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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RogueJK" data-source="post: 7904652" data-attributes="member: 170">Call Lightning is a great 3rd level blasting spell (when usable).  You can only cast it outdoors or in large indoor areas, but while it doesn't go as much damage as Fireball in one round, it does more damage on average per spell slot.For one 3rd (or 4th/5th/etc. if upcast) spell slot, you get up to 10 minutes of lightning bolts, once per round.  Each bolt does 3d10 damage (with an additional d10 per upcast level).  So in 2 rounds, you've outdamaged a Fireball on average (33 vs. 28), and everything past that is all gravy.It's a great spell and an extremely efficient use of a spell slot, which is only really balanced by the limits imposed on where it can be used and the fact that most classes don't get it.  It's only available to Druids and Tempest Clerics (and Bards through Magical Secret).  So yes, Blaster Caster Wizards/Sorcerers are limited to Lightning Bolt for 3rd level Lightning AoE spells.Shatter is Thunder Damage, and can stand in for Fireball as a viable AoE spell in some cases.Most notably, a Tempest Cleric casting a Maximized Shatter in a 3rd level slot does more damage than the average 3rd level Fireball from a Sorcerer/Wizard (32 vs. 28).Otherwise, it's basically "Diet Fireball" for Bards and Warlocks who want a 2nd/3rd level AoE spell option, since they get Shatter but not Fireball on their spell list.</blockquote>