CanAreaDamageEvade (spell flag)

CanAreaDamageEvade is a spell flag. It determines whether damage from this spell or action can be evaded with  Evasion or  Shield Master: Block. Despite the descriptions of both features, it does not strictly matter whether an action has a Dexterity saving throw, but whether it has this flag. Generally, this flag is set for actions that deal area of effect damage with a Dexterity saving throw to halve the damage.

There are plenty of exceptions to this rule, however. For example, the action to throw a  Smokepowder Bomb has this flag and can be evaded but the action to shoot a  Smokepowder Arrow does not and is unaffected by Evasion or Shield Master. There are also examples of actions without Dexterity saving throws with this flag such as  Primal Stampede (which uses unarmed attack rolls) or  Frost Breath (which uses a Constitution saving throw). Such actions are affected by Evasion and Shield Master despite not involving a Dexterity saving throw.

List of actions with CanAreaDamageEvade

Name	Type	Cost/Recharge	Range/Area	Roll	Effect
Acid Breath	Action	Short rest	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Line)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Acid
Acid Splash	Cantrip		18 m (60 ft) 2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	1d6⁠Acid ( Dexterity saving throw to negate)
Activate Call Lightning	Level 3 spell		18 m (60 ft) 2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	3d10⁠Lightning
Bull Rush	Action	+ Per turn	9 m (30 ft) (Line)	STR Save
Burning Hands	Level 1 spell	+	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	3d6⁠Fire
Call Lightning	Level 3 spell	+	18 m (60 ft) 2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	3d10⁠Lightning Applies  Call Lightning
Colossal Onslaught	Weapon action	Short rest	6 m (20 ft) (Line)	Melee Weapon Attack Roll	Normal weapon damage + Proficiency bonus⁠Weapon
Conjure Barrage	Level 3 spell	+	Self 9 m (30 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Normal weapon damage + 2d8⁠Weapon
Conjure Barrage: Melee Weapon	Level 3 spell	+	Self 9 m (30 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Normal weapon damage + 2d8⁠Weapon
Conjure Barrage: Ranged Weapon	Level 3 spell	+	Self 9 m (30 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Normal weapon damage + 2d8⁠Weapon
Corrosive Phlegm	Action		14 m (47 ft) 2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	2d8 + 3⁠Acid
Dazzling Breath	Action	Per turn	5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	2d6 + Spellcasting modifier⁠Radiant
Death Burst (Cold)	Action		Self 3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	4d6⁠Cold
Death Burst (Mud)	Action		Self 3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	4d6⁠Force (If manually triggered) + 2d6⁠Force (If triggered on death) Applies  Muddy
Death Burst (Fire)	Action	-	Self 2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Fire
Death Burst (Ghoul)	Action	-	3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	6d6⁠Necrotic
Digestive Sap	Action		5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Applies  Digestive Juices
Erupting Cinder	Action		18 m (60 ft) 3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	4d6⁠Fire
Fiendish Flameblast	Action		2 m (7 ft) (Radius)	-	4d8⁠Force + 4d8⁠Fire Applies  Burning
Fire Breath (Line)	Action	Short rest	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Line)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Fire
Fire Breath (Cone)	Action	Short rest	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Fire
Fire Breath (Magma Mephit)	Action	Per turn	5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Fire
Fire Breath (Dragons)	Action	Per turn	30 m (100 ft) 6 m (20 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	14d6⁠Fire Applies  Burning
Fireball	Level 3 spell	+	18 m (60 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	8d6⁠Fire
Firewine Explosion	Action		4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Fire
Flame Strike	Level 5 spell	+	18 m (60 ft) 3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d6⁠Fire + 5d6⁠Radiant
Flames of Avernus (spell)	Level 6 spell		Self 5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	6d6⁠Fire
Flames of the Phoenix	Action	+ 4	18 m (60 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	8d6⁠Fire
Forever Indebted	Action	-	3 m (10 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	6d8⁠Fire Summons  Vengeful Boar,  Vengeful Imp and  Vengeful Merregon
Frost Breath	Action	Short rest	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	CON Save	2d6⁠Cold
Glyph of Warding: Acid	Level 3 spell	+	9 m (30 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d8⁠Acid
Glyph of Warding: Cold	Level 3 spell	+	9 m (30 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d8⁠Cold
Glyph of Warding: Fire	Level 3 spell	+	9 m (30 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d8⁠Fire
Glyph of Warding: Lightning	Level 3 spell	+	9 m (30 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d8⁠Lightning
Glyph of Warding: Thunder	Level 3 spell	+	9 m (30 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	5d8⁠Thunder
Greasy Discharge	Action	Per turn	5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Applies  Prone
Gushing Air	Action		18 m (60 ft)	DEX Save	2d6 + 1⁠Thunder + 2d6 + 1⁠Thunder
Hellfire Exhaust	Action		Self 3 m (10 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	3d8⁠Fire + 3d8⁠Fire (If target is burning) Applies  Roiling Hellfire
Hellfire Missiles	Action		100 m (333 ft) 6 m (20 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	4d6⁠Fire (Per missile)
Hellfire Orb	Level 6 spell	Per Battle	18 m (60 ft) 4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	20d6⁠Fire
Hellflame Cleave	Cantrip	Short rest	3 m (10 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	Normal weapon damage + 2d6⁠Fire Applies  Roiling Hellfire
Ice Breath	Action	Per turn	5 m (17 ft) (Cone)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Cold
Ice Storm	Level 4 spell	+	18 m (60 ft) 6 m (20 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	2d8⁠Bludgeoning + 4d6⁠Cold
Incinerate	Level 6 spell		3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	8d8⁠Fire
Incineration Caster: Overheat	Action		4 m (13 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	8d8⁠Fire
Ki Resonation: Blast	Action	Per turn	18 m (60 ft) 5 m (17 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	3d6⁠Force (Per explosion)
Lightning Arrow	Level 3 spell	+	18 m (60 ft) 3 m (10 ft) (Radius)	Ranged Spell Attack Roll  DEX Save	4d8⁠Lightning (Primary target only) + 2d8⁠Lightning ( Dexterity saving throw to halve)
Lightning Bolt	Level 3 spell	+	Self 30 m (100 ft) (Line)	DEX Save	8d6⁠Lightning
Lightning Breath	Action	Short rest	Self 5 m (17 ft) (Line)	DEX Save	2d6⁠Lightning
Lightning Breath (Ansur)	Action	Per turn	60 m (200 ft) 6 m (20 ft) (Radius)	DEX Save	12d6⁠Lightning Applies  Shocked

View all

Notes

List of additional effects with the flag which are not actions in the above table:

• Fireworks: All
• Grenades: Many damaging grenades including Acid Vial, Alchemist's Fire, Holy Water, Sanguine Explosive, Smokepowder Bomb/Brilliant Retort, Spiked Bulb/Scrap and Shrapnel Grenade, Concussion Grenade, Orthon Explosive, Orthonic Handbomb, and Surprise-Based Teddy Bear. Notably, poison damage bombs, slime bombs, and void bulb are excluded.
• Oil of Combustion (Condition)
• Torchstalk
• Traps: Most damaging traps