Lightning Arrow

3rd level Transmutation
Casting Time
1 Bonus Action
Range
Self
Duration
Concentration, up to 1 minute
Components
V
S
Class
Ranger

Spell Description

The next time you make a ranged weapon attack during the spell’s duration, the weapon’s ammunition, or the weapon itself if it’s a thrown weapon, transforms into a bolt of lightning. Make the attack roll as normal. The target takes 4d8 lightning damage on a hit, or half as much damage on a miss, instead of the weapon’s normal damage.

Whether you hit or miss, each creature within 10 feet of the target must make a Dexterity saving throw. Each of these creatures takes 2d8 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

The piece of ammunition or weapon then returns to its normal form. 

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage for both effects of the spell increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 3rd.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Damage Dice 4d8 + 2d8 5d8 + 3d8 6d8 + 4d8 7d8 + 5d8 8d8 + 6d8 9d8 + 7d8 10d8 + 8d8
Min Damage 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Average Damage 27 36 45 54 63 72 81
Max Damage 48 64 80 96 112 128 144
Lvl Dice Min Avg Max
1st
2nd
3rd 4d8 + 2d8 6 27 48
4th 5d8 + 3d8 8 36 64
5th 6d8 + 4d8 10 45 80
6th 7d8 + 5d8 12 54 96
7th 8d8 + 6d8 14 63 112
8th 9d8 + 7d8 16 72 128
9th 10d8 + 8d8 18 81 144

Is Lightning Arrow Good?

Overall Rating: Green. This means that lightning arrow is a good spell.

Overall Notes: 4d8 single target damage plus 2d8 AoE damage is alright but is vastly outshone by either the summons available at this spell slot level. This spell is quite equatable to conjure barrage and can be interchanged based on the battlefield's layout.