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Prismatic Spray not only blinds a creature, there are seven other additional effects possible.

Effects[]

Prismatic Spray
When casting this spell, the wizard causes seven shimmering multicolored rays of light to flash from his hand, portraying all colors of the visible spectrum. Any creature with fewer than 8 Hit Dice struck by a ray is blinded for 5 rounds, regardless of any other effect. All creatures caught within the area of effect will be touched by 1 or 2 of the rays, each of which has a different power and purpose:

Red –– Inflicts 20 points of damage; Save vs. Spell for half.
Orange –– Inflicts 40 points of damage; Save vs. Spell for half.
Yellow –– Inflicts 80 points of damage; Save vs. Spell for half.
Green –– Save vs. Poison or die; survivors take 20 points of poison damage.
Blue –– Save vs. Petrification or be turned to stone.
Indigo –– Save vs. Wands or be feebleminded.
Violet –– Save vs. Spell or be disintegrated.

Gameplay[]

The spell's description doesn't mention the fact that it's party-friendly.

Every effect can be blocked by magic resistance.

This spell (like any other probabilistic spell in the game) rolls a number between 0 and 99 to determine which effects take place on a failed save (with some overlap allowing for 2 effects to occur at once, as the description states):

0-14 = 20 magic damage, save vs spells for half

12-29 = 40 magic damage, save vs spells for half

27-44 = 80 magic damage, save vs spells for half

42-59 = 100% of a target's HP in poison damage, save vs poison to only take 20 damage

57-73 = petrification, save vs petrify to avoid

71-87 = feeblemindedness, save vs wand to avoid

85-99 = disintegration, save vs spell to avoid

This means that there's an 18% chance for targets to roll two saves, a 58% chance for them to roll against an instakill effect (feeblemind is essentially death, as the target is left completely helpless) and a 9% chance for them to roll against two instakill effects.

Moreover, the fact that the poison damage does 100% of a target's HP in damage means it can theoretically instakill an enemy that might be immune to every instakill effect, but vulnerable to poison.

Where to obtain its scroll[]

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn[]

Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal[]

Trivia[]

This spell first appeared as "The Excellent Prismatic Spray" in the book The Dying Earth (aka Mazirian the Magician, collection of linked stories) by Jack Vance.

Mod content[]

Mods icon This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, revising its Spell School, casting time, saving throw, effects, and description. See below:

Prismatic Spray
Level: 7
School: Alteration
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: Cone
Saving Throw: Special

When this spell is cast, the wizard causes seven shimmering, multicolored rays of light to flash from his hand. These include all colors of the visible spectrum; each ray has a different power and purpose. Any creature with fewer than 8 Hit Dice struck by a ray is blinded for 5 rounds, regardless of any other effect. Any creature that is caught within the area of effect will be touched by one or more rays. The effects of the rays are listed below, and all saves are made at a -4 penalty.

Red - 10d6 points of fire damage (save vs. breath half)
Orange - 10d6 points of acid damage (save vs. breath half)
Yellow - 10d6 points of electrical damage (save vs. breath half)
Green - Death (save vs. poison reduces to 20 poison damage)
Blue - Permanently stunned (save vs. polymorph neg.)
Indigo - Feeblemind (save vs. wands neg.)
Violet - Maze (save vs. spell neg.)

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