Goodberry 5e Guide – The Most OP 1st Level Spell?

A Goodberry 5e guide is a necessity if you want to make the most of your Druid or Ranger build. Goodberry is a transmutation spell that lets Druids and Rangers create berries for their party to eat.

I have always been fascinated with this spell, which has changed quite a bit since it was introduced in Unearthed Arcana. I’m not sure if I’m happy or disappointed with the fact that I have never abused the power of the Goodberry.

When I was a Ranger, I made them, but I focused more on utilizing my companion and maintaining my accent – which fell somewhere between Icelandic and “oh my good golly, please stop now.”

So, I may not have a strong connection to the Goodberry, but I have seen it used to its fullest potential. Is this the most powerful first-level spell in the Player’s Handbook?

Power of the Goodberry

• Lvl – 1st, Transmutation
• Time – 1 action (to eat and to cast)
• Range – Touch
• Components – V, S, M
• Duration – Instant

Goodberry is a first-level Druid and Ranger spell that allows the spellcaster to transmute a sprig of mistletoe into ten berries. These berries are overpowered fruit that heal one hit point each.

They also give full nourishment for one day. This means that you only have to eat one each day to sustain yourself fully. You don’t need to eat or drink anything else, but they do lose their powers after one full day.

Visualizing and Utilizing the Goodberry

Goodberry isn’t just any old spell. It’s a healing spell with vague rulings that DMs and players love arguing about. I always suggest taking a look at your spells and discussing rulings before you even begin your campaign.

Imagine What a Goodberry Tastes Like

Although Goodberry is a popular spell, its details aren’t specified in any of the manuals. The spell had more details in the 2nd edition than it does in the 5th edition, though neither specifies what it tastes like.

In 5e, it takes mistletoe to make Goodberries, but in 2e, it takes edible berries such as blueberries or blackberries. Because of this, it’s safe to assume that they taste sweet and juicy like standard berries.

Goodberries May Look Like Blueberries

What Goodberries look like isn’t specified in the books either. I have seen them depicted as blackberries and as golden berries. The color and shape aren’t important, but the size may be.

Most people assume they are the same size as a blueberry, but this isn’t confirmed. They may be the size of a watermelon. I assume they are a “common” berry (blackberries, cherries, strawberries) rather than a “botany” berry (pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon.)

Eating Them Goodberries

It takes one action for a spellcaster to cast Goodberry. But it also takes one action to eat a Goodberry. This can be confusing because players want to eat more than one berry at a time.

But more than likely, you can only eat one berry per action. You can’t stuff down ten berries and heal ten HP with one action at level 1. Instead, you can heal ten HP with ten Goodberries in ten actions.

Under the Mistletoe – Where to Find It

Your starter kit may have mistletoe in it, but even if it does, it isn’t an endless supply. So unless you can use an Arcane Focus – which you can’t as Druid or Ranger – then you need to keep getting more mistletoe.

Because mistletoe is an evergreen plant, you can find it in cooler climates as often, or more often, than in warm climates. Despite popular belief, mistletoe isn’t as common in the forest as it is in open fields with few trees. 

How to Get Goodberry When Not Druid or Ranger

If you’re not a Druid or a Ranger, you can’t just pick up the Goodberry spell right away. There are only two primary ways to cast Goodberry if you’re not one of these two classes.

Multiclass

If you’re not a Druid or Ranger, you can multiclass into one of these classes starting at level 2. I recommend waiting for a few levels, and I wouldn’t multiclass solely for Goodberry.

Instead, choose multiclass after you have a good base for your primary class and choose the class with the most to offer. Ranger/Rogue is my favorite multiclass, even though it’s quite mainstream. 

Magic Initiate

Magic Initiate is a risk-free way to get Goodberry when you’re not a Ranger or a Druid. You may learn two cantrips of your choice from the Druid (or other spellcaster’s) spell list.

You can also choose a 1st-level spell to learn, which in this case would be Goodberry. I love this feat because it’s so versatile and lets you cross over and get that one spell that you almost chose an alternate class for. 

Goodberry Alternatives – 3rd-Level and Lower

There are a few reasons why you would be looking for Goodberry alternatives. You want something that is a higher level, or you want something that other classes can use to heal or sustain their party.

If you’re a Druid or Ranger and you want another healing spell, then check out Healing Spirit. For other classes, these low-level healing spells should suffice.

Prayer of Healing – 2nd Level Necromancy

• Casting Time – 10 minutes
• Range – 30 feet
• Target – up to six in range
• Components – V
• Duration – Instant
• Class – Cleric

Prayer of Healing allows you to choose up to six creatures you can see, and they gain HP equal to 2d8 + your spellcasting modifier. It isn’t an in-combat spell because it does take ten minutes (ritual) to cast. 

Life Transference

• Casting Time – 1 action
• Range – 30 feet
• Target – Single Target
• Components – V, S
• Duration – Instant
• Class – Cleric, Wizard

This is a great combat healing spell from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. You get to take 4d8 necrotic damage (impossible to negate) and heal someone else twice the amount of damage that you take.

Aid – 2nd Level Abjuration

• Casting Time – 1 action
• Range – 30 feet
• Target – Up to three within range
• Components – V, S, M
• Duration – 8 hours
• Class – Cleric, Paladin

When you cast Aid, up to three creatures within range gain five max HP for eight hours. This is better out of combat, but it can work any time. Just make sure to heal them after you use it. 

…Continue reading about Aid in DnD 5e.

Lesser Restoration – 2nd Level Abjuration

• Casting Time – 1 action
• Range – Touch
• Target – One Creature
• Components – V, S
• Duration – Instant
• Class – Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger

This simple healing spell is a staple for every class that can use it. When you cast Lesser Restoration, you touch a creature, and they are cured of one disease or condition of your choosing. 

Continue reading to learn more about Lesser Restoration in DnD.

Cure Wounds – 1st Level Evocation

• Casting Time – 1 action
• Range – Touch
• Target – One Creature
• Components – V, S
• Duration – Instant
• Class – Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger

Another staple similar to Lesser Restoration, though this one heals, is Cure Wounds. When you cast it, you must touch a creature, and they heal for 1d8 plus your spellcasting modifier.

Healing Word – 1st Level Evocation

• Casting Time – 1 bonus action
• Range – 60 feet
• Target – One Creature
• Components – V
• Duration – Instant
• Class – Bard, Cleric, Druid

This is my favorite healing spell because it’s a bonus action and has a huge range. It only heals for 1d4 plus your spellcasting modifier, but that’s more than enough early game to save a life.

Here’s our complete take on Healing Word and everything you need to know about it.

Messing Up the Goodberry Spell

There’s a rumor that if you mess up the Goodberry spell, then it creates a Badberry. This rumor was started in the Forgotten Realms – which not all campaigns are set in – but it can be present in any campaign.

The Badberry will do 1hp of damage per berry rather than heal 1hp of damage. It may even make the player thirsty or hungry.

Druidcraft Goodberry Orchard

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard about in D&D. If your DM lets you, you can get extremely creative with Goodberry. I recommend not abusing this method to ensure you don’t get ahead of your party.

Step 1: Make Goodberries

The first step requires you to make Goodberries. Once you do, you have 24 hours to complete the next two steps, or else you’ll have to start over. Even then, it’s up to the DM whether the magical mechanics allow it.

Step 2: Use Druidcraft

The second step is to use Druidcraft to make the Goodberries turn into sprouts. Because Druidcraft should work on most seeds and berries contain seeds, this should work. But since the berries are magic, there could be a catch.

Step 3: Plant Sprouts

If you get this far, you can plant the sprouts in fertile soil and care for them. Since you will be a Druid, you likely have a good concept of how to help plants grow and how to keep them healthy. 

Step 4: Care For and Wait

Once your plants start to grow, you can see if they will turn into Goodberry bushes. They likely will, as most DMs will honor the ingenuity of creating an orchard of sorts, but don’t be surprised if they are just normal berries.

Step 5: Expand and Make Goodies

If things go well, you can go ahead and plant more, expand, buy land, and create a business. With the berries, you can make potions, pies, and whatever else you can imagine. Eat them or sell them; it’s up to you. 

Troubleshooting

There are a hundred ways that this can go wrong. If your DM doesn’t “mess things up,” you still could. Please don’t assume that the berries will retain their effectiveness after you plant them. Test them at each stage, especially after 24 hours. 

If they do, then they will still have their timer reset whenever you pick them. So you can’t make pies or potions ahead of time even if the berries are effective after they grow because making them permanent after you pick them would defeat the purpose of the spell. 

This will take a lot of time in-game because even with the help of a Druid, it takes time to grow a berry bush. But if your plan is successful, you’ll have one of the most unique businesses in the D&D world. 

Goodberry 5e Guide: FAQs

Goodberry and the Meme It Has Become

The Goodberry spell has become so popular that it has become a meme. The meme depicts Rangers and Druids throwing out Goodberries like they are the apex of spells and the ultimate nutrient.

Yes, Druids and Rangers do often try to use Goodberies to solve all of life’s problems. But in reality, many of the problems a party faces can be solved with a Goodberry. Hungry? Eat a Goodberry. Thirsty? Eat a Goodberry. About to die? Eat a Goodberry. 

If you’re feeling down, a Goodberry will probably perk you right up like a five-hour energy that tastes like rainbows and sunshine. Goodberries are overpowered, and it’s about time we stop pretending that they aren’t. 

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Emily Medlock

Emily has always been a fan of role-playing, whether it be via a screen or on a tabletop, she's always down for a lengthy campaign. She's a DND fanatic with a love for creating worlds, characters and simply existing in fantastical lands of her own creation. Outside of DND Emily is a gaming aficionado who has written for The Gamer, Gamerant, GamerBolt, and Valnet, but she has found a home here at Explore DND

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