D&D 5E Player character lv 10 wizard who is also smart player how to challenge?

[Nightbeat84]

Good day everyone
looking for how other DM's challenge high level wizard players but not screw them over. So far all I've come up with is having enemy casters that counterspell hes spells when they can but I feel like its cheesy. I've talked to the player about enemy spell casters with counterspell he seems fine with it but i dont like it some times it comes down to big counterspell war between him and the npc. Id like having big brutes with abilities rather then give them spellcasting but wizards have access to spells that complete negate anything they can do such as, polymorph,wall of force, banishment are few examples. Not sure how to challenge the party. Also disclosure I'm terrible at controlling npc spellcasters. Thoughts or suggestions are welcome
I suppose little more detail might shed some light on hes tactics. Also I'm a newer DM I'm still trying to learn encounter building. If I have a bunch of minions he cast greater invisibility then fire balls from a distance or wall of fire depending on the grouping of the enemies. If I have 1 big monster I fear he will banish, polymorph,wall of force it. Then walk on throught to a safe distance. I might have 1 or 2 combat encounters per seassion which are 4hrs long real time. I think my fear of not having anything threatening enough I over compensate. Some of the fights the party attempts to long rest right after the fight. I have not been keeping track of how many encounters per day which I will now I think.

 

[Krachek]

Do you make specific plans to challenge the fighters and the rogues?

 

[Nightbeat84]

Do you make specific plans to challenge the fighters and the rogues?

Well if it's a brute it's a big bag of hit points they dont really have any abilities to negate the fight so easy enough to set up for them? If that answers your question?

 

[Krachek]

Well if it's a brute it's a big bag of hit points they dont really have any abilities to negate the fight so easy enough to set up for them? If that answers your question?

Wizards are already struggling with damage resistance, various immunities, spell resistance, legendary resistance. you can choose to add often counterspell to the list, but basically they have enough problems to solve to feel some challenge.

 

[Nightbeat84]

Wizards are already struggling with damage resistance, various immunities, spell resistance, legendary resistance. you can choose to add often counterspell to the list, but basically they have enough problems to solve to feel some challenge.

Wall of force cant really be resisted it just happens. Is there any other spells similar to it I'm kinda concerned in that fashion?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Most shutdown spells require saves. Look at monsters that are proficient in some saves, or have Legendary saves.

Level 5 spells are powerful, but a level 10 wizard can only cast a max of 3 a day. You should be aiming for between 6-8 encounters between Long rests.

Many powerful spells require concentration, so the wizard can't use them at the same time, and if they are hurt, the spell can break.

Also bear in mind that those three spells you mention don't take out an opponent permanently, they're just delaying tactics. (Apart from banish against an outsider.) Polymorph breaks if the form loses its hit points or if the wizard loses concentration for example.

Do you have any more details about what the wizard is doing?

 

[Krachek]

Wall of force cant really be resisted it just happens. Is there any other spells similar to it I'm kinda concerned in that fashion?

He is a level 10 wizard, yes he can do amazing things, what's the point to have wall of force if he get counterspell each time?

 

[was]

the Balhiir from previous editions was pretty nasty..you'd have to convert it though

Balhiir | Planewalker

mimir.planewalker.com

 

[tommybahama]

Well if it's a brute it's a big bag of hit points they dont really have any abilities to negate the fight so easy enough to set up for them? If that answers your question?

I play an unstoppable battlemaster/forge cleric. In the last battle we were attacked by five babau demons. I got hit with Heat Metal and Weakening Gaze until I inevitably failed my constitution saves. In another fight I was possessed by a ghost and was forced to attack my own party. I think he means stuff like that.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Encounters with 3+ strong'ish enemies are tricky for a caster. He can perhaps lock down one of them for a time but not all, and pure damage spells tend to be a waste at higher levels if you can't get multiple enemies in a blast.