D&D 5E Top 5 Damage Dealing Spells

[Coroc]

While not being raw I go with 10th level "rain of colorless fire", I translated the 3e version to create a low power version of it and used it in my greyhawk campaign. It was enough to turn 200 attacking orcs into an amorphous mass of burned swamp.

It is basically Armageddon light in its full power version, and wiped out two nations in official greyhawk lore.
Downside of it : it requires a very powerful artifact and is a ritual which potentially can kill those powering it, but it is fun anyway. (In the session I allowed the party to cast the low power edition of it, the party mage botched an arcana check, and one of the PCs who helped empowering it botched a save and instantly met his god)

 

[MonkeezOnFire]

Guiding bolts decent, idk if I would call it great though.

Scorching Ray seems underwhelming to me. I prefer flaming sphere.

I'll admit that my perception of Guiding Bolt is probably skewed because on my cleric I crit with it about a third of the time I cast it and my celestial blood sorcerer was able to twin it getting way more bang out of it.

I generally prefer to reserve my concentration for a spell that does more than just damage. Control, or buff, or debuff. So I like the instantaneous damage spells.

 

[jasper]

Dishonorable mentions.
Mom's FlySwatter good for 1d2 blunt and 1d6 psychic if attack is seen by your class mates
Mom's Shoe. Damage min unknown instant KO (or you just act like it).

 

[Zardnaar]

I'll admit that my perception of Guiding Bolt is probably skewed because on my cleric I crit with it about a third of the time I cast it and my celestial blood sorcerer was able to twin it getting way more bang out of it.

I generally prefer to reserve my concentration for a spell that does more than just damage. Control, or buff, or debuff. So I like the instantaneous damage spells.

Our joke is it never hits. It got used last night at a desert giant throwing rocks on a ravine. The idea was to set up a rogue sneak attack.

It missed.

It's great when it crits though or vs stuff vulnerable to radiant. Or both.

 

[NotAYakk]

A L 5 animate objects, and a quiver of arrows, is 65 damage at +8 vs AC per round. At 13 damage/spell level it is nice. Upcasting gives it the same damage per spell level. As single target damage it is hard to beat.

The real problem is accuracy. But a more effective use is plausibly to have each of them "Help" on PC attacks, a distributed save-free faerie fire. Or split it, half helping and half attacking (requires a bit of careful orders).

Destructive Wave doesn't outdamage fireball, it matches it for a L 5 slot, both deal 10d6 damage. Fireball can be cast with a L 3 for less, and a L6+ for more. DW's inability to be downcast is a reason why it isn't as useful as fireball; high level PCs have a lot of L 3 slots to spam, but not nearly as many L 5 slots. DW is point blank, ally-friendly and better damage type.

Synaptic Static is also an amazing damage spell. Int save, psychic damage, and does a 1d6 bane-type effect on everyone. 8d6 damage (2d less than wave), but that save, damage type and riders are awesome

Shadow Blade and Booming Blade should be mentioned for gish-tastic exploits.

 

[Stalker0]

A L 5 animate objects, and a quiver of arrows, is 65 damage at +8 vs AC per round.

The real problem is accuracy.

Is it though? A 9th level fighter with a +1 weapon and 20 strength only has a +10 to hit at that level. If I'm kind and give them a +2 weapon that's +11. 10-15% accuracy is not going to break the bank, especially when get 8 more attacks than said fighter.

 

[Zardnaar]

Animate object DM can kinda negate it, a few objects can miss and they don't deal magic damage.

 

[NotAYakk]

Is it though? A 9th level fighter with a +1 weapon and 20 strength only has a +10 to hit at that level. If I'm kind and give them a +2 weapon that's +11. 10-15% accuracy is not going to break the bank, especially when get 8 more attacks than said fighter.

Basically, the accuracy doesn't scale. So when you first get it, it is a bit inaccurate. As the levels progress, it falls behind.

 

[Ancalagon]

Animate object is a scary spell to be on the receiving end of. Spiritual guardian is very good tactically on top of the damage

 

[NotAYakk]

I am looking forward to animate objects + dissonant whispers. Save or Ginsu!