Cloudkill creates a toxic cloud which will kill or do poison damage to anyone caught in it.
Description[]
“ | This spell generates a billowing cloud of ghastly, yellowish green vapors that is so toxic as to slay any creature with 4 or fewer Hit Dice and causes creatures with 5 to 6 Hit Dice to roll Saving Throws vs. Poison with a -4 penalty or be slain. Holding one's breath has no effect on the lethality of the spell. Those above 6th level (or 6 Hit Dice) must leave the cloud immediately or suffer 1d10 points of poison damage each round while in the area of effect. | ” |
Gameplay[]
Usage notes[]
In the original Baldur's Gate, Cloudkill is the single most powerful offensive spell in the game. Most of the game's NPCs, all summons, and many humanoid bosses, were not above Level 4 and so were instantly killed by this spell. NPCs were not (and still aren't) intelligent enough to leave the area of effect, so if they could not see the player they would suffocate to death. However, undead are immune to poison effects.
Cloudkill's impact in the original game was limited by its availability, as only a random mage in an out-of-the-way dungeon and a hidden cache contained scrolls, and wizards restricted by the level cap could not memorize Level 5 spells.
The increased level cap in Tales of the Sword Coast allowed Cloudkill to be memorized, but it is less overwhelming in the expansion areas, where monsters have higher stats and magic resistance against the spell's effects. Certain, unexpected bosses in these areas can still be cheesed with Cloudkill, however, such as the Phoenix Guards in Durlag's Tower.
Cloudkill remains powerful and useful early into Shadows of Amn but loses potency (along with most low-level spells) past Spellhold.
The Wand of Cloudkill also applies an emulated version of the spell, but not the actual spell.
The cloud can be dispersed with Zone of Sweet Air.
Defenses[]
- Zone of Sweet Air (removes it from map)
- Magic resistance
- Spell Immunity: Evocation
- Resistance to poison damage / immunity to poison (e.g. by Protection From Poison scroll)
Where to obtain its scroll[]
The Black Pits[]
Sold by[]
- Dinguer the Mad (×3)
Baldur's Gate[]
Tales of the Sword Coast[]
Shadows of Amn[]
- Galoomp's Store
- Mae'Var's Guildhall { If this is your stronghold }
- Carlig
- Ust Natha Bazaar
- City of Caverns
- Reirra's Shop
Treasure
- Cult of the Eyeless domain in Investigate and Destroy the Cult of the Eyeless. Locked chest in third room north of entrance to the lair of the Unseeing Eye.
Throne of Bhaal[]
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
- This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, revising its effects, school, and description. See below for description:
Cloudkill
Level: 5
School: Conjuration
Range: Long
Duration: 1 turn
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: 30’ radius
Saving Throw: None
This spell generates a billowing cloud of ghastly, yellowish green vapors that is so toxic as to slay any creature with fewer than 4 Hit Dice, and cause creatures with 4 to 6 Hit Dice to roll saving throws vs. poison with -4 penalties or be slain. Holding one’s breath has no effect on the lethality of the spell. Those with more than 6 Hit Dice must leave the cloud immediately or suffer 1d10 points of poison damage each round while in the area of effect. Undead creatures are not affected by the poisonous cloud.
External Links[]
- Cloudkill on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
- Cloudkill on the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the first Icewind Dale game.