D&D 5E What's the worst spell?

[Yunru]

It makes the Ring the sort of thing that I think would be fun to give to a party at level 2; they'll always have that ace up their sleeves, and you can watch them be inventive with something that powerful so early, without it undermining the whole campaign since they need to be really careful with it.

Don't mind me, just distracting you while that Tabaxi steals this idea.

 

[Caliban]

I think Wish is now a great utility spell. For a 9th level slot - or, more interestingly, a Ring of Three Wishes - you can get any save-my-bacon spell you want. It makes the Ring the sort of thing that I think would be fun to give to a party at level 2; they'll always have that ace up their sleeves, and you can watch them be inventive with something that powerful so early, without it undermining the whole campaign since they need to be really careful with it. Just a thought.

Or they immediately wish for permanent Resistance to 3 types of damage for the whole group plus their familiars.

 

[Eltab]

Witch Bolt would be better if you could change targets - even if only to whatever your real target hid behind. (Halfling hides behind his friend and...) I could just keep tearing up the siding on the building (or set a tree on fire) until some fool crosses through my line-of-effect and then blast HIM.

Friends (I think - AFB) makes you a friend for a minute and an enemy for keeps. An Arcane Trickster trained with a Disguise Kit and planning ahead can use this spell "as seen on TV", but any Wizard's friends will be rather unhappy with him after he casts it.

If you have to "emergency Tank" (meaning the REAL Tank is down for the count and you want to distract Team Monster while the Cleric goes to help him), Blade Ward is a useful tool in the toolbox.

Read Languages should be ritual-only because there isn't much way to use it in combat. I have characters who want the spell, but not for "word duels".

 

[Charles Rampant]

Or they immediately wish for permanent Resistance to 3 types of damage for the whole group plus their familiars.

Well, then I guess you shrug and accept that boring decisions will lead to boring outcomes, and never give them a fun item like that again. Giving out a fun and powerful item early on isn't going to work with all groups.

 

[Gadget]

Well, don't overlook the value of autohit in subsequent rounds. It definitely poops out later when your cantrips get good, but if you can manage to get advantage on your first attack with the witch bolt, it ends up being a decent choice if the fight stretches to 5 rounds or more.

Which is not to say it's a good spell. Just that there are non-crazy situations where it could work OK.

Heh, it actually combines sort of well with true strike. So there you go

Witch Bolt and True Strike are both concentration, so that doesn't work. Even if it did, you would have to spend a whole round not contributing for WB's puddly damage. The auto hit on future rounds sounds good, but your committing most of your future rounds to doing piddly damage to one target, not useful if the target dies, or circumstances require you to do something else on a subsequent turn. Really, in most cases, just use a cantrip.


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[Caliban]

Well, then I guess you shrug and accept that boring decisions will lead to boring outcomes, and never give them a fun item like that again. Giving out a fun and powerful item early on isn't going to work with all groups.

Well, being Resistant to Slashing, Bludgeoning, and Piercing damage for the rest of your adventuring career may be "boring", but some kinds of boring are more appealing than others.


Just saying, players don't always do the wacky things you want them to do. Or even the reasonable things you want them to do.

 

[CapnZapp]

Difference between "defending" a spell and arguing that it's not the absolute worst in the game.

Sorry, but the importance is in if it's a ogrish spell or not.

Whether it's the second worst or only the third worst, isn't particularly useful...

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[Mephista]

My vote is witchbolt.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Charles Rampant]

Just saying, players don't always do the wacky things you want them to do. Or even the reasonable things you want them to do.

Ain't that the truth!