No, the spell Chain Lightning cannot be twinned using the Sorcerer's Twin Spell Metamagic option in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.
Understanding Twin Spell Metamagic
The Twin Spell Metamagic allows a sorcerer to spend sorcery points to cause a spell to target a second creature. However, it comes with a crucial restriction:
- Single Target Requirement: The spell must specifically target only one creature and cannot have a range of "Self."
Why Chain Lightning Fails the Test
Chain Lightning might initially target one creature, but its magical effect immediately jumps from that target to other creatures within range. This chaining mechanism means the spell, by its very nature, affects multiple targets, violating the "targets only one creature" prerequisite of Twin Spell. Spells like Chain Lightning, Scorching Ray, Chromatic Orb, or Grasping Vine are not structured or worded in a way that aligns with the strict single-target requirement of Twin Spell, unlike spells such as Charm Person which genuinely affect only a single individual.
Examples of Spell Compatibility with Twin Spell
To clarify the distinction, consider the following:
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Spells That Can Be Twinned: These are typically spells that affect only one creature, even if they deal damage or impose a condition.
- Charm Person: Targets one humanoid and has no other immediate area of effect or additional targets.
- Hold Person: Targets one humanoid, paralyzing them.
- Disintegrate: Targets a single creature or object for immense damage.
- Inflict Wounds: Targets one creature to deal necrotic damage.
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Spells That Cannot Be Twinned: These spells either target multiple creatures, affect an area, or create multiple attack rolls/effects, even if they are cast on a single initial point.
- Chain Lightning: As discussed, targets one creature then arcs to others.
- Fireball: Targets a point, creating an area of effect that damages multiple creatures.
- Scorching Ray: Creates multiple rays, each of which is a separate attack roll against one or more targets.
- Chromatic Orb: While it targets one creature, its wording and typical application are not considered a truly "single-target" effect for the purpose of Twin Spell, much like other spells that don't inherently restrict their impact to just one entity in the way Charm Person does.
- Grasping Vine: Conjures a vine that can affect multiple creatures within its area or path.
In essence, if a spell has the potential to affect more than one creature as part of its base description and effect (beyond simply applying the twinned effect itself), it cannot be twinned. Chain Lightning definitively falls into this category due to its inherent multi-target chaining.
