There comes a moment in every campaign when “rules as written” doesn’t quite fit the story you’re telling. Maybe your sorcerer wants a gentler Fire Bolt. Maybe your villain needs a signature spell that screams “final boss.” Either way, you don’t need a notebook and a prayer—you need D&D Beyond’s homebrew tools.
In this guide, we’ll build a simple cantrip—Bolt of Fire—to learn the toolset. Once you’ve seen how the pieces click together, you’ll be ready to craft your own arcane originals.
Homebrew rule of thumb: start simple, then iterate. Let the table teach you what the spell wants to be.
What you’ll need
- A D&D Beyond account (free tier works)
- Access to Collections → Create a Spell
- Five minutes and a spark of arcane curiosity
Step 1 — Build the spell’s shell
Head to Collections → Create a Spell. You can clone an existing spell (great for beginners) or start fresh. We’re going from scratch so you see every lever.
Fill out the basics
- Name: Bolt of Fire
- Level: Cantrip
- School: Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Components: V, S
- Range: Ranged Spell Attack · 120 feet
- Duration: Instantaneous
- Description:
You hurl a mote of fire at a creature or an object within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 fire damage. A flammable object hit by this spell starts[rules]burning[/rules]if it isn’t being worn or carried.
Cantrip Upgrade. The damage increases by 1d10 when you reach levels 5 (2d10), 11 (3d10), and 17 (4d10). - Scaling: Check At Higher Levels (Scaling) → Character Level
- Classes: Artificer, Sorcerer, Wizard
Click Create Spell to save. The page reloads and unlocks the rest of the editor.
Step 2 — Tag the spell so sheets know what it does
Under Additional Information:
- Attack Type: Ranged
- Spell Effect Tags: Damage
Tags are the bridge between your idea and D&D Beyond’s character sheet automation.
Step 3 — Add the damage modifier
Open Modifiers → Add a Modifier and set:
- Modifier Type: Damage
- Subtype: Fire
- Dice: 1d10
Save. You should now see Damage—Fire (1d10) listed for the spell. If your design needs riders (e.g., set objects ablaze), keep them in the Description—they’re narrative effects, not separate modifiers.
Step 4 — Set scaling for higher levels
In At Higher Levels, click Add a Higher Level for each breakpoint and point it at your damage modifier. For cantrip-style upgrades, enter the total dice at that level:
- Level 5: Damage—Fire, Additional Points; 2d10
- Level 11: Damage—Fire, Additional Points; 3d10
- Level 17: Damage—Fire, Additional Points; 4d10
Save your work and give your new spell a quick spin on a test character. If it rolls cleanly and reads clearly, you’re good to share.
Common pitfalls (and easy fixes)
- Forgetting tags: If damage isn’t showing on the sheet, verify Attack Type and Spell Effect Tags.
- Wrong scaling mode: Cantrips scale by character level, not class level.
- Total vs. additional dice: Enter the total dice at each breakpoint (2d10, 3d10, 4d10), not “+1d10.”
Clear text beats clever text. Your future self (and your players) will thank you.
Share and manage your spell
You can find your creation under Collections → My Homebrew Collection. From there, keep it private for your table, or publish to share with the community. Before publishing, give it one last proofread and add concise keywords to the description so others can find it.
That’s the tour! With Bolt of Fire in your toolkit, you’ve got the basics to build anything from whisper-quiet utility cantrips to the signature spell of your campaign’s big bad. Brew responsibly—and have fun.
