In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover the Shatter spell’s stats, mechanics, and how to use it effectively.
DND Shatter Stats
Shatter is a 2nd-level spell primarily used to deal damage and destroy objects, and it can be quite powerful when used strategically.
Here are the key stats for the DND Shatter spell:
| DND Shatter Stats | Spell Details |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Components | Verbal, Somatic, Material (a fragment of mica) |
| Classes | Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard |
| Level | 2nd-level spell |
| School of Magic | School of Evocation |
| Casting Time | 1 single action |
| Range | A total of 60 feet |
| Area of Effect | 10-foot-radius sphere |
| Target | Creatures and objects |
| Saving Throw | Constitution |
| Damage Type | Thunder |
| Effects | Damages creatures, destroys objects |
What Is DND Shatter?
Shatter is a potent spell that generates an abrupt, intensely loud ringing sound that bursts forth from a point you select within its range. It damages creatures and destroys objects within its area of effect.
The spell is particularly effective against objects composed of non-living substances like:
- Metal
- Crystal
- Stone
The spell causes these materials to crack or shatter.
It’s a versatile spell that can be used in combat to harm enemies or bypass obstacles.
Shatter is an evocation spell that deals thunder damage.
How Does DND Shatter Work?
When you cast Shatter, you select a point that falls in the spell’s range.
The sudden ringing noise erupts from that point, damaging creatures and objects within a sphere centered around a point of your choosing with a radius of 10 feet.
You can strategically position the spell to affect multiple enemies or objects at once.
You can strategically position the spell to hit multiple enemies or objects.
Therefore, you can make it an excellent tool for crowd control or area denial.
Creatures caught within the spell’s radius are required to attempt a Constitution saving throw.
Should they fail this saving throw, they will sustain 3d8 points of thunder damage.
However, if they succeed, the damage they receive is halved.
In addition, inanimate, nonmagical items within the spell’s reach that are not currently carried or equipped by a creature will also incur damage.
Check out this video about the Shatter Spell:
How to Use Shatter at Higher Levels?
Shatter can be cast at higher levels for increased damage potential.
Casting this spell with a 3rd-level spell slot or higher amplifies the damage by an additional 1d8 for each slot level beyond the 2nd.
Therefore, it would deal 4d8 thunder damage instead of the standard 3d8.
Similarly, if you expend a 4th-level spell slot to cast it, it would deal 5d8 damage, and so on.
Casting Shatter at higher levels also allows you to deal more damage to multiple targets.
Therefore, at higher levels, Shatter is a more potent spell in situations where you’re facing groups of enemies or need to deal significant damage to objects.
Who Can Use DND Shatter?
In Dungeons & Dragons, the Shatter spell is available to a select group of classes, each with its unique characteristics and playstyle.
These classes are:
- Bard – Bards are versatile spellcasters who can manipulate magic through their musical talents. They can use Shatter to deal damage and control the battlefield while supporting their allies with other spells.
- Sorcerer – Sorcerers are innate spellcasters with a strong connection to the arcane forces of the world. They can cast Shatter with raw magical power, and their metamagic options allow them to modify the spell in various ways.
- Warlock – Warlocks are spellcasters who gain their power through pacts with otherworldly beings. They can use Shatter to fulfill their patron’s will or to further their own goals.
- Wizard – Wizards are scholarly spellcasters who learn magic through study and experimentation. They can use Shatter as part of their diverse spellbook, combining it with other spells for maximum effect.
What Is the Shatter Spell Component Mica?
Mica is a component used in casting the Shatter spell.
It is a real-life mineral, and in the context of D&D, it’s often used to represent a focus or material that aids in the casting of spells.
Especially those related to earth, crystals, or thunder damage.
Mica is a silicate mineral that forms in layers and is known for its shiny, reflective surface and its ability to be split into thin, transparent sheets.
It’s commonly found in rocks like granite and schist.
In real life, mica has various industrial applications, including its use in electronics, paint, and cosmetics.
To find mica in DND, players can:
- Explore Caves or Mines – Mica is often found in natural rock formations, so exploring caves, mines, or rocky areas could yield mica deposits.
- Purchase from Alchemy Shops – Many alchemy or magic shops sell spell components, including mica.
- Loot from Enemies – Defeated enemies, especially those who use earth or thunder magic, might have mica among their possessions.
- Quest Rewards – DMs might provide mica as a reward for completing quests related to earth magic, geology, or exploration.
Pros and Cons
Like any other spell, Shatter has its advantages and drawbacks, which can affect its utility in different situations.
Pros
- Area of Effect: Shatter affects a 10-foot-radius sphere, allowing it to hit multiple targets within its area of effect.
- Thunder Damage: The spell deals thunder damage, which is less commonly resisted by creatures than other damage types.
- Object Destruction: Shatter can destroy objects, making it useful for bypassing obstacles or destroying enemy equipment.
- Higher Spell Levels: When cast at higher levels, Shatter deals additional damage, making it more potent against tougher opponents.
Cons
- Saving Throw: The spell allows a Constitution saving throw, which means that some creatures might take only half damage.
- Limited Range: Shatter has a limited range, which may not be sufficient for long-range engagements.
- Friendly Fire: Since Shatter affects all creatures and objects within its area of effect, it may inadvertently harm allies or damage valuable items.
Is DND Shatter Good?
Shatter is a good spell for many situations, offering both damage and utility.
Its area-of-effect damage can be useful against groups of enemies, especially those with low Constitution scores.
Its ability to destroy objects allows for creative problem-solving and tactical advantages.
However, it’s essential to use Shatter carefully, as it can also harm allies or damage valuable items.
It may not be the best choice for every situation.
But when used strategically, Shatter can be a powerful tool in a spellcaster’s arsenal.
Shatter vs Other DND Spells
Shatter is a powerful spell, but it’s essential to compare it with other spells in D&D to understand its unique strengths and limitations.
Here’s how it compares to other spells:
- Thunderwave: Another thunder-damaging spell, Thunderwave affects a 15-foot cube and pushes creatures away, but it has a smaller damage potential than Shatter.
- Fireball: A popular 3rd-level spell, Fireball deals more damage than Shatter and has a larger area of effect (20-foot radius). However, fire resistance is more common than thunder resistance.
- Eldritch Blast: This cantrip deals force damage to a single target, making it less suitable for area-of-effect damage than Shatter. However, it can be cast more frequently without using spell slots.
- Magic Missile: Another versatile spell, Magic Missile automatically hits its targets and deals force damage. It’s useful for single targets or spread damage, but it doesn’t have the area-of-effect capability of Shatter.
10 Creative Ways DND Players Can Use Shatter
Here is how DND players can use the Shatter spell:
- Destroying Locks – Use Shatter to destroy locked doors or chests, allowing quick access without the need for lockpicking.
- Breaking Chains – Free captives or allies bound by chains or shackles by targeting them with Shatter.
- Collapsing Structures – Target support beams or load-bearing walls with Shatter to bring down buildings or create obstacles.
- Disarming Traps – Destroy trap mechanisms or trigger them safely from a distance with a well-placed Shatter spell.
- Damaging Weapons – Target enemy weapons with Shatter to render them unusable or less effective in combat.
- Creating Noise – Use Shatter to create a loud noise, distracting enemies, drawing their attention, or signaling allies.
- Avalanches – Cast Shatter on a mountainside or cliff to trigger avalanches or rockslides, hindering enemy movement or causing damage.
- Sinking Ships – Target the hull of enemy ships with Shatter to create holes and sink them quickly.
- Blocking Passageways – Destroy a bridge or collapse a tunnel with Shatter to prevent enemy reinforcements or escape.
- Amplifying Sound – Cast Shatter on a large bell or gong to amplify the sound, creating a shockwave that can disorient or damage enemies.
DND Shatter Ideas for DMs
If you’re a DM, you can use Shatter in all sorts of ways in your campaigns:
- Glass Maze – Design a labyrinth made entirely of glass walls. Players must use Shatter to break through obstacles but must consider the risks of shards and attention from enemies.
- Echo Caverns – Introduce caverns where sound echoes dramatically. The loud noise from Shatter could disorient or attract unwanted attention.
- Ice Castle – Create a castle made of ice, where Shatter could be used to destroy walls, create bridges, or solve puzzles.
- Weapon-Tampering Assassin – Introduce an assassin who uses Shatter to break the party’s weapons before a critical battle.
- Artillery Siege – In a war scenario, enemy trebuchets or cannons could be neutralized with Shatter from a distance.
- Magic-Dampening Chains – Have captives bound in chains that suppress magic. Players can use Shatter to break the chains and restore their powers.
- Underwater Prison – A prison beneath the sea with transparent walls can be shattered for escape but risk flooding.
- Disguised Traps – Some floor tiles could be hollow and filled with dangerous creatures. Shatter could accidentally release them.
- Ancient Artifact – Players could find an artifact encased in unbreakable crystal, requiring Shatter to access.
- Ringing Bells – Giant bells in a tower could be shattered to prevent them from summoning reinforcements.
- Rockslide Rescue – Rescue NPCs trapped under a rockslide by using Shatter to clear the debris.
- Frozen Lake Battle – A fight on a frozen lake where Shatter could break the ice, leading to strategic considerations.
- Breaking Spells – Introduce spells that can only be broken by a high-pitched noise, requiring Shatter to dispel.
- Golem Weakness – Create stone golems with a vulnerability to Shatter, allowing players to deal significant damage.
- Deafening Counterattack – Enemies could use a magic item to reflect the sound of Shatter back, potentially deafening the party.
- Amplified Shatter – A room with magical amplification could increase Shatter’s area of effect and damage.
- Acoustic Puzzles – Design puzzles where certain pitches or frequencies (from Shatter) are needed to unlock doors.
- Guardian Statues – Statues that come alive to defend an area could be preemptively destroyed with Shatter.
- Echolocation Enemies – Creatures that rely on echolocation could be disoriented or damaged by the noise of Shatter.
- Unstable Caverns – Introduce caverns that may collapse if Shatter is used carelessly.
- Holographic Illusions – Use Shatter to reveal hidden rooms or passages by breaking holographic illusions.
- Avalanche Trigger – A mountain pass where Shatter could be used to trigger an avalanche, blocking or burying enemies.
- Crystalline Monsters – Design monsters made of crystal that are vulnerable to Shatter but can also use it against the party.
- Sonic Tremors – In a city on a fault line, Shatter could accidentally cause a minor earthquake, leading to unintended consequences.
- Shipwreck Treasure – Sunken ships with treasure encased in coral or barnacles can be accessed using Shatter.
How Can You Defend Against the D&D Shatter Spell?
Here are some tips to help you defend against the DND Shatter spell:
- Thunder Resistance or Immunity – Certain creatures, classes, or races have resistance or immunity to thunder damage, which can significantly reduce or negate the damage dealt by the Shatter spell. For example, a Storm Sorcerer gains resistance to thunder damage at the 6th level.
- Spread Out – Shatter impacts beings located inside a sphere with a 10-foot radius, centered on a location designated by the spellcaster. By spreading out and avoiding clustering, you can minimize the number of party members affected by the spell.
- Use Cover – Positioning yourself behind cover, such as a wall or large rock, can prevent you from being targeted by the Shatter spell, as the caster must choose a point within their line of sight and range.
- Counter the Spell – If you can access the Counterspell ability, you can use it to negate the Shatter spell as it is being cast. You’ll have to quickly respond and use up a 3rd-level (or higher) spell slot.
- Disrupt the Caster – If you can interrupt the caster’s concentration or actions, you can prevent the Shatter spell from being cast. This could involve using abilities like Stunning Strike, grapple, or casting a spell that forces the caster to make a concentration check, such as the spell Silence.
- Buff Your Saving Throws – Shatter allows affected creatures to attempt a Constitution saving throw to reduce the damage by half. Boosting your saving throws through spells like Bless or abilities like the Paladin’s Aura of Protection can increase your chances of reducing the spell’s damage.
- Absorb Elements – The Absorb Elements spell grants resistance to a specific type of damage, including thunder damage, and allows you to store the energy for a future melee attack. Casting this spell in response to Shatter can help mitigate the damage and provide an offensive boost.
- Magic Resistance and Spell Immunity – Certain magical items or class features grant resistance to spells or spell-like effects, which can help reduce the impact of the Shatter spell.
- Debuff the Caster – Reducing the caster’s ability to hit targets or deal damage, through debuffs like Bane or Bestow Curse, can lessen the impact of the Shatter spell.
- Anticipate the Spell – If you know an enemy spellcaster has the Shatter spell, you can prepare actions or strategies in advance to counter or mitigate its effects.
How to Describe the Shatter Spell in DND
Here’s a narrative example of how you might describe the DND Shatter spell:
As the battle rages on, the sorcerer, feeling the heat of the moment, narrows her eyes at the approaching horde of stone golems.
She raises her hand, clenching a piece of mica tightly in her fist.
She mutters an arcane incantation, and her hand begins to tremble with energy. The air grows heavy, and the ground beneath the golems’ feet vibrates with a low hum. Suddenly, there is a deafening crack, like the very earth splitting apart, and a shockwave of sound erupts from the sorcerer’s outstretched hand.
The stone golems, caught in the blast, reel from the force of the thunderous explosion.
Cracks spiderweb across their rocky bodies, and chips of stone fly off in all directions. The air is filled with a cloud of dust and debris as the golems struggle to regain their footing.
The very ground seems to have been shattered, leaving a web of fractures radiating outward from the epicenter of the spell. The battlefield falls silent for a moment, as if even the noise of combat has been swallowed by the thunderous clap.
Then, with a renewed sense of urgency, the battle continues.
DND Shatter Spell FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most common questions related to the DND Shatter spell.
Does Shatter Hit the Caster?
The Shatter spell does not automatically hit the caster.
When casting Shatter, the player can choose a point within the spell’s range (60 feet) to be the center of the spell’s area of effect, which is a 10-foot-radius sphere.
If the caster is outside this sphere, they will not be affected by the spell.
However, if the caster is within the area of effect or chooses a point too close to themselves, they will be subject to the spell’s effects, just like any other creature within the radius.
Can Shatter Break Walls?
Yes, Shatter can break walls, especially if they’re made of inorganic materials like stone, crystal, or metal.
The spell is designed to damage creatures and destroy objects within its area of effect.
Depending on the wall’s thickness and material, it may be cracked, weakened, or completely shattered.
It’s a useful spell for creating openings, bypassing obstacles, or altering the environment during combat or exploration.
However, DMs may decide the extent of the damage based on factors such as the wall’s construction and the spell’s level.
Does The Target of Shatter Need To Hear the Caster?
No, the target of Shatter does not need to hear the caster.
The spell works by creating a sudden, loud ringing noise.
This sound inflicts harm on both beings and objects within a sphere that spans a 10-foot radius, originating from the chosen point.
The spell affects creatures and objects regardless of their ability to hear.
It deals thunder damage and can affect inanimate objects, which clearly do not have the capacity to hear.
Shatter’s effects are based on the intense vibrations it generates, not the target’s ability to hear.
Can Shatter Damage or Destroy Items Inside Of a Chest?
Yes, Shatter can potentially damage or destroy items inside a chest.
Particularly if the items are made of inorganic materials like stone, crystal, or metal.
The spell’s description states that nonmagical objects that aren’t being worn or carried also take damage if they’re in the spell’s area of effect.
The result does depend on the DM’s discretion and specific items in the chest.
The items may be damaged, destroyed, or left intact.
Players should be cautious when using Shatter to open locked chests, as valuable items inside could be rendered useless or significantly devalued.
Final Thoughts: DND Shatter Spell
We have a ton of other articles on this site about DND spells, magic items, weapons, monsters, and more.
Check out some of our handpicked articles below.
Related posts:
- DND Witch Bolt: Stats, Mechanics, and Ultimate Guide (2023)
- DND Word of Radiance: Stats, Mechanics, & Ultimate Guide
- DND Shadow Blade: Stats, Mechanics, & Ultimate Guide
- Teleport in DND: Stats, Mechanics, & Ultimate Guide
Sources
DND Player’s Handbook
Personal Experience
