Cone of Cold 5e: Damage, Area, and Frozen Creatures

Few spells announce that a fight has changed quite like Cone of Cold. I enjoy the moment when a caster finds the right angle, catches a cluster of enemies, and turns an entire side of the battlefield white with frost.

Cone of Cold 5e — Quick Spell Reference

How Cone of Cold Works in 5e

Cone of Cold blasts freezing air in a 60-foot cone originating from you. Each creature in the area makes a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 8d8 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

The spell is instantaneous and does not require concentration. You choose the cone’s direction when you cast it.

How Large Is a 60-Foot Cone?

A cone starts at its point of origin and becomes wider as it extends. Under the 2014 area-of-effect rules, a cone’s width at a given point is equal to that point’s distance from the origin. Cone of Cold can therefore cover a very large area at its far end.

You can aim the cone in any direction, but its point of origin is you. A creature behind total cover is not affected if the effect cannot reach it from the cone’s origin.

This shape is powerful but sometimes awkward. Moving before you cast—or having allies hold one side of a battlefield—can let you catch more enemies without freezing the rest of the party.

The Frozen Statue Rule

A creature killed by Cone of Cold becomes a frozen statue until it thaws. This is primarily a narrative consequence: the spell does not give the statue a special Armor Class, hit points, or a fixed thawing time.

The creature is still dead. Thawing the body does not revive it, and the spell does not say that the frozen remains shatter automatically. The Dungeon Master decides how the environment and later interactions affect the statue.

Upcasting Cone of Cold

Cone of Cold deals one additional d8 of damage for every slot level above 5th.

Spell Slot	Cold Damage	Average Damage
5th	8d8	36
6th	9d8	40.5
7th	10d8	45
8th	11d8	49.5
9th	12d8	54

That scaling is reliable, though whether upcasting is worthwhile depends on the other high-level area spells you have prepared.

Practical Cone of Cold Tactics

• Look for a firing angle that puts the cone’s widening end across the largest enemy group.
• Remember that Constitution saves are often strong for large monsters, so half damage on a success matters.
• Use elevation, doorways, or the battlefield edge to reduce the chance of catching allies.
• Check for cold resistance or immunity before spending a 5th-level slot when your character could reasonably know about it.

What Changed in the 2024 Rules?

The spell’s essential mechanics remain the same in the 2024 rules: a 60-foot cone, a Constitution save, 8d8 cold damage, half damage on a success, the frozen-statue clause, and an extra 1d8 per higher slot.

The notable availability change is that Cone of Cold appears on the 2024 Druid spell list in addition to Sorcerer and Wizard. The spell’s core combat behavior is otherwise materially unchanged.

Cone of Cold FAQ

Does Cone of Cold deal damage on a successful save?

Yes. A creature that succeeds on its Constitution save takes half damage.

Does Cone of Cold affect objects?

The spell targets each creature in its area. It does not say that it damages unattended objects.

Does Cone of Cold require concentration?

No. Its effect is instantaneous.

Does a creature killed by Cone of Cold come back when it thaws?

No. The creature remains dead; thawing only ends the frozen-statue state described by the spell.