the scaling makes it rather powerful. only one of the d4s should scale.
Compare this spell to firebolt. 4d4 has a lower average than 2d10. And this requires an attack and a save, instead of just one.
Firebolt has no riders. This spell has "poisoned" as a rider which is roughly as good as Vicious Mockery's rider (or Sapping Sting's rider) and they both do 1d4 damage scaling by 1d4. The initial damage of this spell is also magical bludgeoning which is the least resisted damage type in the game (even less so than psychic damage which is what VM deals), whereas firebolt does fire damage which is highly resisted.
The poisoned effect is crazy OP for a cantrip IMO. Alongside the ability to deal pretty good damage. I would suggest two things:
- Remove the attack roll. Two rolls each turn with two damage rolls of different damage types is a little messy, and this cantrip is statistically better than a d8 cantrip, assuming you hit. Be that as it may, making it a single saving throw for 1d6 necrotic damage would make it a lot more streamline.
-The poisoned effect is very harsh. disadvantage on everything but saving throws is rough, even for one round. A clean workaround might be to only give them disadvantage on ability checks for one round. This also helps separate it from Vicious Mockery as a cantrip. If you are sold on wanting to give the poison effect, your best option would be to make it a 1st level spell with concentration for 1 minute. I don't use poison-based spells enough to know if there is already something that does this, but this could definitely fill that niche.
So I made this homebrew spell, but I’m worried it’s too weak. Can I have some feedback on it?
https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/1946349-blood-lash
the scaling makes it rather powerful. only one of the d4s should scale.
Compare this spell to firebolt. 4d4 has a lower average than 2d10. And this requires an attack and a save, instead of just one.
Firebolt has no riders. This spell has "poisoned" as a rider which is roughly as good as Vicious Mockery's rider (or Sapping Sting's rider) and they both do 1d4 damage scaling by 1d4. The initial damage of this spell is also magical bludgeoning which is the least resisted damage type in the game (even less so than psychic damage which is what VM deals), whereas firebolt does fire damage which is highly resisted.
The poisoned effect is crazy OP for a cantrip IMO. Alongside the ability to deal pretty good damage. I would suggest two things:
- Remove the attack roll. Two rolls each turn with two damage rolls of different damage types is a little messy, and this cantrip is statistically better than a d8 cantrip, assuming you hit. Be that as it may, making it a single saving throw for 1d6 necrotic damage would make it a lot more streamline.
-The poisoned effect is very harsh. disadvantage on everything but saving throws is rough, even for one round. A clean workaround might be to only give them disadvantage on ability checks for one round. This also helps separate it from Vicious Mockery as a cantrip. If you are sold on wanting to give the poison effect, your best option would be to make it a 1st level spell with concentration for 1 minute. I don't use poison-based spells enough to know if there is already something that does this, but this could definitely fill that niche.
I updated the spell.