Acid Splash: Falls Flat on Its Acid

Usable By: Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard

Spell Level: 0 (cantrip)

School: Conjuration

Casting Time: 1 Action

Range: 60 feet

Duration: Instantaneous

Components: V, S

You hurl a bubble of acid. Choose one creature within range, or choose two creatures within range that are within 5 feet of each other. A target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 acid damage.

This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).

Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

Minimum damage is a massive element of 5e combat I think people should consider more often when building characters. When you’re taking your turn casting spells or smacking people around, knowing the bare minimum of possible outcomes can be a useful tool when deciding what is tactically your best bet. This is why so many cantrips feel horrendous to use; Acid Splash is no exception.

Damage cantrips don’t have a ton of competition. The varieties typically are a varied range attached to a die with minimal effects like a small slow. Acid Splash comes in as a cantrip I want to like. Hitting two targets for one spell cast at a decent range sounds all fine and dandy, but at its worst it is way worse than Fire Bolt, and at its best it's not even close to as good as something like Word of Radiance. You get the tiny upside over the latter of being able to hit from range, but when you’re looking at the difference of hitting up to eight or more other creatures versus exactly at most two, Acid Splash gets blown out of the water.

At its best when it connects, this is 6 acid damage to two creatures. At its worst, its 1 acid damage to a single creature. A weapon attack is going to have a floor of three or four damage, and a ceiling that rises as well. Two short-swords can hit as many targets but flexibly can hit the same target as well. A shortbow is going to have larger range and higher damage to a single target with literally any modifier. Ray of Frost at least comes with a slow, and it's not anywhere as good as something like Mind Sliver which offers meaningful upside that you’ll consider using from time to time for both damage or just its effect. If your goal is to deal damage, which is all this really does, you just have so many options that are as good on average with way higher floors or ceilings, making this just… meh?

The possibility of killing two kobolds simultaneously from safety seems neat. It feels like I should like this cantrip, as 2d6 damage puts this at the top of the total damage chart. The problem lies in using it practically. In moments where it’d be at its best, you’ll probably be wanting to cast stuff like Burning Hands. At nearly all other times, this is worse than basically every other cantrip at dealing damage. This might make its way onto some niche sheets built around themes (Copper/Black Dragonborn, other acid based characters). If you’re playing a sorcerer or wizard outside of this niche, you're better off with nearly every other damage cantrip. If you’re an artificer, you have weapon attacks that’ll be way more consistent than this at nearly no cost. I wish I liked this cantrip, I really do. Hitting two things is better than hitting one thing. The unfortunate reality is that you’ll never end up casting it.

5e Spells

Acid Splash: Falls Flat on Its Acid