage too. Not to mention that he just expended a 3rd level spell slot, a significant resource. Sword Burst is a freakin' cantrip! At-will, no resource, eat ghost blades and suck it goblin scum...

You are playing with words and damage. Don't forget if the goblins go first, and all hit you just took 40 damage. Even they all fail their save 7 are still up and will do another 35 damage. So yes goblins hordes are evil. Run away from them.

 

[CapnZapp]

I love how you say "FIREBALL DAMAGE!" and then in your footnotes you acknowledge that it is in fact dealing one-eighth of fireball damage.

One eighth of a thing is still a thing.

Cheers

 

[jgsugden]

If you're flying and there are 26 creatures around you (9 above, 9 below, 8 around) this spell could do 52d6 at level 6!!!!! And if you're large that could be 88d6! Clearly, that beats Meteor Swarm, right?

On a more realistic note: This can be a useful cantrip if you roll good damage and are fighting a lot of enemies, especially weak ones, but it is not something most players would even choose for a cantrip.

I still wish there were more 'multi-target' cantrip in 5E. Things like:

* Target up to 4 creatures in 60 - does d4/tier to each.
* Does d6/tier to up to two enemies within 60' that are adjacent.
* Creates difficult terrain for 1 round in a 10' radius within 60'.
* Pushes creatures in a 30' line on a failed save (but deals no damage).
* Creatures in a 10' radius within 60' must make a con save or gain (vulnerable 2 (take 2 additional damage)) for a round.
* Create fog (total concealment) in a 2 by 2 area that lasts for 1 round.
* Targets two adjacent creatures - if both fail a save, they can't voluntarily move away from each other for a round.
* Knocks enemies in a 10' by 10' area prone if they fail a saving throw (short range, flyers immune).

 

[Sword of Spirit]

* Does d6/tier to up to two enemies within 60' that are adjacent.

Acid splash?

* Creates difficult terrain for 1 round in a 10' radius within 60'.

Mold earth doesn't quite do that, but one of its options is close.

 

[Ancalagon]

I will say though that the OP is right to an extent. In the perfect situation (a swarm of low HP low save monsters) sword burst (or thunderclap) is a fantastic spell that can clear a huge swath through them and feel awesome. It is just a mook clearing spell but will let you feel like you are in a classic Kung-fu movie.

mooks tend to have a lot more HP in 5e... in 2e this would be awesome. In 5e... not so much.