New Spell: Moonlight
Art Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/justynadura/art/Magic-the-Gathering-Flare-of-Faith-891155665
Moonlight is a 7th-level spell that acts like an upgraded version of the 2nd-level moonbeam spell, creating silvery radiant light that greatly affects shapechangers and can force them back to their true forms. This new spell and more homebrew D&D content will be appearing in our upcoming compendium of forbidden lore and heretical magic, The Impermissicon, where it compliments new lycanthropic player-options that use moonlight as a game mechanic (just as sunlight is already a game mechanic) along with a slew of new shapechanging monsters!
Compared to casting moonbeam at 7th-level, moonlight actually does quite a bit less damage (6d6 for moonlight, 7d10 for 7th-level moonbeam). As a dedicated 7th-level spell, however, moonlight has a number of advantages that make it worth its spell level. The most obvious one is the increased area of effect, with the added bonus of being able to ignore allies that become caught in the larger area. Moonlight also protects and empowers the spellcaster by making the caster heavily obscured, which prevents negative spells and effects that requires sight, imposes disadvantage on most attacks made against them, and grants them advantage on any of their own attack rolls against most targets. It also weakens enemies when they fail the saving throw, protecting the spellcaster’s allies as well.
Unlike moonbeam, repositioning moonlight doesn’t take an action, since the area moves with the spellcaster. To get its full value, it only requires that the spellcaster stay close to their enemies and maintain their concentration. That makes it a particularly powerful (and very thematically appropriate) spell for both Circle of the Moon druids and Bladesinger wizards, both of whom can cast the spell as an action on the same turn that they activate their special subclass features using their bonus action. Just like similar spells, moonlight’s effects continue to function in Wild Shape and during Bladesong, creating a fearsome warrior or mighty beast inhabiting a silvery halo of moonlight.
