Level
1st
Casting Time
1 Action
Range/Area
60 ft
Components
S
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Transmutation
Attack/Save
DEX Save
Damage/Effect
Bludgeoning
Choose one object weighing 1 to 5 pounds within range that isn’t being worn or carried. The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground, stopping early if it impacts against a solid surface. If the object would strike a creature, that creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the object strikes the target and stops moving. When the object strikes something, the object and what it strikes each take 3d8 bludgeoning damage.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the maximum weight of objects that you can target with this spell increases by 5 pounds, and the damage increases by 1d8, for each slot level above 1st.
Imbue lightweight objects (such as coins) with Glyph of Warding's containing this spell and put the trigger when target enemy sees them, store them in a bag of holding.
Face BBEG then open the bag of holding towards him/her/it.
EZ GG.
My character is a small magic goblin chef. For this spell, all he does is pull out various ingredients and launches them at high speeds. We fought a bunch of vine blights (we were level 3) and I managed to one shot 3 out of 6 of them using a head of cabbage.
god this spell is exceptionally fun.
This spell isn't overpowered at all, it does less damage than Inflict Wounds for the same level spell slot.
Would Catapult be a magic related effect for the purpose of creatures that have advantage " has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."?
Catapult + Net = Decent damage and restrained.
Coupled with the mending cantrip you got yourself a nifty wee tactic.
(I realise now that this application greatly outpaces the 5pound limit. we didn't think of it at the time)
I recently had a very obvious but underdone use for the spell. I am playing a necromancy wizard. I currently have 5 zombies and a river to cross (the rest of the battle is on the other side,) There is a small bridge but it is only possible to cross single-file and there is already 3-4 people on the bridge. I need to get my zombies across so I command them to grab each other and once they had done that I cast catapult on them and launched them across the river. (The DM and I agreed they had to roll a... it was either a DEX or STR check to not lose grip, they all rolled high). anyway, with 5 zombies on their side my party destroyed the enemies.
I realise now that 5 zombies are much more than 5 pounds. I don't think you could catapult 1 zombie even if you cast at 9th level (45pounds).
these were goblin zombies so if they were very light and I cast at 9th level I could launch a goblin.
Beautiful Idea but the question is does that contradict with the "not worn or carried" part?
My DM is a Lawyer, how can I sell that??
I've seen this mentioned on forums before. Specifically for 1st level, the issue I'd like to highlight is the 5 lbs limit on the spell. Grappling hook is 4 lbs and Silk Rope is 5 lbs per 50 ft (I would play this 1 lb per 10 ft.) Something to think about.
Could someone with access to a catapault spell use it on a net to restrain a flying creature?
Maybe drop the grappling hook and then cast the spell? I could see a hard-core DM may say it is still being held or carried if it is tied to a rope you are holding, but worth a shot.
I think it would be easy to argue that dropping the grappling hook would be free. There is some precedent in the PHB. See the first section on page 190 of the PHB ("Other Activity On Your Turn") or the "Interacting with Objects around you" sidebar in the bottom left of page 190 of the PHB. Further, Jeremy Crawford tweeted in 2015 that dropping a weapon was basically free: "Jeremy Crawford on Twitter: "@DnDMontreal The intent is that letting go of something requires no appreciable effort. But picking it up does." / Twitter"
OMG i actually did this. I infused this spell into a gauntlet with 7 charges total, and once i used all 7 charges on a meteor. Im player level 6 mind you, and that one action did something like 56 damage.
Depending on how you interpret this and if your DM allows it, this spell is part of a perfect Siege combo.
Step 1: Find a rock weighing 40 pounds.
Step 2: Cast Reduce on the rock.
Step 3: Catapult the rock which now weighs 5 pounds.
Step 4: Drop concentration on Reduce before the rock strikes the target.
According to the way that damage scales up from Catapult throwing a 40 pound object, that would be the equivalent of casting it at 8th level for 10d8 damage for two turns and a 1st and 2nd level spell slot.
My artillerist plans to use this ability to take down a castle wall.
Clever but the issue you will run into is range... Catapult is well within bow, crossbow and many spells range. Yes it works with a relaxed gm but reduce only reduces half the weight or so... This wouldn't reduce most rocks down enough I would have to double check the math
Enlarge/Reduce changes the size of the object by a factor of two while its weight changes by a factor of eight. The boulder would shrink to half its size but it would also lower it to one-eighth of its original weight.
This is actually true for physics! Doubling the dimensions of an object increases its weight eight-fold.
I've already talked with my DM about this. Realistically I wouldn't use this combo in actual combat, but I'd totally blow two spell slots on it in a storyline moment to bring down the wall. Our DM usually lets us do some crazy stuff with our spells and interpretation of them for roleplaying at least. Hell, the other day we were debating how much damage the druid would do if they summoned eight cows 60 feet in the air to fall on top of the guards we were supposed to neutralize.
Just used this spell plus dynamite to blow up and sink a warship
Let us not forget that this spell can launch any object weighing 1 to 5 pounds within range that isn't being worn or carried.
Thus, there are a number of delightful items that you can perchance carry around and pull out whenever you with to 'Catapult' something.
This includes, but is not limited to...
Bombs, a bag of Caltrops (if you can convince your DM anyways), a grappling hook, a vial of Acid, Alchemist's Fire, Holy Water, Oil, a vial of contact poison, literally any weapon that is 5 pounds or less, a net, and so on.
Means you can hit something from 150 feet away with a 1st level spell, which is pretty nifty.
Just bludgeoning dmg?
What if you used it to hurl a sword at your target?
I used this spell with an eldritch knight, I would use a free action to drop my weapon and use catapult to launch it. My DM let it be magical damage aswell as piercing since I was using a rapier. The cool thing with being an eldritch knight is after launching my sword, I could just recall it to my hand with my eldritch ability.