Do cantrips level with Magic Initiate?

[tymbusku]

Hi ALL !
So I was thinking about my leveling plans for my Lizardfolk barbarian. Sooner or later I'm gonna give him Magic Initiate(warlock), because he hangs around the party warlock(also lizardfolk) a lot. Slot spell is gonna be Hex, but I was tinking bout giving him the blade cantrips.

In da descriptions, the weapon damage increases with level, as well as the magic damage. This guy is gonna be at least level 8 by the time he picks it up, so Wiuld the damage go up further than normal. If yes, than if I'm fighting a tight group, I'll gust GFB all da time, doing tons of damage, and if solo target, BB and back off (he's not too dumb to strategize).

I know the Bladetrips are already broken, but this is something I would like clarity on.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Cantrips scale with level, regardless of multiclassing, racial source (eg High Elf), or Feat such as MI.
Your Hex would always be L1 though.

 

[jaelis]

In da descriptions, the weapon damage increases with level, as well as the magic damage. This guy is gonna be at least level 8 by the time he picks it up, so Wiuld the damage go up further than normal. If yes, than if I'm fighting a tight group, I'll gust GFB all da time, doing tons of damage, and if solo target, BB and back off (he's not too dumb to strategize).

Yes, the cantrip damage is based on your overall level. So a level 8 barbarian with GFB would do, say, 1d12 (axe) + 5 + 1d8 (fire) to the primary target, and 1d8+Cha mod to the secondary target.

Before you get too excited, though, remember that you have to give up your extra attack, and you can't be raging. Even when you aren't raging, you'd be doing 1d12+5 to two targets. That is 23 total, compared to 22.5 total with GFB, assuming a Cha of 14. So it's cool if you anyway like the idea of casting GFB, but I wouldn't view it as a route to massive damage.

 

[Gwarok]

Cantrips scale with level, regardless of multiclassing, racial source (eg High Elf), or Feat such as MI.
Your Hex would always be L1 though.

So if I had a 16th Level fighter, he picks up 1 Level of Wizard when he hits 17th, he'll be shooting a 4D10 Firebolt?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

So if I had a 16th Level fighter, he picks up 1 Level of Wizard when he hits 17th, he'll be shooting a 4D10 Firebolt?

Yes.

 

[MarkB]

So if I had a 16th Level fighter, he picks up 1 Level of Wizard when he hits 17th, he'll be shooting a 4D10 Firebolt?

What would be the point of having it if he didn't, given that he's having to give up three weapon attacks to use it?

 

[Caliban]

So if I had a 16th Level fighter, he picks up 1 Level of Wizard when he hits 17th, he'll be shooting a 4D10 Firebolt?

Yup. But he likely doesn't have a very high intelligence, so the attack bonus won't be that great. And he should do much more damage with his three weapon attacks.

 

[Gwarok]

What would be the point of having it if he didn't, given that he's having to give up three weapon attacks to use it?

Well that is a bit meta game thinking, and there are lots of reasons. One, it's magic. Buck naked he's still got something to fight say, an Earth Elemental with. Not much, but a damn sight better than his fists. There are many times in a campaign when you don't want to be walking around in full battle harness or sporting a weapon. Also, good to set things on fire with. Or even use Chill Touch to prevent something from healing. You get the idea. Just seems odd that a newbie to a profession would be blasting like a Grand Master in terms of firepower. But I'll take it.

 

[jaelis]

Just seems odd that a newbie to a profession would be blasting like a Grand Master in terms of firepower. But I'll take it.

Imagine that the improving damage of cantrips doesn't reflect more raw magical energy, but rather improved effectiveness due to your experience; like you know just when to release the spell and where to aim it to have the most impact? Then it is not too strange that any sort of adventuring experience will provide that benefit, not just magical study.

 

[Caliban]

Well that is a bit meta game thinking, and there are lots of reasons. One, it's magic. Buck naked he's still got something to fight say, an Earth Elemental with. Not much, but a damn sight better than his fists. There are many times in a campaign when you don't want to be walking around in full battle harness or sporting a weapon. Also, good to set things on fire with. Or even use Chill Touch to prevent something from healing. You get the idea. Just seems odd that a newbie to a profession would be blasting like a Grand Master in terms of firepower. But I'll take it.

He's not blasting like a grand master. A grand master would be throwing fireballs or meteor swarms. He's throwing the most basic of spells, with a standard level of proficiency.