D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook Reveal: "New Wizard"

"The paramount collector of spells."

Open your spellbooks, everybody. Today we get a Wizard video.


The last version of the class was in the UA Playtest 7 package (PT7). It's not clear how much they'll say here. Of the base class, I am hoping that they have recanted the level 5 ability, Memorize Spell (or perhaps shifted it to needing a short rest). They've said that the PHB will get clearer rules for how illusions work -- maybe they'll talk about that? Other than that, I think the most they can do is show us some revised spells: Will the revised version of Counterspell be kept? Any surprise Necromancy reveals? Let's find out.

OVERVIEW
  • "the paramount collector of spells": "many" of new spells are for the wizard.
  • As in PT7: cantrip change after long rest (level 1); scholar -- expertise in an academic field (at 2)
  • NO MENTION OF ARCANE RECOVERY
  • NEW: Ritual Adept broken out as a new class feature. They can cast spells in their spellbook, as before, but here ID'd as a new feature.
  • NEW: Memorize Spell at 5: you can swap a spell after short rest.
  • Each subclass gets a new version of Savant: free spells in spellbook of preferred school. 2 free spells of favored class, and a new spell for each spell level (so every 2 levels, as in the playtest. This isn't what is said in the video, but has been corrected elsewhere.
SUBCLASSES
Abjurer
  • new abjuration spells feeds back onto how subclass functions.
  • NEW: Arcane Ward at 3: resistance, immunity applied before the Arcane Ward.
  • NEW: Projected Ward a 6: your friend's resistance is applied before the ward for them.
  • NEW: Spell breaker at level 10: Counterspell and Dispell Magic are both prepared (PT7 did not include Counterspell). Dispell Magic is a bonus action.
Diviner
  • NEW: Third Eye at 10. As in PT7, bonus action to activate; 120' darkvision, see invisibility. NO MENTION of Greater Comprehension ("read any language")
Evoker -- "all about bringing the boom"
  • As in PT7: Potent Cantrip at 3 applies to cantrips both with a saving throw or an attack roll.
Illusionist -- "we felt that the subclass needed more" (YAY)
  • NEW: Improved Illusions at level 3:
    • cast illusion spells with no verbal components. (FUN)
    • illusions with range with at least 10' is increased to 60' (no-- by 60' to 70').
    • you get minor illusion cantrip, with both visual and audible
    • you cast minor illusion as a bonus action.
  • NEW: Phantasmal Creatures
    • summon beast and summon fey spells always prepared. These MAY BE changed from conjuration to Illusion, and the illusory version can be cast without expending a spell slot, but the summoned version, only with half the hit points. ONCE PER DAY.
    • illusions can step on a trap to set it off (?!)
    • (replacing Malleable Illusions, which I complained about here. This is so exciting.)
  • NEW: Illusory Self triggered by you being hit by an attack (not when you are targeted). As in PT7, you can get more uses by giving up a spell slot of level 2+.
SPECIFIC SPELLS
  • NEW: school shift to Abjuration: no examples
  • Counterspell as in PT7.
  • GUIDANCE ON ILLUSIONS in Rules Glossary. E.g. How are they affected by environment?
    • spell descriptions also clarified. Rules Glossary to be discussed in future video (also conditions, areas of effects, guidance on teleportation, telepathy, "
  • "being dead" to be discussed in Cleric Video. Tease...
So this gave much more than I was expecting, and it looks amazing. Playing an illusionist will now be much more clearly not a "mother may I?" situation, which (I feel) has long been the case. I think I got most of what I'd asked for in the PT feedback.
 

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Im arguing that Careful Spell is core for all sorcerers and affects other schools of magic for blasting or control for a single SP.
Sculpt Spell is limited to Evocation School and Evoker Subclass, so clearly the winner here is Careful Spell.
Yeah. I know. As does everyone else. Sculpt spell is still for free. If all you want to do is blast with evocation spells, careful spell is worse.
 

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Just FYI, Heightened is now limited to 1 target.

Not exactly bad to put on the big enemy while also hitting small ones, but it won't multiply when used with an AoE.

It's stronger but also more limited, Sculpt is at-will. You don't have infinite SP to use Careful on every blast, especially at low levels.
At will but it costs a subclass feature while careful is “free” and clearly stronger.
 

Just FYI, Heightened is now limited to 1 target.

Not exactly bad to put on the big enemy while also hitting small ones, but it won't multiply when used with an AoE.

It's stronger but also more limited, Sculpt is at-will. You don't have infinite SP to use Careful on every blast, especially at low levels.
Heightened is also down to 2 sorcery points and effects all saves by the spell.
 


Yeah. I know. As does everyone else. Sculpt spell is still for free. If all you want to do is blast with evocation spells, careful spell is worse.
Those are big caveats.

All you ever want to do is blast.
You only blast with evocation spells.
You only blast with AOE invocation spells.

I don’t they will be true.
 



I think people haven’t really looked at how much each metamagic option has been buffed.

I mean Even extended spell has been buffed to give you advantage on con saves for the spell you used with it.
Also… You do more damage if you are blasting first.
Distant Spell double its range. So, fireball is now 300ft, SS is also 300ft. You are now blasting faster and safer.

Yes, extended Spell double duration and advantage on con saves that the sorcerer is already has con proficiency.
 


Those are big caveats.

All you ever want to do is blast.
You only blast with evocation spells.
You only blast with AOE invocation spells.

I don’t they will be true.
Not quite.

You need to cast more than 1 AoE Evocation per level. So 7/11 slots used to blasts at level 6.

Also, Acid Splash is now an AoE Evocation cantrip.

You need to really like blasting, but sculpt spell can come out ahead.
 

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