You hurl a bolt of magical energy at a creature within 120ft of you. Make an attack roll. If the attack hits, it deals 1D8 + your spellcasting ability modifier force damage.
At higher levels
Once you reach 2nd level, you can change the damage to a type corresponding to your subclass: fire (conjuration), radiant (divination), lightning (evocation), neurotic (necromancy), acid (transmutation), piercing (bladesong) or psychic (enchantment, illusion or scribe). If you are school of abjuration or a war wizard, you can instead cause the energy to protect one creature within range (including you). This grants the chosen creature 1D4 + your spellcasting ability modifier temporary hit points.
You can choose additional targets for this spell when you reach higher levels: 2 targets at 5th level, 3 targets at 11th level and 4 targets at 17th level.
* - (A spellcasting focus or a spellbook.)