Thunderwave 5e
Level 1 Evocation
Thunderwave is a level 1 evocation spell in D&D 5e. Casting time: 1 action, range: Self (15-foot cube), duration: Instantaneous. Available to Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard.
Casting Time
1 action
Range
Self (15-foot cube)
Duration
Instantaneous
Components
V, S
A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 thunder damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't pushed.
In addition, unsecured objects that are completely within the area of effect are automatically pushed 10 feet away from you by the spell's effect, and the spell emits a thunderous boom audible out to 300 feet.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.
Spellcasting & Tactical Insights
Action Economy
Standard Action • Primary turn investment.
Concentration
No Concentration • Safe to stack with persistent effects.
School Role
Evocation: Channels raw elemental energy. Delivers explosive area-of-effect damage, healing magic, or elemental barriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level spell is Thunderwave and what school does it belong to?
Thunderwave is a Level 1 spell belonging to the school of Evocation in D&D 5e.
What are the casting time, range, and duration of Thunderwave?
Thunderwave has a casting time of 1 action, range of Self (15-foot cube), and duration of Instantaneous.
Does Thunderwave require concentration or ritual casting?
No, Thunderwave does not require Concentration. It cannot be cast as a ritual.
Use Thunderwave in your campaign
Dungeon Manager lets you add Thunderwave to your characters, reference it during sessions, and track spell slots across encounters — all free.