Snowstorm spells and rituals are often depicted in fantasy settings, focusing on harnessing the power of cold, ice, and wind to create powerful blizzards or summoning storms. These rituals or spells are typically associated with control over nature, often invoking deities or elemental spirits of winter. Below are a few ideas for snowstorm spells and rituals you can use in a roleplaying game or creative project:
1. Frostweaver’s Storm
- Level: 4th-level
- School: Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 action
- Range: 120 feet
- Components: V, S
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Description: You summon a violent snowstorm centered on a point you can see within range. The storm lasts for the duration and creates a 20-foot radius of biting cold winds and swirling snowflakes. All creatures within the storm’s area must make a Constitution saving throw or take 4d6 cold damage, with half damage on a successful save. Additionally, the area is heavily obscured, and the storm’s winds impose disadvantage on ranged attack rolls.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 4th.
2. Icebound Call
- Level: 5th-level
- School: Conjuration
- Casting Time: 10 minutes (ritual)
- Range: Self (10-foot radius)
- Components: V, S, M (a shard of enchanted ice)
- Duration: 1 hour
Description: As you chant the ancient words, you conjure a protective snowstorm that surrounds you and your allies in a 10-foot radius. This barrier of frost reduces damage from all attacks by 5 points and causes melee attackers to take 2d6 cold damage when they strike. During the duration, any creature within the barrier moves through snow or ice with ease, and any movement outside the barrier requires a Strength (Athletics) check against your spellcasting modifier to avoid slipping or becoming hindered by the snowstorm.
3. Tempest of the Winter’s Heart
- Level: 7th-level
- School: Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 action
- Range: 150 feet
- Components: V, S, M (a vial of frozen water from a glacier)
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Description: You channel the heart of a violent winter tempest into a concentrated burst of energy, summoning a snowstorm the size of a small town. You choose a point within range, and for the duration of the spell, that point becomes the epicenter of a blizzard that deals 6d10 cold damage to all creatures within a 60-foot radius. The snowstorm causes difficult terrain, and each creature within range must make a Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone due to the howling winds. In addition, creatures must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened by the overwhelming power of the storm for the duration.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 7th.
4. Snowbound Ritual (Winter Solstice Ritual)
- Level: 6th-level (Ritual)
- School: Necromancy
- Casting Time: 1 hour
- Range: Self
- Components: V, S, M (A piece of bone from a creature that died in a snowstorm)
- Duration: 24 hours
Description: This powerful ritual allows you to summon the fury of the dead in the heart of winter. Upon completion of the ritual, you invoke spirits of those who perished during snowstorms or blizzards, and they grant you their cold powers. For the next 24 hours, you can cast a snowstorm at will as an action. Additionally, during this time, creatures that are not native to snowy or cold environments have disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws while within a 30-foot radius of you. However, the ritual comes with a cost: you must sacrifice a piece of your life force. After the ritual ends, you take a permanent -1 penalty to your maximum hit points.
5. Blizzard Surge
- Level: 2nd-level
- School: Transmutation
- Casting Time: 1 bonus action
- Range: 30 feet
- Components: V, S
- Duration: Instantaneous
Description: You unleash a sudden surge of icy winds in a straight line, forcing all creatures within a 10-foot-wide line to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, creatures take 3d6 cold damage and are pushed back 10 feet. On a successful save, they take half damage and are not pushed back. The cold winds also leave a thin layer of ice behind, creating difficult terrain for creatures that move through it.
These are just a few examples to build on when crafting a campaign or setting where snowstorms and the power of winter are central themes. You can adjust their potency, requirements, and effects based on the tone of your setting or the level of your players.
1. Frostweaver’s Storm
Requirements:
- Spell Level: 4th-level Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 action
- Range: 120 feet
- Components:
- Verbal (V) – You must speak words of power to summon the storm.
- Somatic (S) – You must gesture with your hands to direct the flow of magic.
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Material Components: None required for this spell.
Steps to Cast:
- Choose a target point within 120 feet of you where you want the storm to begin.
- Speak the incantation in a loud, commanding voice to invoke the power of cold winds and snow.
- Perform the somatic gesture, perhaps waving your hands in a circular motion or pointing toward the target.
- Maintain concentration while the storm rages. You need to focus for the full duration of the spell (up to 1 minute), or the storm will dissipate early.
Effects:
- A 20-foot radius snowstorm centered on the point you selected.
- All creatures in the area must make a Constitution saving throw or take 4d6 cold damage. On a successful save, they take half damage.
- The area becomes heavily obscured due to swirling snow.
- Ranged attack rolls within the storm are made with disadvantage due to the intense winds.
2. Icebound Call
Requirements:
- Spell Level: 5th-level Conjuration
- Casting Time: 10 minutes (Ritual)
- Range: Self (affects a 10-foot radius around you)
- Components:
- Verbal (V) – You must chant an ancient phrase, invoking the power of ice and winter spirits.
- Somatic (S) – You must move your hands in an intricate pattern, directing the conjured frost into a protective shield.
- Material (M) – A shard of enchanted ice (can be any cold-related material, like a frozen piece of glacier or enchanted snowflake).
- Duration: 1 hour
Steps to Cast:
- Prepare the ritual space. You will need a quiet place, free of distractions, for the full 10 minutes of casting.
- Gather the required material components (the shard of enchanted ice).
- Start chanting the incantation as you hold the shard, directing your words toward the area where you wish to summon the protective snowstorm.
- Perform intricate hand gestures to weave the cold magic around you.
- Once the ritual is complete, the protective snowstorm appears around you, granting you and your allies resistance to damage and hindering enemy attackers.
Effects:
- You create a 10-foot-radius barrier of frost and wind.
- All creatures within the barrier take reduced damage from attacks (5 points).
- Melee attackers who strike those within the area take 2d6 cold damage.
- Movement outside the barrier becomes difficult, requiring Strength checks to avoid slipping on the ice.
3. Tempest of the Winter’s Heart
Requirements:
- Spell Level: 7th-level Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 action
- Range: 150 feet
- Components:
- Verbal (V) – You must speak a powerful incantation, invoking the raw energy of a violent snowstorm.
- Somatic (S) – You must make a grand gesture, likely sweeping your hands to call forth the tempest.
- Material (M) – A vial of frozen water from a glacier.
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Steps to Cast:
- Select a target point within 150 feet where you want the center of the blizzard to appear.
- Hold the vial of frozen water and use it to focus the energy of the storm.
- Recite the incantation aloud, channeling the destructive power of winter.
- Make a sweeping motion with your hands, directing the magic to the chosen area, where the storm erupts with violent force.
- Maintain concentration while the storm rages for up to 1 minute. If you lose concentration, the storm stops early.
Effects:
- A massive snowstorm centered on the chosen point, affecting a 60-foot-radius area.
- All creatures within the area must make a Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone due to the howling winds.
- Creatures within the storm also take 6d10 cold damage (half on a successful save).
- The area becomes difficult terrain, and any creature must make a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for the duration.
4. Snowbound Ritual (Winter Solstice Ritual)
Requirements:
- Spell Level: 6th-level Necromancy (Ritual)
- Casting Time: 1 hour
- Range: Self (10-foot radius)
- Components:
- Verbal (V) – Chant ancient words of power to invoke the spirits of winter and the dead.
- Somatic (S) – Complex gestures to channel the spirits.
- Material (M) – A piece of bone from a creature that died in a snowstorm.
- Duration: 24 hours
Steps to Cast:
- Prepare a quiet and sacred space to perform this ritual, as it requires focused concentration and respect for the spirits you will call upon.
- Place the bone from a creature that died in a snowstorm on the ground and focus your mind on its cold energy.
- Chant the incantation with reverence, summoning the spirits of those who perished in the cold.
- Perform intricate hand gestures to weave the energy into a protective aura around you.
- After 1 hour, the ritual is complete, and you gain the benefits of the Snowbound aura for 24 hours.
Effects:
- You and your allies within a 10-foot radius gain protection from cold-based attacks and can move unhindered through snowy terrain.
- Enemies who are not native to cold environments suffer disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws while within 30 feet of you.
- You suffer a permanent -1 hit point penalty as a sacrifice for calling upon these spirits.
5. Blizzard Surge
Requirements:
- Spell Level: 2nd-level Transmutation
- Casting Time: 1 bonus action
- Range: 30 feet
- Components:
- Verbal (V) – You must shout a quick incantation to summon the surge of cold winds.
- Somatic (S) – A rapid gesture to direct the surge.
- Duration: Instantaneous
Steps to Cast:
- Identify a straight line within 30 feet where you want to direct the blast of snow and wind.
- Shout the incantation loudly, invoking the force of a sudden blizzard.
- Wave your hand in a quick motion to direct the surge of winds.
- The surge instantly forms, pushing enemies back and dealing cold damage.
Effects:
- A 10-foot-wide line of snow and ice that extends from you in a straight line.
- All creatures within the line must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 cold damage and be pushed back 10 feet.
- On a successful save, creatures take half damage and are not pushed.
These step-by-step guides should help you understand the mechanics of each spell and how they can be cast effectively in a tabletop role-playing game or in a story setting. The key is maintaining focus, performing gestures, and using the right components to harness the storm’s power.