D&D 5E Not Much Ado About Bless

[Paul Farquhar]

Yeah, it sucks for paladins, it's not bad if you are sacrificing less in the first round to cast it though. I.e. you are a cleric.

Thing is, 5e is set up so that most of the time attacks hit around half the time, with hit bonuses typically similar to AC. Around that level, +1d4 isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

It's only if the enemy is particularly hard to hit, or you are running GWM/SS, that the bonus makes much difference.

I aught to have NPC clerics cast it more though, PCs usually have higher ACs than the monsters.

 

[Oofta]

Yeah, it sucks for paladins, it's not bad if you are sacrificing less in the first round to cast it though. I.e. you are a cleric.

That's really dependent though. A hold person for example can be incredibly powerful. Assuming you don't know how many fights you're going to have, retaining that spell slot for something else.

Thing is, 5e is set up so that most of the time attacks hit around half the time, with hit bonuses typically similar to AC. Around that level, +1d4 isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

It's only if the enemy is particularly hard to hit, or you are running GWM/SS, that the bonus makes much difference.

I aught to have NPC clerics cast it more though, PCs usually have higher ACs than the monsters.

I do use it for the opposing team fairly often. Sometimes even just have a relatively low level cleric that casts it and then hides/goes full defensive for the rest of the combat.

 

[Dausuul]

Assuming a 65% hit rate (which is roughly the baseline in a fight against foes of similar CR), bless increases the damage output of an attacker by about 20%.

That's pretty substantial! But it only applies to somebody who's making attack rolls in the first place. In the traditional party of four, the fighter and the rogue will certainly benefit. The wizard and cleric are much more likely to be targeting saves.

Even so, you're getting 40% of a PC's damage output from the spell. Seems good. However, you're also using an action to do it; giving up whatever else you yourself might have done on the first round. In a three-round combat, that's 33% of your own damage output. In a fight that goes longer, of course, the tradeoff is smaller... if you are able to hold concentration. If a monster whacks you right after you cast it and your concentration breaks, you just wasted a whole round and did nothing.

Now, the benefits shoot up if someone is using the "-5/+10" feats, particularly against high-AC foes. You can avoid the "first-round" penalty if you're able to buff before combat. And you can build a caster to be good at holding concentration. All of these things are a good idea whether you're casting bless or not, so it isn't like you're going all-in on a narrow strategy by doing them; bless is a legit powerhouse in an optimized party. But most parties don't optimize like that.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

It gives an extra d4, that's not going to break bounded accuracy. Meanwhile, it ties up the caster's concentration.

This was my take exactly. Concentration is not “free.” No spirits guardians etc.

My other thoughts:

I would add that a holy man boldly praying and having and impact is not altogether a bad thing.

lastly, some of us play clerics very aggressively. I Will support others but am often looking to throw other impactful spells, divine strike or even at times grapple.

bless is a good option but I am not excited by tying up concentration as nauseam while others have all the fun. Sometimes, sure.

in early levels it is in less competition for me so more likely be to use but my bias is fun over pure efficiency.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

As I said in the other thread, bless is point on balance wise. It is about as impactful as a well placed burning hands/thunder wave/sleep/color spray at levels 1 and 2.
The power of bless has so many ifs attached, that overall it is a good spell but far away from broken.
One thing I forgot to mention: it does not increase the maximum damage you do, but it makes your damage more reliable. Other spells that cost concentration or your action actually increase the possible damage outbut. Making your heavy hitters 12.5% more accurare on average could just be spent on a sleep spell or even colour spray. In that round your heavy hitters have advantage on attacks and enemies can't cast spells that target creatures. 5d8/6d10 can take out the whole opposition at level 1.

Bless is really good for hard fights that drag over a few more turns ad where you might be able to precast it. But it is still a gamble as you can lose concentration on a lucky roll.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The effect it has on bounded accuracy is absurd once you get to the point a Cleric can consider using it in every combat.

Good. BA needs to die.

 

[Seramus]

Fey Touched to pick up Bless on a Warlock is downright orgasmic, assuming you don't mind doing the same thing over and over again.

 

[Undrave]

It's one of the few good Support spell in the game, it's fine if it's good.

 

[humble minion]

Fey Touched to pick up Bless on a Warlock is downright orgasmic, assuming you don't mind doing the same thing over and over again.

Though to be fair, if you don't like doing the same thing over and over again, playing a warlock might not be for you...

 

[Seramus]

Though to be fair, if you don't like doing the same thing over and over again, playing a warlock might not be for you...

I almost made that joke!
Eldritch Blast!
Eldritch Bla.....