All 5 New Dungeons & Dragons 5e Spells From D&D Beyond Drops, Ranked

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Wizards of the Coast recently released a significant amount of new content for subscribers of D&D Beyond. This is the first wave of additions from their new Drops program, which will regularly update the subscriber library with fresh content every week. Fans of Dungeons & Dragons can look forward to new releases each Thursday, including things like virtual tabletop tokens, adventures, and options for creating new characters. But how good is the content that’s been added so far?

On May 7th, a new content update improved several older spells to work well with the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons (5e). Along with some new feats, these changes were mostly for players. As a D&D Beyond subscriber, I have the list of updated spells, so let’s examine how useful they are and what they can bring to your next character. I’ve ranked the five new additions based on how helpful and unique they are compared to existing 5e options.

5) Insidious Rhythm

Level: 1st

Class: Bard

This spell, called Insidious Rhythm, is designed exclusively for Bard characters. As a Bard myself, I’m considering using it. It makes enemies fail a Wisdom saving throw, and if they fail, they have a harder time maintaining concentration on spells. You can affect more enemies by using a higher-level spell slot – one additional enemy per level above the base level.

Insidious Rhythm can be helpful against Casters who frequently make Concentration checks, but it really shines only in specific situations. While it’s cool to have a new spell just for Bards, it’s not the most exciting of the recent spells released on D&D Beyond.

4) Buzzing Bee

Level: 1st

Class: Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, & Wizard

The ‘Buzzing Bee’ spell, originally from the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons, is a delightfully annoying option. It allows you to summon a ghostly bee that harasses a creature, making it harder for them to succeed on Wisdom and Dexterity checks, and also disrupting their concentration on spells. Plus, it cancels out any attempts at invisibility!

Compared to Insidious Rhythm, this distraction spell is more flexible. While it has more drawbacks and preventing invisibility isn’t always easy, it can be useful in specific scenarios. Ultimately, it’s a first-level spell that offers limited help, depending on the situation.

3) Leomund’s Lamentable Belaborment

Level: 6th

Class: Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard

Leomond’s Lamentable Belaborment is a spell that originally appeared in the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It’s a powerful spell, requiring a character to be at least 6th level to cast. What makes it interesting is the effect: any creature within 10 feet must pass an Intelligence saving throw or become charmed and spend their entire turn arguing about a provocative statement you make when casting the spell.

If enemies fail their saving throws, this spell completely incapacitates them for a whole turn, and potentially longer if they keep failing. It’s particularly effective against enemies that aren’t very bright. I think it’s a good spell, but there are other options on our list that I find more appealing, especially since this one uses a powerful spell slot.

2) Sticks to Snakes

Level: 4th

Class: Cleric, Druid, Ranger

I’m a huge D&D fan and I always try to avoid making another Druid character, but I get so excited when I see a cool new Druid spell! This one, Sticks to Snakes, is awesome because it’s something a lot of us have been trying to add to 5e for years with our own homebrew versions. Now, thanks to the D&D Beyond Drops, it’s finally official! Basically, it does exactly what you’d expect – you can turn up to four ordinary sticks nearby into actual snakes. It’s a simple but really fun spell!

The snakes you summon function using the stats for a Venomous Snake and act right after you do. Though not incredibly durable, summoning four of these snakes can be a useful way to add extra damage or briefly divert an enemy’s attention. They only have 5 hit points, so they won’t survive for long, but overall, this spell is a flavorful and practical addition for Druids, Rangers, and Clerics.

1) Astral Flood

Level: 3rd

Class: Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard

I especially enjoy spells that affect a wide area, but even putting my preferences aside, Astral Flood is a really effective spell for only requiring a 3rd-level spell slot. Created specifically for the Drops program, this spell lets you blast enemies with either cold or radiant energy in a 30-foot cone. If a creature fails a saving throw, it takes 4d10 damage and suffers an extra effect: cold damage gives them disadvantage on their next roll, while radiant damage blinds them at a distance beyond 15 feet.

Of the new spells released this time around, this one seems the most useful for its spell slot cost. However, it might not do anything if enemies pass their Dexterity saving throws. It’s best used on groups of enemies, hoping to hit at least a few. If you’re looking for a good area-of-effect spell, Astral Flood could be a good choice.

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2026-05-14 22:11