There are 22 Strength save spells in DnD 5e. Strength save spells typically force an enemy to use their physical force to resist. Many deal bludgeoning damage (or half damage on a successful save), but spells that knock enemies prone or restrain them are also common among Strength save spells. They are primarily found in the only conjuration, evocation, and transmutation (in relatively even distribution) schools of magic.
Here are all the 5e spells that force a Strength saving throw:
Spell Name | School | Level |
---|---|---|
Gust | Transmutation | 0 (cantrip) |
Lightning Lure | Evocation | 0 (cantrip) |
Arms Of Hadar | Conjuration | 1st-level |
Ensnaring Strike | Conjuration | 1st-level |
Entangle | Conjuration | 1st-level |
Thunderous Smite | Evocation | 1st-level |
Dust Devil | Conjuration | 2nd-level |
Earthbind | Transmutation | 2nd-level |
Gust Of Wind | Evocation | 2nd-level |
Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp | Transmutation | 2nd-level |
Wind Wall | Evocation | 3rd-level |
Control Water | Transmutation | 4th-level |
Storm Sphere | Evocation | 4th-level |
Watery Sphere | Conjuration | 4th-level |
Control Winds | Transmutation | 5th-level |
Maelstrom | Evocation | 5th-level |
Transmute Rock | Transmutation | 5th-level |
Wrath Of Nature | Evocation | 5th-level |
Bones Of The Earth | Transmutation | 6th-level |
Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere | Evocation | 6th-level |
Whirlwind | Evocation | 7th-level |
Tsunami | Conjuration | 8th-level |
As you can see, Strength save spells aren’t among the 5e’s most common. But some stand out as exemplary, like the powerful 1st-level AoE spell Entangle for restraining a whole group of enemies (attack disadvantage for them, attack disadvantage for all attacking them). Others are a bit more ‘meh,’ like Gust of Wind and Wind Wall.
Are Strength Save Spells Good?
Strength save spells will land less often than most spells, on average. However, this is purely based on the average ability modifiers among DnD 5e’s monsters in the game’s main monster sourcebooks. The average Strength of monsters in 5e is 15.00 — the 2nd-highest average ability score in the game.
For comparison, here are the average ability scores of the 802 monsters included in this data set:
Ability | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average modifier | 15.00 | 13.14 | 15.30 | 9.29 | 12.03 | 10.62 |