Increased base damage, and both damage types being increased with upcasting? A very nice improvement

Finally worth taking

Does as much damage as a 5th level fireball, scales better than a 5th level fireball. Looks like blasting is back on the menu boys.

 Better scaling than Fireball, but half the radius and less than half the range. Better for close range encounters.

When comparing with Fireball, Flame Strike also has the advantage of being less impaired by fire damage resistance, which is relatively common.

Overpowered spell…. For a paladin. Finally something to make these fellas on par with the Wizard! They earned it 😁

Does as much damage as a fireball cast at 5th-level now, but with a smaller AOE.  This spell can bypass fire resistance (fire resistance is very common) better with half of the spell's damage being radiant damage and the other half of the spell's damage being fire.  The smaller AOE can actually be a benefit in some scenarios, as it makes it easier to avoid friendly fire if you aren't an Evoker and have access to Sculpt Spells.  It also scales by 2d6 rather than 1d6 that fireball scales by.  

Guys, you're forgetting the best advantage of using this spell over Fireball!


You don't have to play with bat poop to cast it.