Cloudkill creates a toxic cloud which may kill or inflict poison damage to anyone within the cloud.
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[]
The caster selects a location on a visible location of the map to aim this spell towards using the targeting cursor and then clicks/selects the targeting point.
When the spell cast is finished a projectile is launched toward the designated target point, and the projectile rapidly expands into a cloud of toxic vapor covering a 15-foot radius.
All creatures within the area of effect of the toxic cloud are exposed to the vapor's effects - which are applied every round the creature is exposed to the cloud:
- Creatures with 4 or less Hit Dice are instantly killed (using the Slay status effect).
- Creatures with 5-6 HD are allowed a Saving throw versus vs. Poison (Death) with a 4-point penalty or immediately killed.
- Creatures not immediately killed receive 1d10 Poison damage each round within the cloud.
The cloud has a duration of 1 turn (ten rounds), unless dispersed with a Wing Buffet or a Zone of Sweet Air spell.
In the Enhanced Editions, this spell won't affect creatures that are naturally immune to the poison status effect at all, such as the Undead, Golems, many demons/devils and unnatural creatures.
Notes[]
In the original Baldur's Gate (game), Cloudkill is potentially one of the single most powerful offensive spells 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 die a toxic 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.
With the Enhanced Edition, the aforementioned considerations still apply; however, with the addition of Wild Mages, the player can now cast this spell repeatedly via Nahal's Reckless Dweomer as soon as the scroll is found.
The Wand of Cloudkill also applies an emulated version of the spell, but not the actual spell.
Defenses[]
- Zone of Sweet Air (removes it from map)
- Magic resistance
- Spell Immunity: Evocation
- Resistance to poison damage / immunity to the poison status effect (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[]
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition Wizard spell Cloudkill has a few differences than the BG video game spell's version. See the External links for further reading.
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’ diameter
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.
- Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Wiki - Cloudkill (Wizard Spell)