Creates a long bolt of lightning.
Original D&D[]
The spell first appeared in Men & Magic, for the magic-user.
- Spell Level 3
- Range 24"
Creates a stroke of lightning 6" long and up to 3/4" wide (though the bolt cannot extend beyond the range). It will reflect off of surfaces to attain the full 6", even if that means passing through the caster or their allies. It deals 1d6 damage per caster level to any creature caught in it.
AD&D[]
Lightning Bolt[]
Debuted in the Player's Handbook as a magic-user spell.
| Level: 3 | School: Evocation |
| Components: V, S, M (a bit of fur and an amber, crystal, or glass rod) | |
| Range: 4" + 1"/level | Casting Time: 3 segments |
| Duration: Instantaneous | Saving Throw: Halves |
| Area: Special | |
Creates a bolt of electricity that deals 1d6 damage per caster level to creatures caught in it. The range is where the bolt starts, and the actual bolt can be either a fork 1" wide and 4" long, or a single bolt 1/2" wide and 8" long. If the bolt hits a nonconductive barrier that it doesn't destroy, it rebounds toward the caster. The bolt catches combustible objects on fire, sunders wooden doors, splinters up to 1' of stone, and melts metals with a low melting point (such as lead, gold, copper, silver, or bronze). Objects can make a save to withstand the full force of the blast, and creatures can make a save to take half damage.
DM's Advice: If the spell rebounds, it rebounds out to its full remaining distance. if the spell manages to destroy the barrier, it continues beyond.