D&D 5E Rating the 1st level Wizard Spells

[Leatherhead]

Silent Image is nice because it requires an action to attempt to see though it. At the very least you could use it it drop an illusion smokescreen on your position, making it a one-way mirror for ranged attacks. That's like combining the effect of Shield and Fog Cloud, at least until something gets the bright idea to move next to you.

 

[Dausuul]

You're seriously underrating shield. I don't know how it is at low levels, but as a higher-level wizard, it's a godsend. The key is that you can cast it as a reaction after getting hit, thus allowing you to keep it in reserve till you're about to get smeared by a fire giant or a dragon or something. And because of 5E's neo-Vancian casting, you aren't sacrificing power by having it prepared and never using it--all you give up is a bit of versatility.

The fact that it doesn't scale by level hardly matters. It's a great use for your 1st-level slots, especially once you reach level 11+ and your attack cantrips start outdamaging your 1st-level spells.

 

[KarinsDad]

You're seriously underrating shield. I don't know how it is at low levels, but as a higher-level wizard, it's a godsend. The key is that you can cast it as a reaction after getting hit, thus allowing you to keep it in reserve till you're about to get smeared by a fire giant or a dragon or something.

It kind of depends on whether the DM rolls in private or in public.

I think that there are spells that kind of suck at lower levels, but are nice at higher levels (and vice versa), especially if boosted into a higher level slot. Hold Person (although a second level spell and not part of this thread) is an example of this.

 

[Dausuul]

It kind of depends on whether the DM rolls in private or in public.

Also on whether the DM has your AC memorized. If the DM has to ask for your AC, it's a good bet that shield will change the outcome.

I think that there are spells that kind of suck at lower levels, but are nice at higher levels (and vice versa), especially if boosted into a higher level slot. Hold Person (although a second level spell and not part of this thread) is an example of this.

The great thing about shield is that, thanks to bounded accuracy, it doesn't have to be boosted to be valuable. It helps your 1st-level slots remain relevant in high-level combats.

 

[Celebrim]

Thread: Lots of useful information and criticism. I feel better about some of the spells and have adjusted my ratings accordingly. I still think there is too much needless variation in the degree of utility the spells have. You've got two years to design this thing, you shouldn't have a lot of clear winners among the spells. It should be more of a preference thing.

A couple of comments:

Shield: Yes, I was underrating it. I thought from the wording you could use it in reaction to an attack, but not after the attack roll itself. If you can use it in reaction to a hit, that's a good deal better. With the flexibility Wizard's have in memorizing spells, this is going to be one of the few 1st level spells you'll keep memorizing at high level. I disagree that it hits the 5 star level, but I could be persuaded that it is 4 stars.

Charm Person: Turns out that since 'charmed' is a defined condition, it actually does exactly what I wanted it to do. Unfortunately, I still don't like the 1 hour duration or the fact that once it wears off the target is conscious of what happened. I wavered on bumping it up a half-star, but decided against it.

Mage Armor: I agree this becomes more relevant once you hit the mid levels, but I felt that way from the beginning.

 

[KarinsDad]

Also on whether the DM has your AC memorized. If the DM has to ask for your AC, it's a good bet that shield will change the outcome.

Good point.

The great thing about shield is that, thanks to bounded accuracy, it doesn't have to be boosted to be valuable. It helps your 1st-level slots remain relevant in high-level combats.

Agreed. I wish more low level spells were like that.

 

[Celtavian]

After getting hammered by kobold archers sending in one guy to gain pack tactics, that fog cloud might have been useful used with a ready action. Damn those kobolds hurt. Send a couple of the little bastards in to activate pack tactics, then let the kobold archer and slingers unleash. That damage adds up. They hit a lot.

 

[KarinsDad]

After getting hammered by kobold archers sending in one guy to gain pack tactics, that fog cloud might have been useful used with a ready action. Damn those kobolds hurt. Send a couple of the little bastards in to activate pack tactics, then let the kobold archer and slingers unleash. That damage adds up. They hit a lot.

True. But, how often do you fight foes with pack tactics?

 

[raleel]

Shield: Yes, I was underrating it. I thought from the wording you could use it in reaction to an attack, but not after the attack roll itself. If you can use it in reaction to a hit, that's a good deal better. With the flexibility Wizard's have in memorizing spells, this is going to be one of the few 1st level spells you'll keep memorizing at high level. I disagree that it hits the 5 star level, but I could be persuaded that it is 4 stars.

Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you are hit by an attack or targeted by the magic missile spell

you get to know if you are hit Shield is pretty well going to dominate low level slots. That and mirror image. Spells like that make the lack of concentration flexibility a bit less painful.

As a DM, I just started rolling in the open. It was easier on my players, it was easier on me. They complained about the number of crits I got, and I was like "look, if I am running 10 guys, 50% chance one is going to crit, and I'm rolling in the open". Rolling in the open is mostly just a pain for the players, because you can't fudge rolls in their favor - you can always add reinforcements

 

[Tormyr]

You're seriously underrating shield. I don't know how it is at low levels, but as a higher-level wizard, it's a godsend. The key is that you can cast it as a reaction after getting hit, thus allowing you to keep it in reserve till you're about to get smeared by a fire giant or a dragon or something. And because of 5E's neo-Vancian casting, you aren't sacrificing power by having it prepared and never using it--all you give up is a bit of versatility.

The fact that it doesn't scale by level hardly matters. It's a great use for your 1st-level slots, especially once you reach level 11+ and your attack cantrips start outdamaging your 1st-level spells.

Agreed. If I was making a wizard and hit 18th level, this would be my at will 1st level spell.