D&D Spell Generator

Need a homebrew spell, a forbidden scroll the party finds in a tomb, or a unique signature spell for an NPC wizard? This generator builds full D&D 5e–style spells in one click: name, level, school, casting time, range, components, duration, and effect — all scaled to the level you pick.

Pick a spell level (cantrip / 0 through 9th) and one of the eight schools of magic. The generator composes the spell with appropriate damage dice, save DCs, and flavor that matches the school. Click "Copy spell" to drop it into your spellbook or homebrew document.

Pair with our Magic Item Generator for the scroll or wand that holds the spell, and the Wild Magic Surge Generator for what happens when casting goes wrong.

How 5e Spell Scaling Works

Spells in 5e follow a tight power curve. Damage scales roughly as (spell level + 4)d6 for direct-damage spells, save DCs follow the caster's spellcasting formula (8 + proficiency + ability mod), and ranges, durations, and area-of-effect grow with level. The generator follows these conventions so generated spells slot into a 5e game without obvious imbalance.

Level	Typical Damage	Typical Save DC	Typical Range
Cantrip	1d8–1d10	10–13	Self / 30 ft
1st	5d6	13–14	30–60 ft
3rd	7d6	14–15	120 ft
5th	9d6	15–16	120–300 ft
9th	13d6	17–18	500 ft+

The Eight Schools of Magic and What They Do

Each school in 5e has a thematic signature that shapes the kinds of spells it produces. The generator pulls from school-appropriate effects:

• Abjuration — protection, wards, anti-magic. Defensive spells, save bonuses, temporary hit points.
• Conjuration — summoning, teleportation, creating objects. Allies appearing, gates opening.
• Divination — knowledge, perception, foresight. Questions answered, futures glimpsed.
• Enchantment — charms, compulsions, mind-control. Wisdom saves matter most here.
• Evocation — direct damage, elemental effects. The blast-school. Dexterity saves dominate.
• Illusion — false images, disguise, deception. Investigation checks to disbelieve.
• Necromancy — life-drain, death, undead. Constitution saves; lasting effects.
• Transmutation — shape-change, alteration, polymorph. Granting movement modes, transforming.

Custom Spells in a 5e Campaign

Three workflows for using generated spells:

1. As lost-spell loot. Drop a generated spell into a scroll the party finds. It's now a one-time-use unique resource. No balance issues at the campaign level.
2. As an NPC's signature spell. A named wizard, lich, or cult leader who has one unique spell. The party encounters it, survives it, and (maybe) learns it.
3. As player homebrew. If a player wants a custom spell, use the generator as a starting draft. Iterate with your table — adjust damage, range, or save until it feels right.

What the Generator Doesn't Do (And Why)

The generator produces a draft. It doesn't verify edge cases. Two things to watch:

• Combo interactions. A spell that grants advantage stacks dangerously with a paladin's smite or a barbarian's reckless attack. Check against the recipient's build before adding to a live game.
• Resource economy. 5e's power curve assumes a fixed number of spell slots per day. A spell that doubles damage or extends duration may break the curve in long adventuring days.

When in doubt, run a generated spell as a one-shot scroll first. If it feels balanced after a session, promote it to a learnable spell.

From Generator to Spellbook

Generated spells become campaign artifacts when you give them history:

• Who invented it? Name the wizard, lich, or god. Use our D&D Name Generator.
• When and why? A spell developed during a specific war reads differently from one passed down through a wizarding bloodline.
• Where is it forbidden? Necromancy spells written by a specific necromancer banned in three kingdoms feel rarer than abstract "rare" tags.

For deeper magic-system worldbuilding, see the Magic Systems & Spells cluster.