Primal Savagery is a cantrip available to druids in 5e Dungeons and Dragons, that allows the caster to transform their natural weapons into powerful claws, dealing acid damage to their enemies.
Spell Details
| Spell level and school of magic | 1st-level transmutation spell. |
|---|---|
| Casting time | 1 action |
| Range | Self |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Concentration: | No |
| Target | Self |
| Area of effect | N/A |
When you cast Primal Savagery, you imbue your arms with the primal power of nature, causing them to transform into claws. Your melee attacks with these claws deal 1d10 acid damage.
This damage increases as you gain levels in the game, becoming 2d10 at the 5th level, 3d10 at the 11th level, and 4d10 at the 17th level.
It’s important to note that this spell only affects your own attacks and doesn’t grant any additional benefits such as increased movement speed or temporary hit points. Additionally, the spell has no range beyond “self,” meaning you must be in melee range to make use of its effects.
Spell Description
here’s the spell description for the “Primal Savagery” spell in Dungeons and Dragons 5e:
Appearance and Effects
As you speak the incantation, your arms begin to writhe and contort, their flesh rippling and twisting into the form of razor-sharp claws. The air around you crackles with the scent of ozone and the hiss of acid as you lash out at your enemies with wild abandon.
Damage and Other Effects
Primal Savagery is a melee spell attack that deals 1d10 acid damage. This damage increases to 2d10 at the 5th level, 3d10 at the 11th level, and 4d10 at the 17th level. The spell allows you to make a single melee attack as part of the casting action.
Limitations and Requirements
Primal Savagery has several limitations and requirements to keep in mind. First, the spell only affects the caster’s own attacks and doesn’t grant any additional benefits or bonuses.
Additionally, the spell has no range beyond “self,” meaning the caster must be in melee range to make use of its effects. Lastly, since the spell requires verbal and somatic components, the caster must be able to speak and gesture freely in order to cast it.
Comparison to Other 1st-Level Attack Spells
When compared to other 1st-level attack spells, Primal Savagery stands out for its unique flavor and damage type.
While spells like Magic Missile and Ray of Sickness deal force and poison damage respectively, Primal Savagery deals acid damage, which can be useful against enemies with resistance or vulnerability to specific damage types in DnD 5e.
Primal Savagery also allows the caster to make a melee spell attack as part of the casting action, which can be useful for druids who prefer to fight in close quarters.
Comparison to Other Druid Spells
As a druid spell, Primal Savagery can be compared to other spells in the druid’s arsenal.
Spells like Shillelagh and Thorn Whip offer alternative ways to deal melee damage without transforming the caster’s hands into claws, while spells like Entangle and Goodberry offer utility and support options.
While Primal Savagery may not be as versatile as some of these other spells, it offers a unique and flavorful option for druids who want to embrace their primal nature.
Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses Relative to Other Options
Primal Savagery’s main strength lies in its unique flavor and damage type. It may not be the most versatile or powerful spell in a druid’s arsenal, but it offers a distinctive option for druids who want to get up close and personal in combat.
Its limitations, however, should be taken into consideration. It only affects the caster’s own attacks and has a limited range, which may make it less useful in certain situations.
Ultimately, the choice to use Primal Savagery will depend on the player’s individual playstyle and the needs of the situation at hand.
What Classes Can Use It?
The “Primal Savagery” spell is a druid spell, which means it can only be learned and cast by characters who have levels in the druid class.
Druids are spellcasting characters who draw their power from the forces of nature. They have a unique spell list that includes a variety of spells focused on nature, healing, and shape-shifting.
Druids have access to spells up to the 9th level, but can only learn and prepare a certain number of spells at a time based on their level.
Other classes, such as clerics or wizards, cannot learn or cast this spell unless they multiclass into a druid and gain access to druid spells. Multiclassing allows a character to gain features from more than one class but comes with certain limitations and trade-offs.
In order to multiclass into a druid and gain access to druid spells, a character must meet certain ability score requirements and adhere to specific rules outlined in the Player’s Handbook.
When and Where Should I Cast Primal Savagery 5e Cantrip?
Close Combat: “Primal Savagery” is particularly useful in close combat situations where a druid may not have access to their other spells or weapons.
The spell transforms the caster’s natural weapons into powerful claws that deal acid damage to their enemies, making it a formidable attack option.
Stealth Missions: Because “Primal Savagery” has no verbal or material components, it can be cast silently, making it a useful tool for druids who want to remain undetected during stealth missions.
The acid damage dealt by the spell can also be useful for destroying obstacles silently, such as wooden doors or crates.
Versatility: Primal Savagery is a cantrip, meaning it can be cast an unlimited number of times per day. This makes it a versatile spell that can be used in a variety of situations, such as dealing damage to enemies, breaking down barriers, or even as a makeshift light source in a dark dungeon.
Boss Fights: In boss fights, it can be useful to have a variety of spells and abilities at your disposal. “Primal Savagery” can be a good option when other spells are on cooldown or when the boss has resistance or immunity to other types of damage.
Class Feature Interactions
As a cantrip, “Primal Savagery” can be combined with various class features and abilities to increase its effectiveness in combat. Here are some class feature interactions that can be used with “Primal Savagery”:
Wild Shape
Druids can use their Wild Shape ability to transform into a beast that has natural weapons, such as claws or fangs. When using “Primal Savagery” while in Wild Shape, the caster’s natural weapons will deal additional acid damage, making it an even more potent attack option.
Circle Forms
Depending on their subclass, druids can gain access to different Circle Forms, which grant them additional abilities and spells. For example, the Circle of the Moon allows druids to transform into more powerful beasts, increasing the damage dealt by “Primal Savagery.”
Extra Attack
Some classes, such as fighters and monks, gain the ability to make multiple attacks in a single turn. When using “Primal Savagery” with an extra attack ability, the caster can deal even more acid damage to their enemies.
Divine Smite
Paladins can use their Divine Smite ability to deal extra radiant damage to their attacks. When combined with “Primal Savagery,” this can create a powerful combination of acid and radiant damage.
Sneak Attack
Rogues can use their Sneak Attack ability to deal additional damage to enemies when they have an advantage or when an ally is within 5 feet of the target.
When using “Primal Savagery” in combination with Sneak Attack, the rogue can deal both acid and sneak attack damage to their enemies.
Shillelagh Vs Primal Savagery
Shillelagh is a spell that imbues a wooden club or quarterstaff with magical energy, allowing the user to make melee attacks using their spellcasting ability modifier instead of their Strength or Dexterity modifier.
This means that the caster can use their spellcasting ability score, which is usually higher than their physical ability scores, to make their attacks more accurate and deal more damage.
Additionally, Shillelagh can be used with any melee weapon that the caster can wield, allowing for more flexibility in weapon choice. Shillelagh and Primal Savagery are both druid cantrips that provide melee attack options, but they have some key differences.
On the other hand, Primal Savagery is a DnD 5e spell that allows the caster to channel primal magic to transform one of their melee attacks into a corrosive strike that deals acid damage.
This spell does not require a weapon and instead enhances the caster’s natural attacks.
While Primal Savagery deals acid damage, which may be useful in certain situations, it is a one-time use and does not provide any additional benefits beyond the damage dealt.
Conclusion
Primal Savagery is a versatile cantrip that can be used by druids to deal with melee damage in combat.
Its unique ability to use the caster’s spellcasting ability modifier for attack and damage rolls, instead of their Strength or Dexterity modifier, makes it a useful option for spellcasters with high Wisdom or Charisma scores.
It also has potential synergies with other class features and spells, such as the Barbarian’s Rage, the Paladin’s Divine Smite, and the Sorcerer’s Metamagic options.
While it may not always be the best option in every situation, Primal Savagery is a valuable tool for druids and other spellcasters to have in their arsenal.
FAQs
How Many Times Can You Use Primal Savagery?
Primal Savagery is a cantrip in 5e, which means it can be used an unlimited number of times, as long as the caster has an action to use it during their turn in combat.
Cantrips do not consume spell slots like other spells do, so a druid can use Primal Savagery as many times as they want without worrying about running out of spell slots.
Does Primal Savagery Count as an Attack?
Does Symbiotic Entity Work with Primal Savagery?
Yes, Symbiotic Entity works with Primal Savagery. Circle of the Spores druids can use the extra damage provided by Symbiotic Entity when casting Primal Savagery.
Does Spell Sniper Work with Primal Savagery?
No, Spell Sniper does not work with Primal Savagery. Spell Sniper is a feat that extends the range of spells with attack rolls, but Primal Savagery is a melee spell attack cantrip with a range of 5 feet. Since it is not a spell with a range greater than 5 feet, Spell Sniper does not apply to it.
