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Very much related: How long does Alchemist's Fire burn?

An answer on the linked post leads to suggest that Alchemist's Fire burns as long as it is not actively extinguished by somebody.

However, a comment on the same answer indicated that Alchemist's Fire doesn't release light, because light isn't mentioned with the description of the item.

I'm looking for any RAW material that indicates whether or not Alchemist's Fire produces light, and how long it can burn for on an inflammable object.

If there is no such material, then I am even willing to accept information from prior versions that cover this same information.

If there is no information on Alchemist's Fire itself, then a RAI answer can be acceptable if it includes the process with how Alchemist's Fire is made (to draw a conclusion about what kind of light/duration could be expected).

Alchemist's Fire in 5e, per the description under "Adventuring Gear":

This sticky, adhesive fluid ignites when exposed to air. As an action, you can throw this flask up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. [...] The target takes 1d4 fire damage at the start of each of its turns. A creature can end this damage by using its action to make a DC 10 Dexterity check to extinguish the flames.

SevenSidedDie
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Man_Over_Game
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2 Answers2

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There is no rule. It's up to your DM.

Don't mistake the game's rules (or lack thereof) for laws of physics in the D&D universe.

There are a lot of areas where the rules don't get specific about every detail of how something works because it's not, generally speaking, important. This is one of those areas.

For the purpose of using alchemist's fire in a fight, it burns for some indefinite amount of time that exceeds the length of the fight. Even two minutes is usually much longer than any fight lasts, so 'until extinguished' is sufficient definition for that purpose.

Similarly, presumably the flame produces some amount of light, but how much isn't specified, so it's left up to the DM to decide. That doesn't mean it produces no light. It just means it's not specified.

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Darth Pseudonym
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It produces some amount of light but maybe not permanently

As this answer to your related question states, RAW does not have a time limit for the effect until it is extinguished. However, since fires in reality burn their fuel eventually (if only after a long time for some fuels), it may be less than permanent. For that you'll have to ask your GM.

What about light?

This sticky, adhesive fluid ignites when exposed to air ... extinguish the flames

[emphasis mine]

The 5th edition is meant to be read in plain English. This means that the liquid "ignit[ing]" and the fact that the "flames" have to be extinguished provides us a light source (emphases mine).

ignite... catch fire or cause to catch fire.

.

fire ... combustion or burning, in which substances ... typically give out bright light...

.

flame ... a hot glowing body of ignited gas...

How much light is unclear though so you'll have to ask your GM.

Note: none of the previous D&D editions from what I could find provide an illumination factor for Alchemist's Fire (or Greek Fire as it was called in AD&D 1e and 2e).

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David Coffron
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    "RAW does not have a time limit" does not mean the same thing as "RAW says it is permanent". – Mark Wells Jul 31 '18 at 21:15
  • @MarkWells if a liquid ignites and nothing causes it to burn out (other than the extinguishing by a creature) then it is permanent – David Coffron Jul 31 '18 at 21:16
  • Except that's not written in the rules. The word "permanent" does not appear. That's your extrapolation from the absence of any mention of other ways for the fire to burn out. If WOTC published new material tomorrow that said that alchemist's fire burns out on its own after about a minute, that would not contradict the existing rules on the subject. – Mark Wells Jul 31 '18 at 21:24
  • @MarkWells you are right that new info would change this, but we cannot interpolate an ending so we should conclude there isn't one until then – David Coffron Jul 31 '18 at 21:24
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    Burning does not always give off light. Only cool fire ( yellow or red flames) give off light. Hot flames such as alcohol and acetylene (blue flame), give of energy outside of the visible spectrum and thus produce little visible light. In fact, many alcohol fires are invisible (NASCAR fuel). – ravery Jul 31 '18 at 21:34
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    @ravery as my answer states we should be using a plain english reading. Most uses of the word ignite and flame refer to fires that produce light. We would need a more specific clarification to assume otherwise – David Coffron Jul 31 '18 at 21:39
  • I've edited my answer slightly to accommodate a RAI answer if the process/materials that Alchemist's (or Greek) Fire is made is included to address these concerns. – Man_Over_Game Jul 31 '18 at 21:42
  • @MarkWells adjusted to be less definitive with the less strict standard (accepting RAI) the query requires. – David Coffron Jul 31 '18 at 21:49
  • @MarkWells It is worth noting that continuous flame requires a 50gp material that is expended, is a 2nd level spell, and can only be extinguished with magic. Alchemist's Fire also costs exactly 50gp, but can be extinguished through normal means. Similarly, Ceremony makes Holy Water for 25gp worth of silver, but Holy Water at a store costs the same value of 25gp. They may share similarities with one another, or at least have equal value. – Man_Over_Game Jul 31 '18 at 22:05