Level Up (A5E) Resplendent Refraction is too good vs. Sunbeam and other concentration area damage spells

[Tessarael]

The 4th level spell Resplendent Refraction is too good. It is significantly better than the 6th level Sunbeam spell, which only has the benefit of being a 60' line rather than 30'. I'd suggest dropping the damage in bright light from 5d10 to 4d10, and maybe keeping the blindness to a rare variant of it.

Here's a comparison of Resplendent Refraction vs. some other level 3+ spells that can inflict area of effect damage across multiple rounds:

• 3rd Call Lightning as an action 3d10 (16.5) lightning, 4d10 (22) at 4th level, +d10 (27.5) in storm, Dexterity save halves, 5' radius, only works if roof 100'+ above. Concentration 10 min.
• 3rd Hunger of Hadar does 2d6 cold (3d6 at 4th level with the PHB'24 version) + 2d6 (14 or 17.5 at 4th) acid if fail Dexterity save, blinding + difficult terrain in that 20' radius. Concentration 1 min.
  • The PHB 2014 version created "blackness" not darkness, so eldritch and devil's sight don't work. The PHB 2024 version corrected this to darkness.
• 4th Black Tentacles does 3d6 bludgeoning (10.5), and restrains creatures that fail their save. 20' square. Difficult terrain. Concentration 1 min.
• 4th Resplendent Refraction, as an action in bright light does 5d10 (27.5) radiant, Constitution save halves, 30' line, blinds to end of their next turn if fail save. Concentration 1 min.
  • Note: It is a bonus action to cast Resplendent Refraction, then a standard action to fire the beams. You can cast it on someone else - it is range touch.
• 4th Sickening Radiance does 4d10 (22) radiance damage, Constitution save for none, one fatigue level + stopping invisibility as they glow if they fail their save, 30' radius. Concentration 10 min.
• 4th Wall of Fire does 5d8 fire (22.5), Dexterity save halves, 60' long wall or 20' diameter circle. Concentration 1 min.
• 5th Cloudkill does 5d8 poison (22.5). 20' radius. Concentration 10 min. Heavily obscured area. The fog moves away from you 10' each round, flowing along the ground and downwards.
• 5th Eldritch Cube does 5d6 psychic (17.5), Intelligence save halves, 10' cube. Concentration 1 min. You can move the cube 10' as a bonus action.
• 5th Insect Plague does 4d10 piercing (22), Constitution save halves, 20' radius. Concentration 10 min. Lightly obscured area.
• 5th Jallarzi's Storm of Radiance does 2d10 radiant + 2d10 thunder (22), Constitution save halves, 10' radius. Concentration 1 min. Blinded and deafened while in the area and cannot cast verbal component spells.
• 5th Maelstrom 6d6 bludgeoning (21), Strength save halves, 30' radius. Concentration 1 min. Pulled 10' towards the center of the area if fail the save.
• 5th Wall of Light does 4d8 radiant (18), Constitution save halves, 60' long wall, blinds if fail save with another save on each of its turns. Concentration 10 min.
• 6th Raving Roots does 5d6 bludgeoning (17.5), Dexterity save to avoid being restrained. 30' square. Concentration 1 min. Damages walls and ceilings, collapse of which also does 5d6 bludgeoning.
• 6th Sunbeam does 6d8 radiant (27), Constitution save halves, 60' line, blinds to end of your next turn if fail save. Concentration 1 min. Oozes and Undead have disadvantage on the save.

Comparing average damage by spell slot level for a few of the higher damage concentration spells, we have:

3rd 4th 5th 6th Comments
Call Lightning 16.5 22.0 27.5 33.0 +5.5 in a storm
Cloud Kill - - 22.5 27.0
Insect Plague - - 22.0 27.5
Jal.'s Storm of Radiance - - 22.0 27.5
Resplendent Refraction - 27.5 33.0 38.5 Blinded on failed save. Damage assumes in bright light.
Resplendent Refraction - 22.0 27.5 33.0 Nerfed from 5d10 to 4d10
Sunbeam - - - 27.0 Blinded on failed save
Wall of Fire - 22.5 27.0 31.5
Wall of Light - - 18.0 22.5 Blinded on failed save

If we drop Resplendent Refraction from 5d10 to 4d10, then it is consistent with the damage scaling of other spells. Call Lightning cast in a storm for the extra +d10 is better than this, but only 5' radius and quite situational.

Thoughts?

 

[Distracted DM]

Yes, it's a little better than other options. With A5E, I'd recommend treating non-core spells as Rare Spells- that is, they're not available by default.

 

[Tessarael]

I think most of the A5E non-core spells are balanced. It's good to give the spellcasters some variety, but yes, also good to keep some in reserve as a treasure reward.