Word of Radiance 5e: Targets, Range, and Scaling

Word of Radiance is the cleric cantrip I want when enemies have closed from several directions. It trades range and a larger damage die for selective area damage, letting the caster strike nearby creatures without automatically catching allies in the burst.

Word of Radiance 5e — Quick Spell Reference

How Word of Radiance Works

The caster utters a divine word. Each creature of the caster’s choice that the caster can see within range must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a chosen creature takes 1d6 radiant damage. A creature that succeeds takes no damage.

The targeting language is important: the spell does not automatically target every enemy or every creature within 5 feet. The caster chooses the creatures, must be able to see them, and can leave allies or any other creatures unaffected.

Each chosen creature rolls its own Constitution save. A failure deals 1d6 radiant damage, while a success takes no damage. There is no spell attack and no half damage on a successful save.

Range and Positioning

The spell’s range is 5 feet, centered on the caster for practical purposes. It works best when two or more opponents are adjacent to the cleric. Against one creature, a cantrip with a larger damage die or an attack roll may be more effective, depending on the target’s defenses.

The caster must see each chosen creature. Total cover, heavy obscurement, blindness, or invisibility can prevent a creature from being selected even when it is within 5 feet. Word of Radiance does not affect unattended objects.

Radiant damage is useful because relatively few creatures resist it, but the 2014 rules do not give undead a general vulnerability to radiant damage. A particular stat block must expressly list vulnerability for the damage to be doubled.

Components

Word of Radiance has verbal and material components. The material component is a holy symbol, which can also serve as a cleric’s spellcasting focus. It has no somatic component, but the caster still needs to provide the holy symbol unless another feature or component pouch satisfies the material component rules.

Having no somatic component does not make the casting imperceptible. The caster must utter the word and supply the material component unless a feature changes those requirements.

Cantrip Scaling

The damage increases automatically with character level:

Character level	Radiant damage
1–4	1d6
5–10	2d6
11–16	3d6
17–20	4d6

This scaling does not use spell slots. Cantrips cannot be upcast.

When Is Word of Radiance Useful?

The cantrip becomes action-efficient when it can affect multiple enemies without harming allies. Its selective targeting distinguishes it from Sword Burst, which affects every other creature in its area, but the Constitution save can be difficult against physically tough monsters.

Radiant damage is resisted less often than some elemental damage types, but undead are not automatically vulnerable to it. Always use the creature’s actual stat block.

Word of Radiance: 2014 vs. 2024 Rules

The damage, saving throw, components, target choice, and character-level scaling remain the same. The 2024 version expresses the range as Self with a 5-foot Emanation, while the 2014 spell simply lists a range of 5 feet. That formal area designation can matter to features that modify spell range. The quick-reference table above retains the 2014 range.

FAQ

Does Word of Radiance hurt allies?

Not unless the caster chooses them. The spell affects only creatures of the caster’s choice that the caster can see within range.

Does it require a spell attack?

No. Each chosen creature makes a Constitution saving throw.

Are undead automatically vulnerable to it?

No. Radiant vulnerability applies only when a creature’s stat block says so.

Who has Word of Radiance on their class spell list?

In the 2014 rules, it appears on the cleric spell list. Other characters may gain it through a feat or class feature.

Can Word of Radiance target an invisible creature?

Not unless the caster can see it. The spell requires sight for every chosen creature.