Radiant damage is a powerful and awe-inspiring force in the world of fantasy TTRPGs. This type of damage is associated with divine magic and holy energy, making it a favorite of paladins, clerics, and other champions of the light. When radiant damage hits, a good description can really draw in a player and help them to build their character and contribute to the story. As a GM, describing these effects in detail can add an extra layer of excitement to your combat encounters. It can also be really hard to come up with on the fly. In this post, I have put together a few quick descriptions that you can reference in game. My goal is to help take some of the mental load off of running combat so that you can focus on creating an exciting story with your party.
Even if you only use Wizards of the Coast materials, there are A LOT of different spells in the game. I have tried to make things as generic as possible but if these just aren't working, consider asking your player to describe the effects of their spell on the target.
Roll | Description |
1 | The radiant spell courses through your enemy's body, causing their veins to glow with an otherworldly light. |
2 | As the radiant energy hits, your foe's skin crackles with golden energy, leaving behind a faint, glowing residue. |
3 | The radiant energy engulfs your enemy in a torrent of holy fire, leaving their skin charred and blackened. |
4 | The radiant energy sears through your enemy, leaving behind a glowing imprint that marks their body with the symbol of your god. |
5 | The radiant energy sears through your enemy's flesh, leaving behind a shimmering, golden outline of their form. |
6 | A burst of radiant energy explodes upon contact with your foe, illuminating the area around them and briefly illuminating them from the inside. |
7 | The radiant spell rips through your enemy, leaving behind a trail of sparking, divine energy in its wake. |
8 | Your foe is struck by a beam of radiant energy, and for a moment, they seem to glow with a brilliant, otherworldly light. |
9 | The radiant energy surges through your enemy, illuminating the area around them with a brilliant glow that persists for several moments. |
10 | The radiant spell hits your enemy like a divine hammer, knocking them back and leaving behind a smoldering aura. |
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