Halo of Spines

1st-level abjuration

Casting Time:1 action

Range:Touch

Components:V, M (a crown of spines worth at least 25 gp)

Duration:1 minute

You place the crown upon the head of a willing creature. For the duration of the spell, the crown turns into an intangible halo that floats above the target’s head. The halo sheds dim light in a 5-foot radius. Whenever the target is dealt damage by another creature it can see, the target can use its reaction to inflict 1d4 piercing damage on the creature that dealt the damage. You can end the spell by using your action to dismiss it while you can see the target. The target can also end the spell by using its action to grab the halo from above its head.

Optional Component.

If you harvest a ring of spikes from a cacodaemon (worth 250 gp; harvest DC 10 for 1, 15 for 2, 20 for 3), use it as the spell’s material component, and allow the spell to consume it, you can choose cold, fire, or lightning when you cast the spell. The spell deals damage of that type instead of piercing.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d4 for every slot level above 1st.