View source for Lightning bolt

{{otheruses4|the spell|the ship|Lightning Bolt (ship)}}
{{Spell
| image         = <gallery>
File:Lightning Bolt.jpg|CLB
File:Lightning bolt - forked.jpg|AD&D
</gallery>
| caption       = Parwyyd Hanifar casts a forked ''lightning bolt'' on a gargoyle and a kenku.
| name          = Lightning Bolt
| deity         = 
| inventor      = [[Volhm]]<ref name="N.EoM.TWoN-p22">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|22, 25}}</ref>
| type          = 
| school5e      = [[Evocation]]
| domains5e     = 
| circles5e     = [[Mountain circle|Mountain]]
| oaths5e       = 
| patrons5e     = 
| traditions5e  = 
| level5e       = {{Spell table|edition=5e|[[Mountain circle|Mountain]]|3|[[Sorcerer]]|3|[[Wizard]]|3}}
| type5e        = 
| refs5e        = <ref name="PHB5e-p68,209-210,255">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 5th edition|68,209-210,255}}</ref>
| keywords4e    = {{desc/arcane}}{{desc/implement}}{{desc/lightning}}
| level4e       = {{spell table|edition=4e|[[Wizard]]|7}}
| type4e        = Encounter
| refs4e        = <ref name="PHB-4e_162">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 4th edition|162}}</ref>
| school3e      = [[Evocation]]
| descriptors3e = {{Desc/electricity}}
| level3e       = {{spell table|edition=3e|[[Adept]]|3|[[Sorcerer]]|3|[[Wizard]]|3}}
| type3e        = 
| refs3e        = <ref name="PHB3.5-248">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook v.3.5|248}}</ref><ref name="DMGv.3.5">{{Cite book/Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5|108}}</ref><ref name="SI">{{Cite web/Spell index}}</ref>
| school2e      = [[Evocation]]<br/>[[Universal (province)]]<br/>[[Inventive]]
| level2e       = {{spell table|edition=2e|[[Arcanist]]|3|[[Wizard]]|3}}
| type2e        = 
| refs2e        = <ref name="PHB2e-151">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition|151}}</ref><ref name="PHB2eR-194">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised)|194}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book/Arabian Adventures|152}}</ref><ref name="N.EoM.TWoN-p22"/><ref>{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|121}}</ref>
| school1e      = [[Evocation]]
| level1e       = {{spell table|edition=1e|[[Magic-user]]|3}}
| type1e        = 
| refs1e        = <ref name="PHB1e-74">{{Cite book/Players Handbook 1st edition|74}}</ref>
}}
'''''Lightning bolt''''' was an [[evocation]] spell that caused arcs of lightning to emanate from the caster's fingertips.<ref name="PHB3.5-248" />

{{Quote|Blitzyth, Dorax zooth!|Final words of ''lightning bolt''<ref name="BW-ch3">{{Cite digital book/Black Wizards||3}}</ref>}}

==Effects==
The searing bolt of electricity traveled in a straight line emanating from the caster.<ref name="PHB3.5-248" /> Older versions of this spell struck all in its path,<ref name="PHB2e-151" /><ref name="PHB2eR-194" /> while newer versions were aimed at a particular creature and then, with skill, could be forked to hit one or two other creatures.<ref name="PHB-4e_162" />

The bolt from the older versions was powerful enough to blast a wooden door to cinders, set fire to combustible materials, splinter a hand-depth of stone, or melt soft metals such as [[gold]], [[silver]], [[copper]], [[lead]], or [[bronze]].<ref name="PHB3.5-248" /><ref name="PHB2e-151" /><ref name="PHB2eR-194" /><ref name="PHB1e-74" />

A well-centered ''lightning bolt'' blast could interfere with magics of open ''[[gate]]s'', closing them after rippling through the fabric of the spell with electric feedback.<ref name="por-p202">{{Cite book/Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor|202|11}}</ref>

==Components==
The pre-[[Spellplague]] and post-[[Second Sundering]] versions of this spell required [[Verbal component|verbal]], [[Somatic component|somatic]], and material components including a tuft of fur and a small rod made of [[amber]], [[rock crystal|crystal]], or glass.<ref name="PHB3.5-248" /><ref name="PHB2e-151" /><ref name="PHB2eR-194" /><ref name="PHB1e-74" /><ref name="PHB5e-p68,209-210,255" />

To inscribe this spell on a magic scroll, arcane scribes often used [[ink]] made from the horn of a [[behir]].<ref name="MM2e-p20">{{Cite book/Monstrous Manual|20}}</ref>

==History==
The spell was attributed to the [[Netherese arcanist]] [[Volhm]] in {{Yearlink|-1968}} and was originally called ''Volhm's bolt''.<ref name="N.EoM.TWoN-p22" />

==Notable uses==
The wizard [[Parwyyd Hanifar]] used a forked version of ''lightning bolt'' to blast a number of [[kenku (winged)|kenku]]s and [[gargoyle]]s in aerial combat in [[1357 DR]].<ref name="ADDc-18">{{Cite comic/Day of the Darkening|17}}</ref>

The [[1358 DR|following year]], during the [[Time of Troubles]], [[Shar|a false avatar]] of [[Selûne]] cast ''lightning bolt'' at [[Kyriani]] in the kitchen of [[Castle Waterdeep]], but the bolts were caught and reflected by pots and pans.<ref name="ADDc-20">{{Cite comic/Dark of the Moon|17}}</ref>

In [[1362 DR]] a [[harper]] wizard [[Brenna Graycloak]] was able to cast a version of a ''lightning bolt'' in a fray of battling a [[darkenbeast]] using [[sulfur]] as a component.<ref name="rm-p35">{{Cite book/Red Magic|35}}</ref>

==Appendix==
===See Also===
* ''[[Call lightning]]''
* ''[[Chain lightning]]''
* ''[[Lightning arrow]]''
* [[Tourmaline]]
* [[Waterstar]]

===Appearances===
{{Appearances
| novels = ''[[Black Wizards]]'';''[[Homeland]]'';''[[Daughter of the Drow]]'';''[[Red Magic]]'';''[[Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (novel)|Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor]]'';''[[The Summoning]]''
| comics = ''[[The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch]]'' <small>([[The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch: Part 2 of 6|#2]])</small>
| video games = ''[[Baldur's Gate series]]'';''[[Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor]]'';''[[Neverwinter Nights series]]''
| board games = ''[[Mertwig's Maze]]''
| card games = {{MTGapp|CLB}}
| gamebooks = ''[[Spawn of Dragonspear]]''
| miniatures = ''[[Icons of the Realms]]''
}}
===Gallery===
<gallery>
WoundingLightningBolt.jpg|''Lightning bolt cast with a [[wounding]] effect.''
Lightning bolt DC Comics.jpg|''An avatar's lightning bolt foiled by pots and pans.''
Lightning bolt iwd2.png|''The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from [[Icewind Dale II]].''
Lightning bolt 2e.png|''The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from [[Baldur's Gate (game)|Baldur's Gate]].''
Lightning bolt icon 3e.png|''The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from the [[Neverwinter Nights series]].''
</gallery>
===External links===
{{External link disclaimer}}
* {{BG3|Lightning Bolt}}
* {{NWNW}}
* {{BGW|Lightning Bolt}}
* {{IWDW|Lightning Bolt}}
===References===
{{refs}}
[[Category:Evocation spells]]
[[Category:Universal (province)]]
[[Category:Inventives]]
[[Category:Volhm's spells]]
[[Category:Adept spells]]
[[Category:Sorcerer spells]]
[[Category:Wizard spells]]