When I use the green-flame blade cantrip to attack a creature, then it can bounce the flame to a creature within 5 feet of my target.
If there is no enemy within 5 feet of my target, but there is a friendly character within that distance, must the friendly character take the fire damage? Or can I simply ignore the bouncing in this situation, meaning the friendly character is not damaged?
The description of the green-flame blade spell states (SCAG p. 143, emphasis mine):
you can cause green fire to leap from the target to a different creature of your choice
It says you “can”, indicating there is a choice.
Notably, this wording was introduced in the November 2020 errata for the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. Prior to this change, the description of green-flame blade said:
On a hit, the target suffers the attack’s normal effects, and green fire leaps from the target to a different creature of your choice
