SpellVerified on build 25605617

Witch Bolt

Level: Level 1 · Evocation
Cost: Action + 1st-level spell slot
Range: 18 m
Roll: Ranged spell attack
Damage: 1d12 Lightning
Concentration: Yes
Components: Verbal, Somatic

Link yourself to a target with a bolt of lightning. Deal an additional 1d12 Lightning damage each turn by activating it.

Damage by spell slot

Average at 1st level

6.5

1d12 Lightning

Average at 6th level

6d12 Lightning

Per slot level

+6.5

each slot above 1st

1st-level slot6.5 1d12 Lightning
2nd-level slot13 2d12 Lightning
3rd-level slot19.5 3d12 Lightning
4th-level slot26 4d12 Lightning
5th-level slot32.5 5d12 Lightning
6th-level slot39 6d12 Lightning

Average damage of one cast at each spell slot, from the game's own upcast entries.

Slot	Damage	Average
1st	1d12 Lightning	6.5
2nd	2d12 Lightning	13
3rd	3d12 Lightning	19.5
4th	4d12 Lightning	26
5th	5d12 Lightning	32.5
6th	6d12 Lightning	39

Chance to hit and damage per cast

Level 1, +3 modifier
Level 5, +4 modifier
Level 12, +5 modifier

Average damage of one cast, misses included (at its 1st-level slot): d20 + proficiency + spellcasting modifier against the target's AC; a natural 20 is a critical hit and doubles the dice.

Show the numbers

Target AC	Level 1, +3 modifier	Level 5, +4 modifier	Level 12, +5 modifier
10	5.5	6.2	6.5
11	5.2	5.9	6.5
12	4.9	5.5	6.2
13	4.6	5.2	5.9
14	4.2	4.9	5.5
15	3.9	4.6	5.2
16	3.6	4.2	4.9
17	3.3	3.9	4.6
18	2.9	3.6	4.2
19	2.6	3.3	3.9
20	2.3	2.9	3.6
21	2	2.6	3.3
22	1.6	2.3	2.9
23	1.3	2	2.6
24	1	1.6	2.3
25	0.7	1.3	2

Caster	AC 12	AC 15	AC 18	AC 21
Level 1, +3 (attack +5)	70%	55%	40%	25%
Level 5, +4 (attack +7)	80%	65%	50%	35%
Level 12, +5 (attack +9)	90%	75%	60%	45%

Chance to hit per attack roll.

Who can get it

From the game's class, subclass and race progression tables (the level is the class or character level it first becomes available at), feat choices, equipment boosts and scrolls.