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Burning hands was a spell of the alteration[8][9][13] or evocation[6][15] school of magic.

Effects[]

Learned by some wizards of relatively low experience, burning hands momentarily engulfed the wizard's hands in a burst of magical flames and then expelled them rapidly into an adjacent area of roughly 25 feet (7.6 meters) in diameter.[5] Earlier versions projected a cone of flame from the fingertips of the caster's outstretched hands,[6] thumbs touching.[8][9][13] These flames did no harm to the wizard but could scorch the flesh of others caught nearby during the fiery blast. The effect was instantaneous but damaging and the wizard required only a short, momentary rest to refocus in order to cast the spell again.[5]

The post Second Sundering version cast flames in a 15‑foot (4.6‑meter) cone and had the older spell casting method of having ones thumbs together with outstretched hands. This ignited any flammable object that wasn't worn or carried.[15]

If cast in the phlogiston, the spell caused the immediate detonation of the caster and everything within a 5 ft (1.5 m) range.[16]

Variant[]

A modified version of burning hands was developed by the mage Asmiak before the Time of Troubles. It created a thinner, but longer ray of fire that extended 2​ to ​8 feet (0.61​ to ​2.4 meters) out from the caster. The flame was directional and could be fanned back and forth.[17]

Components[]

This spell required only verbal and somatic components to cast.[6][8][9][13]

Burning Hands AFR

A simple fire spell that grows in intensity along with its caster.[18]

Inscription[]

According to the Book of the Silver Talon, the ingredients for the ink used to inscribe burning hands into spellbooks was: one ounce of giant octopus ink, two ounces of green plant matter, four ounces of animal flesh, a piece of wood (such as a log or plank), a scrap of cloth, a sheet of parchment and either 3 drops of red/gold dragon blood, two ounces of fire elemental phlogiston, six salamander scales, or the horn of an efreeti.[19] The last component of the ink could be replaced with the ichor of a hellhound, blood of a fire drake or ash of a tome guardian.[20]

All the components, save for the ink, would be added to a burning brazier and burnt down. The coals that fed the fire would be added to the mixture and lastly combined with the octopus ink. The sediment would not be emptied and the concoction was to remain covered until cool.[20]

History[]

The spell was attributed to Netherese arcanist Primidon in −1909 DR and was originally called Primidon's burners.[1]

Before the Spellplague, burning hands was also used by sorcerers[6] and could only be cast a number of times equal to how many times the wizard had prepared the spell[8][9][13] or the sorcerer had energy for. After the Spellplague burning hands became easier to access, though as a consequence it no longer grew in power with its caster.[5]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Novels
Red Magic
Video Games
Baldur's Gate seriesIcewind Dale seriesNeverwinter Nights series
Board Games
Temple of Elemental Evil Board Game
Card Games
Magic: The Gathering (AFR)

External links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 24, 26. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  2. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–211, 220. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  3. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 61, 109. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  4. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 131. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 207. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  7. Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 131. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 170. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  10. Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
  11. Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  12. slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 121–122. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 64. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  14. Len Lakofka (May 1981). “Leomund's Tiny Hut: A recipe for the Alchemist”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #49 (TSR, Inc.), p. 59.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 220. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  16. Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  17. Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
  18. Magic: The Gathering (July 2021). AFR symbol AFR #135 "Burning Hands", illus. Olena Richards. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
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