You launch a spike imbued with negative energy, which dries and decays flesh, at a creature you see in range. Make a ranged spell attack against the creature. On a hit, the creature takes 2d4 piercing and 4d4 necrotic damage, and its speed's reduced by 20ft until the end of your next turn. If you hit a Plant, water elemental, or similar creature, you deal the maximum necrotic damage instead of rolling.

At Higher Levels. The necrotic damage increases by 2d4 for each slot above 2nd.