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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning

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Average Rating:4.7 / 5
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Jo-Jo E. I. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/04/2021 11:20:20

The additional spells added are creative, well written, and offer a lot of versatility for your elemental spellcasters. However some of the spells are incredibly unbalanced and OP when compared to their RAW counterparts. Overall great suppliment.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Thanks for the review, glad you like it! Also, feel free to share stories from your game about how the spells you're concerned about affected gameplay, and I can take that into consideration for possible revisions. Thanks again!
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Louise A. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/16/2019 18:26:59

I really love this, the ability to flavour spellcasters has been a niche of mine for a long time and this book offers some really great spells that are aspected to a particular element. Some cool reskins, some oldies reimagined, and some new spells... Seriously great stuff. Highly reccomended.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Jason C. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/14/2019 23:31:33

This book is amazing!! We built a Tempest Cleric, threw in some of the lightning spells, and had the perfect Herald of Thor! It was so much fun to play, especially with the Charge spell. Great addition to any game!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/11/2019 13:00:41

I think this is a great resource for anyone who wants to make a cryomancer (cold), pyromancer (fire) or electromancer (lightning)!

The spells are catagorized by damage type, so you can quickly find the spells that interest your character's theme, and you have plenty of spells to choose from.

Great resource, and excellent work!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Cameron D. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/06/2019 18:49:44

When I was contacted by the creator to give this bad boy a review, I was super excited - because I like many others feel that elemental magic is highly lacking on the Guild, and in D&D in general. Jacob put an intense amount of work into building something so freaking awesome - with excellent spells like Spirit Candles, Stormcloud or Ice Mountain, this book crams so much into just 24 pages. Grouped into elemental sections, the book is easy to navigate, well balanced, and an excellent resourse for wet-behind-the-ear DMs looking to learn about spell construction and balancing. I hope to see more books of its kind in the future - perhaps with a bit more visual stimulation in the art department - and look forward to the growth of spell material.

Comics, Clerics, & Controllers d20 Roll: 18



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Bee S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/03/2019 22:47:14

What I love about this spellbook is that, though the spells are tied together by their common theme, each spell is different and unique. I love the flavor of all the spells, and I'm really interestedin playing with this supplement. There are some spells that I'm pretty excited about in particular, like detonate (anyone wanna be an Electrode for a hot second?), snowball (I like the way the effects snowball), meteor dash (this is really just the flavor I've been looking for), enliven corpse (COMBINING ELEMENTS AND NECROMANCY??? SIGN ME RIGHT UP), and Raiju ascension (might literally be game breaking but then so is anything level 9, lbr). I think the content is definitely worth the price, and this will make awesome flavor for NPCs and PCs alike. And there's enough to go around that your NPC wizards and PC wizards won't just be fireballing each other back and forth.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Valor M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/02/2019 10:35:45

Full Disclosure: I helped playtest some of this content. But that's one reason why I purchased this so quickly, I'm very aware of the quality here.

Overview

Pros

  • Fills a gap in existing content for players
  • Feels thematically funs and engaging
  • Amazing options for DMs
  • Follows existing spells in both mechanics and mathematically

Cons

  • Adds additional action economy to already powerful characters
  • More content for DMs to review

I think these elemental spells add some variety to the elemental arsenal of 5th ed spellcasters, for both players and DMs alike. As a player I’ve been a little irked with sorcerers and elemental spells. The concept of elemental sorcerers just feels fun and thematic, and while reskinning existing work is nice it’s much easier to approach a DM with a supplement they might enjoy and propose it be used in game. I would very much like to use these spells as a player and hope I get to soon.

As a DM, I could go on for a moment. These add some great options for villains, encounters, NPCs, and even traps and lair actions. The spells are mathematically in line with core published content but also add a variety of additional options in terms of debuffs, areas of effect, and even casting times. The wording and effects of the spells fall in line with existing content, so using these spells feels intuitive and familiar to those used to 5th edition D&D. From a design perspective, JK was careful to pay attention to the schools of magic, spell components, and all of the little details that make an impact in long running campaigns.

For example, Lingering Shock is a 6th level spell that chain stuns an enemy and does a little bit of damage, like flesh to stone but with a little punch (plus it doesn't petrify). JK was careful to stay in line with existing content, while spicing things up!

Personal favorites from our playtest include ball lightning and electromagnetic pulse, which went over quite well in play. Ball lightning is a havoc causing spell with no concentration, that affects friend and foe alike. It’s a really good spell for antagonists. For players it would be, situationally, very good.

Electromagnetic pulse goes around corners, dispels magical effects, and causes area damage to those around the caster. Both are shockingly good.

I would be remiss if I didn't add some critique. One of my favorite parts about these spells is they really add some action economy for full casters. These spells add options with casting times of a reaction, bonus action, and longer more powerful spells at high levels. From a design perspective this is really great. However, it will bump up the power level of PC full casters using these spells. But that's the point, right?

Like all content, 3rd party and WotC included, I recommend looking through these and seeing how these spells will affect your game. But as a DM, this is a really nice resource to add to my encounter building toolset. This is enough content to add a lot of variety and I expect getting some good mileage out of this purchase (which is one of the goals). It’s not when you use the content, it’s how often that’s most important. And I have a feeling I'll be using these spells for a long time to come.

These spells will also act like pretty nice treasures to add scrolls for spellcasting PCs.

All in all, one of my favorite finds here. I highly recommend it!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Elemental Spellbook: 80 Spells of Ice, Fire, and Lightning
Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild
by Curse o. S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/01/2019 12:40:27

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was given a copy of this supplement for a full and honest review.

Mastering the Elements. This supplement produced by Purple Aether Games (@PurpleAetherLLC), written and designed by Jacob S Kellogg (@JacobSKellog), opens with an earnest appeal to those players who want to be able to have all their spells on elemental brand and the DMs who want to arm their specific elemental cults with thematic spells. The mission statement of this supplement, "you can take your favorite elemental mage all the way from 1st to 20th level while remaining devoted to your concept, even if you’re dedicated to a single element" is backed up with a colossal collection 80 spells spread over ice, fire and lightning, covering all levels and cantrips, adding a veritable cornucopia of new spells for the frosty Wizard with ice in their veins, fiery-eyed Warlock bound to an infernal flame, Paladin of Thor in coruscating and/ or any player or DM wanting to broaden their magical horizons. These are listed in level order and then detailed in alphabetical order in separate ice, fire and lightning sections.

It's notable that there do mot appear to be any class tags on the spells, meaning they are open to anyone with the ability to cast spells of the spell in question's level. This is definitely a huge relief for those building a character or elemental order, as the entire spell smorgasbord is on the table everyone is invited!

I have to admit that, while I am becoming rather well-versed in the reviewing of adventures and supplements, spells are somewhat new for me to be reviewing, though I plan to give this the in depth treatment I give everything else, checking spells of the same level and trying to get a handle and reference of the appropriate power levels and abilities. To this end I shall go through each section picking around five that intrigue me the most, whether by name or mechanics, talking about those specifically (without giving too much away), before addressing this awesome collection of whizz-bangs, zaps and judders as a whole. Please be aware the spell descriptions are my own paraphrasing with details omitted.

Cold Spells. "Cold spells allow you to conjure solid ice, slow your enemies, hamper flames, and of course deal cold damage."

Agonizing Chill. This 5th level enchantment kicks things off with "a crippling cold that fills its entire body". This deals an automatic a potentially serious cold damage and forces a save or the target becomes Slowed, as in the 3rd level spell, and can repeat the save at the end of each turn, taking the rolling the same cold damage on a failure! A powerful way to begin things indeed! The image is rendered so vividly of a creature physically impaired by a blast of icy magic, a rime of frost covering their body and snot icicles dangling from their nose like Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining. The automatic hit and damage is interesting, but with low number of high dice there's a wide range of possible damage, although it does repeat which could be killer, but a fifth slot for this and a single Slowed target seems a fair trade.

Cryostasis. This 8th level abjuration takes an hour and 1,000G diamond that is consumed in the casting. This creates a hardy cocoon/ sarcophagus of ice for a willing creature, placing them in unconscious and in suspended animation with time not passing for them on the inside. Oh, and unless it is difficulty dispelled or destroyed with fire, it lasts indefinitely. This seems like a great way to hide a character or creature or as a way to essentially send them into the future. I'm already thinking of so many fun ways this could be used to introduce a new character, villain or monster, as well as being a fascinating puzzle for a party to discover and try to understand. Could this contain one of the earliest elves, so much more ancient than any alive today, a primordial dragon unlike any in recorded history, or could this contain one of the first illithid to arrive in your setting, possibly vastly different with greater powers and technology? The narrative possibilities are endless!

Ice Blades. This 4th level conjuration summons snowflakes the size of saw blades that can be flung great distances, dealing slashing and cold action using bonus actions, somewhat like spirit weapon, but these babies come back to you, ready to throw again. The blades circle the caster when not being used and can any number can hurled at one of more targets. Beginning with a trio, the blades can be added to at higher levels. This is just a ridiculously cool looking, sounding and feeling spell that I'm aching to get it use. Definitely need to create a Mortal Kombat inspired mage as soon as possible.

Ice Warrior. This 3rd level conjuration creates a frozen friend to fight alongside you using the stats of a Veteran with limited arms and abilities. Additional ice warriors can be summoned at higher levels, up to a total of four at 9th level. With the restrictions, ice warriors can certainly be compared to and seen to as a more elementally specific conjure animals. Personally, I love spells that create allies, especially as I run a couple of duet games, as they allow you to feel a bit more like a conjuration mage from the Elder Scrolls, with more the merrier welcome. As a DM this can be daunting, but with the simplicity of acting after directly after the caster in initiative makes simpler. At the same time I love the idea of places being attacked by abominable assailants and this being traced back to a cold mage's ice cave, possibly with the ice warriors being formed around the frozen bodies of former victims for added horror and necromancy flavor.

Refreshing Chill. This evocation cantrip, described as a practice spell for cryomamcers, comes across as thematic combination of druidcraft and shape water for those of a colder nature. It certainly makes sense that magic users, particularly those specializing in an element would have access to a wide range of simple abilities, as with druids and their eponymous craft. I also thoroughly enjoy a flavored spell description that places it within the world and lives of the mage's that is it. This really is a nifty little flavorful cantrip.

Fire Spells "Fire spells are all about burning, but that doesn’t mean a pyromancer doesn’t still have a few tricks up their sleeve."

Detonate. This 3rd level evocation sets of a fiery explosion in a radius from the caster, forcing all creatures other than themselves to Strength save or take potentially a great deal of damage, get pushed back and onto their bottoms on a failure, or half and the don't move or get knocked prone, just standing there looking charcoaled like a cartoon character after the dynamite goes off -- only this time the caster is the Acme TNT! The big big badda boom moves loose objects and can be heard up to a long ways away, as with Thunderwave. In many ways this is the hot-headed big brother of Thunderwave who blows up and pushes your friends over in the playground. This makes me want to build a flaming Vengeance Paladin who runs in, Detonates with righteous fury, scattering enemies like bowling pins! Be careful when playing near friends!

Flame Body. This 9th level transmutation turns you into the humanoid torch! FLAME ON! You literally become a flaming form of yourself that can fly and send out fireballs without expending spellslots, as well as upping that damage die of any flame spells cast! Also, because you are fire you are harder to hit and if you are attack in melee or even stood too close the creature gets burned. This is just so many levels of awesome and just the kind of awesome thing you want to be able to do by the time you can cast 9th levels spells!

Flame Wreath. This evocation cantrip is the baby version of flame body, surrounding the caster in a vortex of flame and essentially being a fire-skinned word of radiance for those more fireous than pious. I always enjoy a reskin of a spell that makes it more thematic and useful.

Peer Through Flames. This 6th level divination consumes 500G of incense and charcoal (enough to find 50 familiars) and gives the caster the ability to become aware of all non-magical flames within a 100 miles, as well as being able to see, hear and speak through the flames, moving your attention between them with ease. When you speak, a flaming approximation of your face appears in the flames. I absolutely love this and I'm sorry, not sorry about all my references, but as soon as I read this I had images of Sirius Black from Harry Potter and Milisandre from Game of Thrones! This is an incredibly powerful, useful and thematic spell, as well as being a nice change from fire so often being purely destructive.

Servant of Flame. This 3rd level conjuration summons a group of magma mephits to fight at your behest, acting on their own group initiative and following the caster's commands. At higher levels you roll to see how many more are summoned, which is a nice touch with their fickle elemental nature. This is a simple and straightforward spell gaining the ability to conjure elemental minions, comparable to conjure animals, what's not to love?

Lightning Spells "Lightning spells allow you to stun your enemies, short-circuit other spells, and of course deal lightning damage."

Decimation Bolts. This 9th level evocation makes you Darkseid! You fire a ridiculous number of omega beams, I mean bolts of destructive elemental power in incredibly long lines forcing a Dexterity save, taking colossal zaps and getting stunned on a failure, half damage and only static mohawks on a success. These also dispel all magical effects or spells in the area of one or more of the bolts to boot! There's some just really, ahem, magical about 9th level spells and they are so hard to compare against anything when you have Wish on the table, but I really want to unleash this awesome power, and if I had to compare it's like doing a bunch lines of Meteor Swarm with a Dispel Magic chaser!

Enliven Corpse. This 2nd necromancy allows tithe caster to use an electric charge to animate a medium or small corpse like a lightning puppet, rather than an undead creature. Using your action you can puppet your lightning bloat, hitting with spell attacks and lightning damage. I have to say this is one of my favorites. The fantasy-science sense of it and the image of this possibly hovering corpse, jerking in a coruscating cage of impelling lightning is glorious. I cannot wait for my players to meet one of these lightning bloats™ coming down a dungeon corridor!

Lightning Army. This 5th level enchantment enhances up to four allies, charging them with lightning powers including the majority of the bonuses of haste, as well as additional lightning damage to attacks, being attacks and/ or ending your turn holding an enemy with your sparking hand-buzzer. I do so like a spell that can pump up the whole party, rather than having to pick a member or pay more. Plus I enjoy the concept of using lightning to get the party charged up and buzzing.

Lightning Speed. This evocation cantrip is a real nifty little move to charge your legs and get your gotta go fast on, enabling you to move with such abruptness that opportunity attacks against you have disadvantage for a round. Great for escaping and making you feel at least a little bit like Wally West...unless one of those attacks hits and you no longer feel like The Flash, but hey it's a handy bonus action cantrip.

Pulse Canon. This 7th level evocation turns the caster into a huge laser turret, firing a cone of massive lightning damage and stunning if the constitution save is failed. This can stick around for a good while and can be turned with a bonus action, so the potential for offence and defense are incredible! This is so freaking awesome and gives me some serious anime and old cartoon vibes, as well as thinking about how you could totally build a warforged mech or gundam with these abilities!

These are just a taste of the 80 spells with such a wide array of uses, and that feel so authentic and in tone/ in line with thy existing spells in D&D5e. This is something I will certainly be implementing in my games. This 24 page supplement is packed to the brim with quality spells with the subtle and effective design, layout and use of stock art.

As a player I thoroughly look forward to building a a static-bearded sorcerer dedicated to Talos, the Storm Lord, possibly named Tezl Van De'Graff. As a DM I'm already plotting a Sub Zero and the Lin Kuei inspired martial arts and magic cult holed up and plotting in the hollow bowels of a ice berg. There's something wonderful about a player's reaction when discovering a spell scroll or spellbook they've never seen before! There's something shining in their beady little serial killer eyes that makes them seem most like people... But seriously I am feeling so inspired by these spells to create so many different characters, NPCs, adventures and even campaigns! I'm definitely going to start introducing elements of these elemental into my games as soon as possible and just brace myself for my payer's reactions and excitement!

Kellogg has created a wonderful collection of spells, in-fitting with the game and taking ideas into some strange and wonderful places. This really is a nifty bunch of spells that will add some utility, flavour and excitement to your game, whichever side of the table you are, though be sure to check with the DM before adding these to your arsenal.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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