I feel like they should have kept the damage the same as in the 5e14 rules (8d6) but instead let you choose the targets

Behold: circle of death is no longer (strictly) worse than freezing sphere when cast at 6th level, as it does 1 more damage on average. Defenetly worth having half the range, an significantly more expensive spell component and no secondary utility for such an incredible upside

Quote from ArtificeMeal >>

Behold: circle of death is no longer (strictly) worse than freezing sphere when cast at 6th level, as it does 1 more damage on average. Defenetly worth having half the range, an significantly more expensive spell component and no secondary utility for such an incredible upside

 It is worth noting that necrotic damage resistance is rarer than cold damage resistance, but in general I agree with you.

It also sounds cooler. I'd rather be cool af with my sunglasses saying "I cast circle of death" rather than "I cast freezing sphere"

The fact that you need to spend 500 gold to cast basically the same spell as fireball is kind of absurd. Why does this need to cost 500 Gold? 

Quote from Mikeim520 >>

The fact that you need to spend 500 gold to cast basically the same spell as fireball is kind of absurd. Why does this need to cost 500 Gold? 

While it is expensive, it doesn't consume the material component, so it's not like it costs 500 gp every single time you cast it.

Compared to Fireball, it does affect a vastly larger area with a better damage type, and the damage scales up with slot level a lot better than Fireball.

Usually used by a lich so it doesn’t effect any of their undead

Quote from wagnarokkr >>

Quote from Mikeim520 >>

The fact that you need to spend 500 gold to cast basically the same spell as fireball is kind of absurd. Why does this need to cost 500 Gold? 

While it is expensive, it doesn't consume the material component, so it's not like it costs 500 gp every single time you cast it.

Compared to Fireball, it does affect a vastly larger area with a better damage type, and the damage scales up with slot level a lot better than Fireball.

 Ok, yeah, I thought it was consumed. It's fine then imo. I thought you needed to spend 500 gold each time which would've been absurd for the spell.

The best part of this order is that it increases by 2d8 during upcasting.

I just face tanked this spell the other night. I made my save and due to my armor I took no damage. I can't say the same for everything else around me.