One of my favorite mechanics in D&D 5e is the scaling spells. No need to have a bunch of copies that just do the same thing, only at a higher spell level, when you can just have a lower level one improve when cast with a higher level slot. However, I remain baffled by spells that don’t have a scaling mechanic. Especially when playing a Warlock, spells that don’t make full use of your pact magic seem much less useful than ones that do. But most other casters are also often strapped for spells known, such that low-level spells that let you get full use out of your higher level slots for which you might not have a lot of appropriate level spells known are very helpful.

So this is just me going through and trying to tack an At Higher Levels tag for every spell that doesn’t have one and isn’t a ritual. I went for brevity whenever possible, so admittedly a lot of these scale so linearly that they probably aren’t worth that much at much higher slot levels (but at least they’ll do something more than with a base slot). I’m also purely eyeballing the math, so I welcome arguments in the comments about why I’ve made something unbalanced with the scaling effect.

Level 1 Spells

  • Detect Evil and Good: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the range of the perception increases 10 feet for each slot level above 1st.
  • Detect Poison and Disease: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the range of the perception increases 10 feet for each slot level above 1st.
  • Disguise Self: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 30 minutes for each slot level above 1st.
  • Divine Favor: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level, the damage increases to 2d4 radiant. For each additional two spell levels, increase the damage by one die (to a maximum of 5d4 when using a 9th level spell slot).
  • Entangle: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level, all creatures restrained by the spell take 1d4 bludgeoning damage per round as they are crushed by the vines. The damage increases by one die for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Expeditious Retreat: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 5 minutes for each slot level above 1st.
  • Faerie Fire: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, all creatures affected by the spell take 1d4 fire damage per round as they are burned by the light. The damage increases by one die for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Feather Fall: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the spell can affect two additional targets for each slot level above 1st.
  • Goodberry: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the spell produces five additional berries for each slot level above 1st.
  • Grease: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the grease becomes highly flammable. If ignited (deliberately or by any area of effect fire attack), all creatures in the grease take 1d4 fire damage at the end of their turns (1d6 if they are prone), applied after the check to fall prone. This damage increases by one die for each slot level above 2nd. The fire burns until the spell expires or extinguished (by an effect that can douse a large, hot fire).
  • Hideous Laughter: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target on additional creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
  • Jump: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
  • Mage Armor: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
  • Protection from Evil and Good: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
  • Sanctuary: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
  • Shield: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, a residual protection from the shield grants you 3 temporary hit points that last for 10 minutes. These temporary hit points increase by 3 for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Shield of Faith: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
  • Silent Image: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 10 minutes for each slot level above 1st.

Level 2 Spells

  • Alter Self: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 30 minutes for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Arcane Lock: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, any Knock spell must be cast at the same or greater slot level to suppress the lock.
  • Arcanist’s Magic Aura: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the number of days required before the effect becomes Until Dispelled decreases by 1 for each slot level above 3rd (e.g., it only requires 10 days of casting this at 5th level before it becomes effectively permanent).
  • Barkskin: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Blur: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd. In addition, when cast using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the spell no longer requires Concentration.
  • Calm Emotions: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Continual Flame: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the material cost of the spell decreases by 7 gp for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Darkness: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the spell suppresses any light spells cast at the same or lower slot level.
  • Darkvision: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Detect Thoughts: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Enlarge/Reduce: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Enthrall: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Find Steed: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the steed’s maximum hit points increase by 5 for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Find Traps: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you gain more information about the traps present. At 3rd level, you learn the distance in feet to the closest trap you’ve detected. For each slot level above 3rd, you learn the distance to the next closest trap (e.g., the three closest traps at 5th level).
  • Gust of Wind: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the distance targets are pushed increases 5 feet for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Knock: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, it can suppress Arcane Lock effects cast at the same or lower slot level.
  • Lesser Restoration: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can end an additional disease or condition (on the same creature or on multiple creatures you can touch) for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Levitate: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the weight limit of the target increases 300 pounds for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Locate Object: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the range the object can be from you increases 1000 feet for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Mirror Image: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 minute for each slot level above 2nd. Additionally, you can spend a bonus action to recover an illusory duplicate that has been destroyed; you can recover one such duplicate per casting of the spell for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Misty Step: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you are also affected by Blur (cast at two slot levels lower than the slot level used).
  • Pass without Trace: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 hour for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Protection from Poison: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can neutralize an additional poison and/or affect an additional creature you can touch for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Ray of Enfeeblement: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the spell also deals 1d10 necrotic damage for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Rope Trick: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 hour for each slot level above 2nd.
  • See Invisibility: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 hour for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Spider Climb: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Spike Growth: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage dealt to creatures moving increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Suggestion: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Warding Bond: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can have any self-only spells or any touch spells that you cast upon yourself instead affect your bonded target. The spell must use a slot level equal to or lower than the slot level used for Warding Bond – 2 (e.g., if you cast this at 3rd level, you can only have spells cast at 1st level affect the target).
  • Web: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 hour for each slot level above 2nd. Additionally, burning the webs also deals an additional 1d4 fire damage for each slot level above 2nd.
  • Zone of Truth: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the radius of the zone increases by 10 feet for for each slot level above 2nd. Additionally, the duration of the spell increases 5 minutes for each slot level above 2nd.

Level 3 Spells

  • Beacon of Hope: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the range of the spell increases 30 feet for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Blink: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you may choose to add or subtract 1 for each slot level above 3rd to each d20 roll to determine if you vanish (e.g., at 6th level, you may modify the roll by +3 or -3 depending on whether you do or do not wish to vanish at the current time).
  • Clairvoyance: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 10 minutes for each slot level above 3rd. Additionally, the range of the spell increases 1 mile for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Create Food and Water: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the amount of food increases by enough to sustain nine additional humanoids or three steeds for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Daylight: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the spell dispels darkness effects cast at a lower slot level than the chosen slot level for Daylight. Additionally, the radius of the spell increases by 20 feet for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Fear: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the spell additionally deals 1d10 Psychic damage to every target that fails the saving throw (half damage on a successful save) for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Gaseous Form: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Haste: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Hypnotic Pattern: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, for each slot level above 3rd creatures affected by the spell ignore one source of damage or action used to shake them awake.
  • Nondetection: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 8 hours for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Phantom Steed: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 1 hour for each slot level above 3rd. Additionally, if cast using a slot of at least 5th level, the steed can travel on water, ice, or mud as if it were solid ground (ignoring difficult terrain from these and similar sources). Finally, if cast using a slot of at least 7th level, the steed can Fly (as the spell) for the duration of the Phantom Steed spell.
  • Plant Growth: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the area affected by the first application of the spell count as if it was under the effects of Entangle (cast at 3 slot levels lower than the casting of Plant Growth), and the second application of the spell has its casting time reduced by 1 hour per slot level above 3rd.
  • Protection from Energy: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Remove Curse: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional creature or object for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Revivify: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the creature heals 2d8 additional hit points for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Sending: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the message can be increased by 15 words for each slot level above 3rd. Additionally, if cast using a slot of at least 6th level, you can immediately make one more twenty-five word followup message to the target after the target’s reply.
  • Sleet Storm: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, creatures that fail the Dexterity save to remain standing take 1d4 cold damage for each slot level above 3rd (half damage on a successful save).
  • Slow: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target three additional creatures for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Speak with Dead: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can ask the creature two additional questions for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Speak with Plants: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration of the spell increases 5 minutes for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Stinking Cloud: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, creatures that fail the Constitution save against poison take 1d6 poison damage for each slot level above 3rd (no damage on a successful save).
  • Tongues: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Water Breathing: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target ten additional creatures for each slot level above 3rd.
  • Water Walk: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you can target ten additional creatures for each slot level above 3rd. Alternatively, if you cast this spell with a slot level of 5th level or higher, it can target an unwilling creature (plus one creature for each slot level above 5th); targets may make a Strength save to negate the effect.
  • Wind Wall: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage dealt by the wall increases by 2d8 for each slot level above 3rd.