[RPG] What are the rules for attacking a creature inside a Wall of Fire

attackdnd-5ereachspells

If I cast wall of fire, surrounding the Ogres, in a ring shaped position, and my two fighter teammates attack them, will they succeed?

You create a wall of fire on a solid surface within range. You can
make the wall up to 60 feet long, 20 feet high, and 1 foot thick, or a
ringed wall up to 20 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, and 1 foot thick.
The wall is opaque and lasts for the duration

One side of the wall,
selected by you when you cast this spell, deals 5d8 fire damage to
each creature that ends its turn within 10 feet of that side or inside
the wall. A creature takes the same damage when it enters the wall for
the first time on a turn or ends its turn there. The other side of the
wall deals no damage.

Wall of fire's description clearly says the wall is opaque, which means light does not pass through, but you can always try to guess the location of the creature inside.

  • But is it too hot to swing a sword through and not burn your fists?

    Using a dagger and attacking would be simply impossible not to pass a
    whole hand through it and to avoid 5d8 damage it deals.

  • Is it harder for our ranger to shoot an arrow through since it is
    hard to see through?
  • Will the wizard's spells pass through or does he have some kind of
    disadvantage?
  • Will grappling work?
  • Will shoving work?

I will try to explain the scenario in this poorly drawn image in Microsoft Paint:
Sorry if it's too bad; I can't draw it better

Best Answer

The wall is opaque but doesn't otherwise stop attacks.

Since the wall of fire is opaque, creatures inside can't be seen. Thus:

When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll.

(PHB, p. 194)

This means:

  • Melee and missile attackers make their attacks at disadvantage.

  • Creatures on one side of the wall may roll a Dexterity(stealth) check to become hidden to foes on the other side of the wall, requiring attackers to guess which locations to target with their attacks.

  • Nothing in the spell description specifically says that making attacks through the wall will inflict damage on the attacker.

  • Nothing in the spell description specifically says that grappling or shoving are affected.

  • However, the description of wall of flame does say that a creature who "enters the wall" takes damage. A DM could quite reasonably rule that grappling, shoving, and making melee attacks with some weapons (short ones) constitute "entering the wall", and impose damage in those cases.

  • Any spells that target a creature or point that the caster can see cannot target inside the wall of fire.

  • Spell effects extend through the wall (the description of wall of fire doesn't say that they don't), so spells that affect an area that originate from outside the wall can affect creatures inside it normally.

  • Note that many spells that are attacks (for example, fire bolt), don't target a creature the caster can see, just one within range. So these spells can be used against creatures inside the wall, but, just like missile attacks, they will be made at disadvantage (or just miss outright).

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