“Black Flame Blade” does not match the official Dungeons & Dragons 5e spell identified in Wizards of the Coast’s rules material. The likely intended reference is Green-Flame Blade, an evocation cantrip that adds fire damage to a melee weapon attack and can send more fire to a second nearby creature. If you mean a spell from another game or a homebrew source, its identity is not established here.
How Green-Flame Blade works
You use one action to cast the cantrip, brandish the weapon used as its material component, and make a melee attack against one creature within 5 feet. The weapon must be worth at least 1 sp. On a hit, the target takes the attack’s normal effects. You can then choose to make green fire leap to a different creature you can see within 5 feet of the first target; that creature takes fire damage equal to your spellcasting ability modifier. The secondary damage is optional, and the spell’s wording does not restrict the second creature to an enemy.
The spell has a range of self (5-foot radius), somatic and material components, and an instantaneous duration. Those details and the spell text appear in Wizards of the Coast’s 2020 Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide errata.
How its fire damage scales
The cantrip’s fire damage increases at character levels 5, 11, and 17. The extra fire on the initial target is separate from the weapon attack’s normal damage; the second creature, when valid and chosen, takes the listed fire dice plus your spellcasting ability modifier.
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| Character level | Fire damage to initial target | Fire damage to second creature |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | None from the cantrip | Your spellcasting ability modifier |
| 5–10 | 1d8 | 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier |
| 11–16 | 2d8 | 2d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier |
| 17 and higher | 3d8 | 3d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier |
The level breakpoints and damage are from the 2020 Wizards errata. The second-target damage applies only if you choose a different creature that you can see within 5 feet of the first target.
Does it work with Extra Attack?
Usually, no. Casting Green-Flame Blade uses the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action, so it does not normally grant or combine with Extra Attack or features that require taking the Attack action. Wizards’ Sage Advice Compendium explains this action distinction.
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Bladesinger exception
The 2020 errata gives the Bladesinger’s Extra Attack feature a specific option to cast one cantrip in place of one of its attacks. That exception can allow Green-Flame Blade as the replaced attack; it does not change the general rule for other characters.
Can the weapon hit trigger Sneak Attack?
It can, provided the weapon attack meets the ordinary Sneak Attack requirements. Sage Advice gives a finesse-weapon example in which advantage on the attack roll and a hit satisfy the relevant conditions. The cantrip itself does not waive Sneak Attack’s requirements.
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When is it a useful attack option?
Its appeal depends on the situation rather than a universal damage advantage. Consider these factors before choosing it over another attack option:
- Positioning: Is a different creature within 5 feet of the first target, and can you see it? If not, there is no second-target fire damage.
- Targeting: The spell makes one weapon attack; the optional fire can affect another creature. Compare that split damage with the value of concentrating damage on one target.
- Accuracy and ability modifier: Your weapon attack determines whether the initial target is hit, while your spellcasting ability modifier contributes to the secondary damage.
- Action economy: Check whether your character has a feature, such as the Bladesinger’s revised Extra Attack, that changes how a cantrip can be used.
Where the spell comes from—and what “Black Flame Blade” might mean
The official Wizards material located for this name is Green-Flame Blade, not Black Flame Blade. The spell is associated with the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide; it is also reprinted in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, so Tasha’s is not its sole source. A secondary spell reference also lists the book-source path: Green-Flame Blade on D&D Beyond.
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If you encountered “Black Flame Blade” in a different game, a homebrew document, or a campaign-specific source, those references may describe something else. The available rules material does not identify such a version, so its mechanics should not be inferred from Green-Flame Blade.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who settles a rules dispute?
For a campaign ruling, check the applicable rule text and Sage Advice, then ask the Dungeon Master. Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Rules Questions support page says: “Your DM, or Dungeon Master, is a rich source of information that you can rely upon for rules questions.” It also states that the DM has the last word for the campaign.
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