D&D 5E Eldritch Knight spells

[Hereticus]

I am considering not restricting the EK spell choices. Any wizard spell would work fine.

That's not how I read the EK spells known. Cantrips could could come from any school. And 1 of your first 3 non-cantrips is free choice. There are a handful of other free choices through the full progression.

The wording used in the PHB is "focus their attention". If interpreted as a suggestion, I'd be good with that. But if limited to Abjuration and Evocation (with very minor first level exceptions), the sub-class is of no interest to me. I guess it's up to individual DM to interpret works best for their game.

An Eldritch Knight is still primarily s fighter. Just with some situational casting ability. Often times you'll be in a better position for burning hands than the wizard.

I agree completely. Combat characters with one level in sorcerer or wizard were more effective casters than my pure wizard (grossly underpowered in 5e). Add backstab damage, and stealthy characters did more damage with damage cantrips.

 

[Runny]

Yeah, pure wizards start really slow. That is part of the whole wizards are quadratic equation. I found that I was quite effective combatant at low levels, but I was mostly shooting my longbow. Gotta love elf weapon proficiencies.

 

[Dausuul]

So, last night my EK finally managed to hit level 3. I'm poring over spell selection choices and could really use some advice on where to go (and where not to go).

Solid obvious choice for cantrip is true strike. The other, I'm not so sure. Likewise the spell slots, MM and burning hands are standouts for me. Though I'm not sure about taking both at 3rd level. Dunno about the last choice.

Other information that might help - he's a human, uses a great sword and heavy armour. Large party (druid, bard, war cleric, rogue and warlock). Any and all ideas or thought bubbles most welcome!

General thoughts:

First, don't waste your spell slots on magic missile or burning hands. You're a fighter. You don't need spells to help you dish out damage--your trusty greatsword and javelins (you do carry javelins, right?) will lay down more smack than any spell, at least until you reach 13th level and can cast fireball.

As others have pointed out, you can't cast shield while holding a greatsword in both hands. That makes its utility very limited--you can let go your sword with one hand at the end of your turn, which frees you up to cast shield if necessary, but then you can't take opportunity attacks. For a full wizard who avoids the front lines, shield is awesome as a "get out of jail free" card when the front lines come to you. For a fighter who's up front anyway, it's not so hot.

Since you have to take an abjuration and an evocation spell, I would suggest thunderwave for the evocation. It's not great, but at least it does something for you that you can't do just as well with your sword--an AoE knockback. For abjuration, protection from evil and good is probably your best bet. It's situational, but in the situations where it's useful, you'll be really really glad you have it.

That leaves one more spell, and here you've got the whole list open to you. I'd recommend looking into utility magic, stuff that will let you broaden your scope beyond bashing heads. Tenser's flaoting disk can be really good, and you can do all kinds of shenanigans with silent image. Sleep is an awesome AoE killer. For a melee warrior, mobility in combat is always good, so consider expeditious retreat, longstrider, or jump (jump is the rare spell that you can cast better than a normal wizard (since you undoubtedly have a high Strength to begin with).

 

[Kobold Stew]

The wording used in the PHB is "focus their attention". If interpreted as a suggestion, I'd be good with that. But if limited to Abjuration and Evocation (with very minor first level exceptions), the sub-class is of no interest to me. I guess it's up to individual DM to interpret works best for their game.

There's nothing to interpret. The rules are clearly stated if you read the full entry for the subclass, and they have been summarized for you in post 20 of this thread.

You are not limited to Abjuration and Evocation, but most of your spells do have to come from those schools.

 

[Hereticus]

First, don't waste your spell slots on magic missile or burning hands. You're a fighter. You don't need spells to help you dish out damage--your trusty greatsword and javelins (you do carry javelins, right?) will lay down more smack than any spell, at least until you reach 13th level and can cast fireball.

I wanted the Prestidigitation and True Strike cantrips, and the level one spells Expeditious Retreat and Longstrider, and the Find Familiar ritual. None are Abjuration or Evocation.

I figured at seventh level with War Magic, my True Strike cantrip could be used the next round.

 

[Hereticus]

There's nothing to interpret. The rules are clearly stated if you read the full entry for the subclass, and they have been summarized for you in post 20 of this thread.

You are not limited to Abjuration and Evocation, but most of your spells do have to come from those schools.

The definition of "most":

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/most

As in a majority, or more than (or equal to) any other school?

As measured by quantity, or by rank? And how do you weigh cantrips?

The rules are not "clearly stated if you read the full entry for the subclass".

.

If we want to go by the book, we need to understand what "focus on" means. It is extremely vague and leaves a lot to be interpreted.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/focus+on

 

[Stalker0]

Very limited options for first level spells (only) at 8th, 14th and 20th levels.

Most of the spells people want to select are unavailable to the Eldritch Knight.

No Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Minor Image, Poison Spray, Prestidigitation or True Strike.

No Charm Person, Color Spray, Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Expeditious Retreat, False Life, Feather Fall, Find familiar, Jump, Longstrider, Silent Image, Sleep or Floating Disk (one at 8th level).

And the list goes on at higher levels (zero allowed), making the sub-class not very attractive.

To me the Eldritch Knight is a Fighter...with some wizard flavoring. For those who want a greater mix of wizard, a Fighter/Wizard Multiclass is the option, a valor Bard is also a good choice.

 

[Kobold Stew]

As in a majority, or more than (or equal to) any other school?

As measured by quantity, or by rank? And how do you weigh cantrips?

The rules are not "clearly stated if you read the full entry for the subclass".

.

If we want to go by the book, we need to understand what "focus on" means. It is extremely vague and leaves a lot to be interpreted.

Again, read the full sub class, and not just the one sentence with the words "focus on". How I define most is irrelevant, but let's assume we both speak English.

1. "You know three first-level spells of your choice, two of which you must choose from the abjuration and evocation spells on the wizard spell list."

2. Each new spell "must be an abjuration or evocation spell of your choice".

3. Except: "The spells you learn at 8th, 14th, and 20th level can come from any school of magic."

For replacing spells when you level, you can look at the entry but the balance remains the same.

So: 10 of 13 spells = "most". If you want to include cantrips, 10 of 16 spells and cantrips = "most".

Hope this helps.

 

[Stalker0]

I hear a lot of back and forth on the "adjuration and evocation" restriction. Here is how it works point by point.

1) Cantrips: No school restriction, take any you want.

2) 1st Level: You gain 1 spell, any school. 2 spells, Abjur or Evoc

3) 8th, 14th, 20th. The one new spell you gain at each of these levels...it can be any school and any level you can cast. So at 8th, you can pick up any 2nd level wizard spell.

4) Other levels: New spells are abjur and evoc.

5) Replacement Spells: Each level, you can replace a spell with a new one. This lets you pick new spells, but also lets you upgrade low level spells for high level ones. Example: When I become 11th level, I could replace a 1st level spell known for a 2nd level spell.

If you replace a spell that you choose at 8th, 14th, 20th....it can be any school.
If you replace any other spell....it must be abjur or evoc.

The oddity is that spell you got at 1st level that could be any school....if you replace this one, it must be abjur or evoc. (If I were to houserule anything, it would probably be to allow this to remain any school if replaced).

 

[Stalker0]

The wording used in the PHB is "focus their attention". If interpreted as a suggestion, I'd be good with that. But if limited to Abjuration and Evocation (with very minor first level exceptions), the sub-class is of no interest to me. I guess it's up to individual DM to interpret works best for their game.

I really think that is intended as flavor.

When you look at the specific mechanics of how spells are chosen, the "most" clause is never used. The class is very specific on how spells are chosen, and how they are replaced at higher levels. Those are the rules I would use.