Summary
- Fifth-level spells in 5e, like Dream, offer creative communication and strategic advantages for spellcasters.
- Many fifth-level spells offer a variety of effects, including high damage, transmutation, and other utilitarian needs.
- Raise Dead and other resurrection spells like Banishing Smite are essential for restoration and banishment in combat.
The fifth level is when spells start becoming powerful enough that a wizard or cleric has a chance of dispatching an entire group of enemies in one round. In the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons, there are plenty of great spells to choose from, in particular for divine spellcasters.
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PostsHowever, many notable spells from previous editions were omitted; a prime example is Lower Resistance. This list will contain the best 5th-level spells in 5e, with one exception from the second edition of D&D, including information about where the spell can be found and a conversion of its effects to contemporary rules.
Updated on February 24, 2025 by Jack Filsinger: From high-damage wizard spells to utilitarian cleric magics, DND has no shortage of amazing spells at every level of play, including fifth. We've updated this list to include even more of the best fifth-level spells in 5e (and other editions), as well as added tables breaking down casting time, concentration requirements, and available classes for each of these powerful DND spells.
24 Dream
Light of Xaryxis by Ekaterina BurmakCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
1 minute
Bard, Warlock, Wizard
No
Dream is an incredibly useful spell that can be used in a number of creative ways. When you cast this spell, you can essentially intercept a target's dream and enter it, conversing with them or creating a terrifying visage to frighten them.
First off, this spell is a great way to communicate across the same plane of existence without fear of being targeted by a scrying spell. You can also hide your appearance and have a messenger avatar appear in your stead. Additionally, by making the vision terrifying, you can try to inflict 3d6 psychic damage on your target.
23 Scrying
The Scrying Spell by GabolepsCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
10 minutes
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Warlock, Wizard
Yes, up to 10 minutes
Scrying is the ultimate way to get the drop on your enemies. As long as your target is on the same plane of existence, you can cast this spell and see and hear them, provided they fail a Wisdom saving throw. You can also use this spell to target a location instead of a person.
Obviously, there's a ton of creative ways to use this spell. Whether you're trying to hunt down a member of the party who's been separated or figure out the location of an adversary's lair, Scrying is a must-have for any high-level caster.
22 Raise Dead
Raise Dead by Polar EngineCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Action or Ritual
Cleric, Paladin, Bard
No
Raise Dead is one of the few resurrection spells that are available to non-divine casters, namely bards. When you touch a corpse and cast this spell, you revive a dead creature so long as it hasn't been dead for more than ten days and hasn't been turned undead. You can also neutralize poisons that may have caused the character's demise.
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Posts 3Of course, like most resurrection spells, this one has a steep material cost (a diamond worth 500+ gp). But, for bards in particular, this is a good one to have in your back pocket. The best part is, if you can save an ally's body, you can prepare this spell the following day if you're a cleric, thanks to the ten-day time limit, meaning you don't always have to have it ready.
21 Awaken
Transport via Plants by Rob AlexanderCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
8 hours
Bard, Druid
No
Awaken is a spell filled with roleplay possibilities since it lets you give a beast or a plant an Intelligence score of ten, as long as it was three or fewer to begin with. This process makes the targeted creature learn a language you know, letting it communicate by speaking said language, and it is charmed by you for 30 days.
The charmed effect ends prematurely if you or your allies attack the creature, but once it wears off, there is no reason for the creature not to continue being your ally. This way, you can gain a powerful source of information gathering since an awakened bird can gather all sorts of intel while hiding in plain sight.
20 Bigby's Hand
A Spectral Hand by Brian ValezaCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Action
Sorcerer, Wizard
Yes, up to 1 minute
This spell creates a giant, floating, ghostly hand that mimics the movements of one of your hands. While you need to concentrate on it to maintain it, you can command the hand to do things with a bonus action, leaving your main action open to cast other spells or anything else you might need to do.
On a basic level, the hand can add to your offensive abilities, punching and pushing enemies. It also can, however, aid you defensively, becoming a half cover for you (as long as you position yourself right) and difficult terrain for your enemies since normally the hand doesn't really occupy its space.
19 Destructive Wave
A Devout Warrior by Michael BroussardCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Action
Paladin
No
Paladins are often facing hordes of minions from their necromantic enemies, so ways of dealing area damage are a must. Destructive Wave is a great way of dealing with such minions since you deal damage in a 30-foot area around yourself, and you can choose not to hit your allies.
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PostsThe damage type is usually a combination of thunder and radiant, with the possibility of knocking the enemies prone, so keep that in mind for your ranged attacking companions. Should your enemies be resistant to radiant damage for whatever reason, you can change the radiant portion of the damage into necrotic instead.
18 Conjure Elemental
Summon Fey by Joseph WestonCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Action
Druid, Wizard
Yes, up to 10 minutes
Conjure Elemental is an obvious choice for a favorite spell since everyone loves to have a minion. It's useful to have a powerful, otherworldy servant who is friendly to both you and your party, at least for a while.
The more powerful you are, the more powerful their elemental servant is. The downside to this spell is that it requires a certain amount of concentration upon casting, and if you fail it, the elemental servant will turn on you and your party. However, you can also have the elemental restrain targets, which can be helpful for crowd control.
17 Teleportation Circle
An Open Portal by Michele GiorgiCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
1 minute
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
No
Teleportation Circle allows the caster to draw a 10-foot diameter circle on the ground and open a portal to an already prepared circle at another location. By the time the party’s arcane spellcaster can cast this spell, the party will likely have a permanent base or headquarters of some sort. One room in that location should be dedicated to this spell.
This will allow the party to quickly flee from an overwhelming force, making this one of the best fifth-level spells in 5e for quick transportation. This spell can also create a permanent teleportation circle if the spell is cast every day for a year. This would allow you to permanently link two bases, which might be separated by thousands of miles.
16 Banishing Smite
Divine Smite by Bryan SolaCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Bonus Action
Paladin
Yes, up to 1 minute
Banishing Smite is a spell exclusive to paladins, but so useful that it should be on the essential spell list. It works in conjunction with melee fighting, so it's not useful to many other classes anyway. The paladin casts the spell before or during combat, and every time they strike an enemy, Banishing Smite gives their blows an extra 5d10 force damage.
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PostsThe after-effects of taking a hit vary depending on the hit. If the paladin does more than 50 hit points of damage their target is banished to another plane of reality and stays there until the spell wears off, which takes about a minute.
15 Telekinesis
A Human Sorcerer via Wizards of the CoastCasting Time
Classes
Requires Concentration?
Action
Sorcerer, Wizard
Yes, up to 10 minutes
Telekinesis doesn't move everything, as the name itself implies. You can use this transmutation spell to change the location of both creatures and objects, but only by lifting them in the air after a successful roll against the creature's strength. Any living creature is restrained during the duration of the spell, but the caster can't control the words and actions of the trapped creature.
When it comes to manipulating objects, the possibilities are endless. You can move any object Huge or smaller in size, and manipulate objects like keys or tools. That means no cell or dungeon door will hold you, or your party, back from their quest.
