You channel the primal energy of storms into your free hand or spellcasting focus before releasing an instantaneous blast of lightning at a creature you can see within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage. If the target is wearing armor or carrying a weapon made of metal, it instead takes 1d10 lightning damage.
The spell's damage increases by one die when you reach 5th level (2d8 or 2d10), 11th level (3d8 or 3d10), and 17th level (4d8 or 4d10).
At your touch, wet blood on a surface shifts and reforms into a pattern of crimson blotches. This blood print is unique to the particular creature to whom the blood belongs, but you can determine the creature's kind (such as human, knoll, deer, or fire giant) by examining the general shape. A print can be preserved by pressing a sheet of paper against it. If this spell is cast twice, it is possible to match samples of blood originating from the same creature by comparing the prints.