Your Guide to the Radiant Damage Type in D&D 5e

Of Dungeons & Dragons 5^th Edition’s many damage types, Radiant damage is one of the best. Very few creatures resist or have an immunity to it but player characters have a wide variety of spells available which causes it.
 
But, what is Radiant damage? How do you describe it? And, how effective is it against creatures?
 
This article outlines everything starting Game Masters and players need to know about Radiant damage in 5e.

First off, let’s start with describing what Radiant damage is in D&D 5e.

What is Radiant Damage?

Radiant damage is essentially D&D 5e’s version of holy or divine magic. It serves as the sort of antithesis to necrotic damage and often stands in opposition to negatively-aligned creatures like undead and fiends.

Basically, Radiant is the holy damage type of D&D 5e. It represents divine energy causing harm against a creature or object either physically or spiritually.

D&D’s rules describe Radiant damage in the following way on page 196 of the Player’s Handbook:

Since Radiant is a more magically-aligned damage type, unlike a more natural (but still magical) type like lightning damage, describing it becomes a bit tricky.

How To Describe Radiant Damage

The Player’s Handbook describes Radiant damage as a searing pain. This serves as the default, but since D&D has a wide variety of deities, describing this damage type can be just as varied. Furthermore, using senses other than sight is a good way of defining this more magical damage type.

Now, the easy way to describe Radiant damage in 5e is through the searing pain it causes. Now, this wouldn’t result in physical burns resulting from something like fire damage. If anything, the physical indicators of Radiant damage may be something more akin to radiation burns or like the physical attributes of a creature burned away due to the existential harm of this damage type.

As with any damage type, visual cues are important to demonstrating what happens to a creature or object. But, being a more mystical damage type, the other core senses help in adding a little pizzazz to Radiant damage.

Here are some example ways to describe Radiant damage using the five core senses.

What Does Radiant Damage Look Like?

Smooth, shimmering burns crawling over a creature’s skin in a spiral pattern; the creature’s eyes, ears, and nose emit a bright light; luminescent lines of energy rapidly trace the blood vessels of the creature’s body and dissipate

What Does Radiant Damage Sound Like?

A long, deep ringing of a distant, massive bell; rapid twinkling like that of a thousand wind chimes; a low, almost metallic thrumming of energy releasing

What Does Radiant Damage Feel Like?

Sharp, stabbing pain in the creature’s bones; an almost electrical pain originating from the point of contact; an excruciatingly painful stomachache for the duration of the damage

What Does Radiant Damage Smell Like?

The after-rain smell; ozone (similar to the smell of a printer working); a dusty, almost mildew like smell

What Does Radiant Damage Taste Like?

A metallic, coppery taste; like the spiciest pepper with no flavor; fresh, pure spring water

Of course, these are only suggestions. Also, this could vary wildly based on which domain or deity the Radiant damage comes from.

There are a good number of Cleric domains in 5e, each one representing a divine aspect of creation, not necessarily a specific deity or deities. Clerics and other creatures don’t necessarily need to have a bond with a specific deity, but the Domains are a good way of differentiating how Radiant damage interacts with a target. Some are…trickier than others, but the diversity adds a new level to your game and adds a level of depth to your game’s world.

Here are just a few examples of how you can alter how your describe Radiant damage based on Domain.

Knowledge

The pain centralizes in the head and radiates down the neck and shoulders; celestial runes ring the target’s head and rapidly constrict around them; a chorus of celestial voices detailing the tale of an ancient tale echo around the target

Nature

A strong smell of fresh roses surrounds the target which quickly turns into that of rot; harsh, shrill birdsongs echo around the target; floating visions of leaves appear and accost the target

War

A war horn radiates from the target creature as it writhes in pain; a glowing, ethereal weapon appears and strikes; an invisible weight falls upon the target creature

Grave

The smell of freshly disturbed dirt emanates from around the target; the tolling of a temple bell rings out originating around the creature; a faint fog enwraps the creature and begins searing their flesh

Twilight

Several motes of light resembling stars rapidly appear and disappear around the target; a magical apparition of the phases of the moon appears; an evening mist smelling faintly of wolfsbane (evergreen / lemony) tightly wraps around the creature

Of course, this is only a sampling of the many Cleric domains. Both Game Masters and players have limitless options for describing how the source of their Radiant damage looks, sounds, feels, smells, and tastes like depending on the character / creature and Domain.

This leads to the sources of Radiant damage in 5e. So, let’s start with the spells which deal this damage type.

Radiant Damage Spells in 5e

D&D 5e has 21 spells which deal Radiant damage according to DnD Beyond. A little under half of these spells require a target fail a Constitution saving throw, but nearly as many only require a caster to hit with a weapon or spell attack.

There are actually surprisingly few spells which deal Radiant damage in D&D 5e. Even worse, most of these spells are only available to Clerics or Paladins.

That said, there are a few available to other classes, some of actually exclude Cleric and Paladin. So, you have some options for playing a character with access to these spells. The downside with them is some of them are of a higher level, meaning you won’t be able to use them until later in your game.

The upside here is you do have options basically at every level if you’re willing to play a Cleric.

Here’s a list of spell which deal Radiant damage in 5e:

• Sacred Flame (Cantrip) – Cleric
• Word of Radiance (Cantrip) – Cleric
• Divine Favor (1st-Level) – Cleric (War Domain), Paladin
• Guiding Bolt (1st-Level) – Cleric, Paladin (Oath of Glory), Warlock (The Celestial)
• Branding Smite (2nd-Level) – Artificer (Battle Smith), Paladin, Warlock (The Hexblade)
• Moonbeam (2nd-Level) – Cleric (Twilight Domain), Druid, Paladin (Oath of the Ancients, Oath of the Watchers)
• Blinding Smite (3rd-Level) – Paladin
• Crusader’s Mantle (3rd-Level) – Cleric (War Domain), Paladin
• Spirit Guardians (3rd-Level) – Cleric, Paladin (Oath of the Crown)
• Spirit Shroud (3rd-Level) – Cleric, Paladin, Warlock, Wizard
• Guardian of Faith (4th-Level) – Cleric, Paladin (Oath of Devotion, Oath of the Crown), Warlock (The Celestial)
• Sickening Radiance (4th-Level) – Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
• Dawn (5th-Level) – Cleric, Wizard
• Destructive Wave (5th-Level) – Paladin
• Flame Strike (5th-Level) – Cleric, Druid (Circle of Wildfire), Paladin (Oath of Devotion, Oath of Glory), Warlock (The Fiend, The Celestial, The Genie)
• Holy Weapon (5th-Level) – Cleric, Paladin
• Wall of Light (5th-Level) – Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
• Forbiddance (6th-Level) – Cleric
• Sunbeam (6th-Level) – Cleric (Additional Cleric Spells), Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
• Crown of Stars (7th-Level) – Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
• Sunburst (8th-Level) – Cleric (Additional Cleric Spells), Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

Now, of these 21 spells, nine force a Constitution saving throw to deal Radiant damage. Many of the others (eight) simply require you hit with a weapon or spell attack, and the rest either require a Dexterity save (three), Wisdom save (one), or just deal the damage if the right conditions are met (one). So, many high-Constitution creatures have an easier time avoiding the effects of spells which deal Radiant damage, but you still have plenty of other options to avoid this.

Of course, players may need to consider the viability of Radiant damage against the various monsters in D&D.

Monster Interactions with Radiant Damage

Very few monsters directly interact with Radiant damage. This damage type is resisted by very few creatures and ever fewer have an immunity against it.

Radiant damage is second only to force damage in terms of resistances and immunities when it comes to the non-mundane types (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing). Meaning very few creatures resist or outright ignore Radiant damage.

On the other hand, almost equally few monsters have a vulnerability to Radiant damage. So, while few creatures mitigate this damage type, you most likely won’t deal extra damage by the same token. The silver lining here is Radiant is pretty reliable for dealing damage.

5e Radiant Damage FAQs

Summary of the Radiant Damage Type in D&D 5e

That about covers what Radiant damage is for beginning D&D 5e GMs and players.

Radiant damage is one of 5e’s many damage types equating to divine or holy damage. There are a good number of spells which cause it, spanning almost the entire range of levels, but most of these spells are only available to Clerics or Paladins. This damage type is second only to force damage in terms of number of creatures with resistance or immunity against it.

What’s your favorite Radiant damage spell? Have you used a creature resistant / immune to this damage type against your players? Leave a comment below sharing your thoughts!

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