Today, we harness the power of one of D&D 5e’s most underrated and cunning spells: Spike Growth.
Picture this: you’re deep in the heart of a treacherous forest and a roaming horde of zombies has spotted your party. The air is thick with tension as the horde begins to charge, and your party needs a strategic edge to turn the tide if you plan to survive.
Enter Spike Growth—a spell that can transform the very ground beneath your foes’ feet into a deadly trap of thorns and spikes.
In this article, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of Spike Growth, uncovering its mechanics, revealing tips and tricks for maximizing its potential, and weighing its pros and cons.
Whether you’re a seasoned Druid, a tactical Ranger, or just a curious player looking to add a new spell to your repertoire, we’ve got you covered.
So grab your arcane focus, sharpen your wits, and let’s embark on a journey to master this formidable spell. By the end, you’ll be ready to wield Spike Growth with the precision and tactical cunning of a true adventurer.
What is Spike Growth?
Spike Growth is a 2nd-level transmutation spell available to druids and rangers that turns the terrain into a hazardous field of spikes and thorns.
With a casting time of just one action and a range of 150 feet, you can transform a 20-foot radius of ground into difficult terrain. Any creature moving within this area takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet traveled.
The best part? The spikes are camouflaged to look natural, making it a nasty surprise for any unsuspecting foes.
Perfect for controlling the battlefield and dealing continuous damage, Spike Growth is a must-have in your spell arsenal!
LEVEL: 2nd
CASTING TIME: 1 Action
RANGE/AREA: 150 ft (20ft radius effect)
COMPONENTS: V, S, M*
DURATION: 10 minutes (requires Concentration)
SCHOOL: Transmutation
ATTACK/SAVE: None
DAMAGE/EFFECT: Control / Damage
SPELL LISTS: Druid, Ranger, Cleric (Nature Domain), Warlock (Dao Genie Patron)
The ground in a 20-foot radius centered on a point within range twists and sprouts hard spikes and thorns. The area becomes difficult terrain for the duration. When a creature moves into or within the area, it takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet it travels.
The transformation of the ground is camouflaged to look natural. Any creature that can’t see the area at the time the spell is cast must make a Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC to recognize the terrain as hazardous before entering it.
* (seven sharp thorns or seven small twigs, each sharpened to a point)
How to Use Spike Growth Effectively
Mastering Spike Growth is all about clever placement, team coordination, and strategic timing. Used strategically, Spike Growth can feel absolutely broken with how effective it is, particularly for a mere level 2 spell!
Here’s some important tips to help you turn this spell into a game-changer for your adventuring party:
Tactical Placement
First things first, as an area spell that relies on enemies moving in it, location is truly everything.
Think tactically. You want to cast Spike Growth in narrow passages, doorways, or chokepoints where enemies are forced to move through the area. This maximizes the damage they take as they struggle to navigate the thorny terrain.
Looking at a bottleneck in a dungeon or a bridge in an outdoor setting? These are perfect spots for some spiky mayhem!
Similarly, be sure to leverage the natural environment to enhance the spell’s effectiveness.
While the spell effect is already camouflaged and requires enemies to succeed on a perception check, casting Spike Growth in areas with natural cover or difficult terrain can make it even harder for them to avoid the spikes.
Forests, rocky outcrops, and even urban ruins can serve as excellent backdrops for your thorny surprise. While it’s ultimately up to your DM, clever placing of Spike Growth could potentially see enemies making their perception checks with disadvantage.
Combining with Other Spells and Abilities
Spike Growth shines even brighter when paired with other spells and abilities.
Combining Spike Growth with your allies’ spells like Entangle or Web can be a vicious combo. The enemies are held in place and have their movement reduced which further locks them down. If they can even escape their restraints, they’ll still be forced to take more damage as they to get to you and your party.
However, Spike Growth is particularly nasty when combined with forced movement effects.
Abilities that push or pull enemies, like Grasping Vine, Thunderwave, or a Warlock’s Repelling Blast Invocation, can shove foes back into the spikes, ensuring they take maximum damage.
So if your Grasping Vine drags an enemy 20 feet backward through a Spike Growth, they’re taking 8d4 damage. Assuming they’re a melee enemy, they’re going to take another 8d4 damage when they try to get back in front of you!
Team Coordination
Communication with your party is key to getting the most value out of Spike Growth.
Because this is a concentration spell, you’re going to want to use it in a way that creates a trap for enemies and sets your allies up to take full advantage of it.
Coordinate with your melee fighters to funnel enemies into the spiked area, or have your party’s Rogue use their cunning action to bait foes into the trap.
Similarly, Rangers and Monks, with their superior mobility, can lead enemies on a chase through the hazardous zone, racking up damage with every step the pursuers take.
If you’re going up against enemies that tend to be less tactical (like zombies, for example), leading them into the Spike Growth zone can be an effective way to make quick work of an entire mob of enemies while using very few resources!
Pros and Cons of Spike Growth
Like any powerful tool, Spike Growth comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Let’s break down the pros and cons so you can decide when and how to best use this spell in your adventures.
Pros
- Area Control: Spike Growth transforms a large area (20-foot radius) into a deadly, difficult terrain, making it perfect for controlling the battlefield and funneling enemies into specific paths.
- High Damage Potential: Enemies take 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet they move within the area. Over time, this can add up to significant damage, especially against foes with limited movement options. Forced movement on enemies can make the affected area a death sentence for most enemies.
- Low-Level, High Impact: As a 2nd-level spell, Spike Growth offers a lot of bang for your buck when used well. It’s a potent tool available early in your adventuring career, providing some major tactical advantages without requiring high-level spell slots.
- Camouflage: The spikes are camouflaged to look natural, meaning enemies might not even realize they’re walking into a trap until it’s too late. This surprise factor can turn the tide in a tough encounter.
Cons
- Concentration Requirement: Spike Growth requires concentration, meaning you can’t cast another concentration spell simultaneously, and you risk losing the spell if you take damage.
- Bypassable by Certain Enemies: Enemies with flying, teleportation, or burrowing abilities can bypass the spikes entirely, rendering the spell much less effective against such foes.
- Strategic Planning Needed: Spike Growth isn’t a fire-and-forget spell. It requires careful planning and positioning to maximize its effectiveness, which might not always be feasible in fast-paced combat situations.
Understanding these pros and cons will help you use Spike Growth to its fullest potential, turning it into a reliable and devastating part of your spellcasting arsenal.
Whether you’re laying traps or controlling the flow of battle, Spike Growth is a versatile spell that can give you the upper hand in many encounters.
FAQs – Spike Growth 5e
Yes, Spike Growth can be dispelled using spells like Dispel Magic. If an enemy caster recognizes the spell, they might attempt to remove it to clear the path for their allies. Keep this in mind when planning your strategy.
Absolutely. Spike Growth doesn’t discriminate—it affects all creatures moving through the area, including your allies. Make sure your party members are aware of the spell’s placement to avoid any accidental damage. Coordination and communication are key!
The camouflage of Spike Growth makes the spikes blend into the natural surroundings. In a forest, they might look like natural thorns and underbrush, while in a rocky area, they could resemble jagged stones. Creatures that can’t see the area when the spell is cast must make a Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC to recognize the terrain as hazardous.
Yes, but with a twist. In urban settings, the spikes and thorns might appear as broken glass, sharp debris, or jagged metal. The spell’s effectiveness remains the same, but the camouflage adapts to fit the environment, making it a versatile choice in both wilderness and city adventures.
Final Thoughts – Spike Growth 5e
There you have it, adventurers—a comprehensive guide to wielding Spike Growth with the finesse of a seasoned Druidic tactician.
From its tactical placement and devastating damage potential to its strategic pros and cons, this spell offers a treasure trove of opportunities to outsmart and outmaneuver your foes. Whether you’re a druid weaving nature’s wrath or a ranger laying cunning traps, Spike Growth can be a game-changer in your spellcasting arsenal.
But the adventure doesn’t end here! We want to hear from you!
Have you used Spike Growth in your campaigns? Do you have any clever strategies or memorable stories to share? Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—your insights could inspire fellow players and spark new ideas!
And if you want to stay ahead of the game with more tips, tricks, and in-depth guides, be sure to sign up for the Tabletop Joab newsletter. Join our community of passionate gamers and never miss an update on the latest in D&D tactics, spellcasting secrets, and epic storytelling advice!
