One of the best things about Dungeons and Dragons is the chance to experience exploring the world as different characters and perspectives. You can roam the forests as a Druid, you can battle hordes of enemies as a Barbarian, or you could seek knowledge as a Wizard. Doing so, however, might include a bit of difference when it comes to combat mechanics, with spells specifically.

In this article, let’s discuss how to calculate your attack rolls with spells and how to calculate the damage they inflict! I threw in detailed examples for each calculation further down. These are arranged as such and you can feel free to scroll to whatever part you wish.

Contents

How To Calculate Ranged Spell Attacks Rolls In DnD 5e

In Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, the variables included to calculate Ranged Spell Attacks are: d20 dice (20 sided-die), your character’s spellcasting ability modifier, and your proficiency bonus. With these variables, you need to add them together and use the sum as your Spell Attack Roll.

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If you’re looking for more beginner guides, I’ll leave an interactive infographic below that can help you or a friend understand the game better. Be sure to check it out!

If you’re calculating your ranged spell attack roll, the formula will look like this:

= Ranged Spell Attack Rolls

= d20 + Spell Casting Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

D20 = This is the standard d20 or 20 sided-die dice the game uses.

Spell Casting Ability Modifier = Ability Modifier Specific To Spellcasting Class Feature

Proficiency Bonus = Character’s proficiency Bonus.

The d20 is the standard die that the game uses. Along with Attack Rolls, the game uses the d20 to determine Ability Checks and other rolls to find outcomes.

The Spellcasting Modifier will be different for each class. This class feature will use different ability modifiers to get its value, depending on the class. For Wizards, it will be Intelligence, for Paladins, it will be Charisma. Check your Player’s Handbook to find which ability score your character uses.

Proficiency Bonus is something that is determined by your level. Think of it as the growth in skill you character has. As they level up, the proficiency bonus increases, making them succeed more often. Much like Attack Rolls for physical attacks, you add this for ranged spell attack rolls.

If you have more questions on how to calculate your Proficiency Bonus, click here to find a guide. I added many explanations that can answer your questions, as well as detailed examples.

Ranged spells that typically use attack rolls will usually run it against their AC instead of a spell save DC. So, basically, if your spell uses an attack rolls, it behaves more or less like a normal attack.

To know if the spell you are using requires the enemy to make a saving throw, it will be written in the description of the spell, along with the required spell save DC. This means that as long as there is no Spell Save DC, run it against the target’s AC, unless otherwise stated.

You can also check out Attack Rolls in the Player’s Handbook in conjunction with this. In fact this works best with it in hand. You can find Attack rolls in the PHB on page 205.

For a guide on to Attack and Damage Rolls work as a whole, as well as multiple examples, you can check out our guide. You can find it by clicking here.

Does The Dexterity Modifier Apply To Ranged Spell Attack Rolls In Dnd 5e?

In Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, a character’s Dexterity Modifier is not included in the calculation. The only ability modifier included in a spell attack roll is the ability specified in a class’s Spellcasting Class Feature.

As mentioned earlier, the only ability modifier included in the variable of calculating your ranged spell attack roll is the one specified in your class’s Spellcasting class feature. If it’s not written, you do not need to include it in the equation.

Do Ranged Spell Attacks Crit in DnD 5e?

Crit Damage Dnd 5e

In Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, since the ranged spell uses an attack roll, it is possible for you to score a critical hit when you roll a natural 20 or a nat20. Scoring a crit will mean that the dice use for the spell’s damage roll will be double.

The advantage with spells using an attack roll is the possibility of scoring a critical hit. As with normal attacks, you gain the possibility of inflicting a large amount of damage by doubling the dice you use during the damage roll.

This also means that your attack will hit no matter what!

For in-depth details on the mechanics of Critical Hits, you can click here. The guide includes many examples and may be able to clarify anything that might confuse you.

For scoring critical hits with spells specifically, you can click here for a guide.

Ranged Spell Damage Rolls in DnD 5e

Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Map

The variables included in calculating your ranged spell damage roll is:

• Spell Damage Dice
• Other Bonuses

Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Background

The formula will come out as:

= Ranged Spell Damage Roll

= Spell Damage Dice + Other Bonus

Each spell has a different damage dice attached to it. For example, the Fire Bolt spell/cantrip uses a 1d10 at level 1, 2d10 at level 5, 3d10 at level 11, and 4d10 at level 17. Other spells or cantrips also have their own damage dice and you will need to look it up in your PHB (Player’s Handbook) to see what they are.

For the “Other Bonus” variable, these are class features or abilities that can enhance or improve your damage. One ability is the Level 10 School of Evocation Wizard Class Feature, Empowered Evocation.

This class feature allows you to add your Intelligence modifier to your damage roll.

Examples

To help you get a clearer picture, let’s explore some examples by creating a character and calculating the ranged spell attack roll and damage roll.

To be clear, this is a hypothetical character. I’m just throwing numbers around so these aren’t the optimal spreads. Or maybe it is.. It’s well past 3am and I just really want you to understand this fully.

So, here I give to you Lizard the Wizard, a level 10 wizard of an unspecified race.

Level 10 Wizard

This is a Wizard of no specific race. The initial stats were determined through a standard array method, and at level 4 and level 8, Lizard increased his intelligence, adding 4 points in total.

First, let’s see the Attack Roll for when Lizard is casting Fire Bolt:

= Ranged Spell Attack Rolls For Fire Bolt

= d20 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

= 9 + 4 (Intelligence Modifier) + 4 (Proficiency Bonus at Level 10)

= 17

Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Character

For an enemy AC of 16 or 17, your attack will hit. Any higher and the attack will fail.

For Damage Rolls, it will look like this:

= Level 10 Wizard Spell Damage Rolls For Fire Bolt

= 2d10 + Empowered Evocation

Let’s say we roll a 12 for a non-critical attack and a 24 for a critical attack.

Level 10 Wizard

Crit Damage Dnd 5e

Just for comparison’s sake, let’s check how it would have looked like if Lizard the Wizard was at Level 1.

For the critical hit, let’s say we roll a 11, and for the non-crit we roll a 8.

Level 1 Wizard

As you can see, there is no Empowered Evocation added because you do not have the class feature yet. You gain it at level 10. Any ability modifiers are not included, and the damage dice used is a 1d10 as per the description of Fire Bolt.

Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Stats

This guide is an unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Here are the infographics I promised. Feel free to swipe left or right!

Here’s one you can save and share with friends!

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