D&D 5E Arcane Recovery strategy

[Swarmkeeper]

This also applies to 5e2024.
You're playing a 7th level Wizard (subclass doesn't matter but feel free to explain how it might in the comments).

So far, during your adventuring day you've used:

• all four 1st level spell slots
• two 2nds
• one 3rd, and
• your only 4th level slot

This leaves you with no 1st level slots, one 2nd level slot, two 3rd level slots, and no 4th level slot.

The party successfully takes a Short Rest so you can recover spell slots with a combined level equal to four (half your wizard level rounded up).
Which spell slots do you choose to recover and why?

 

[Mistwell]

It absolutely depends on how many slots you find you're using for the Shield spell. If you're not needing that very often, it's the 4th level slot. If I am, it's at least some if not all the first level slots.

 

[TwoSix]

Assuming I don't have pre-knowledge of the type of encounters that might be coming, a 1st and a 3rd. One cast of shield/absorb elements/silvery barbs for emergencies, and you tend to get the most bang for your buck from 3rd level slots.

If you do have some idea of upcoming encounters, than obviously the situation is a lot more nuanced than that.

 

[Charlaquin]

It depends on my prepared spells, and also what has happened in the adventure so far, as that could give me an indication of what to expect next.

 

[jgsugden]

The answer would depend on additional factors. Are we prepping for one more combat before a rest? Or do we think there may be many more? Or none and I'm just preparing spells that would help with social or exploration activities? What spells do I have prepared? In truth, I think my approach would change often between times this situation arose. Do I expect I'd have time to ritual cast spells? Do I know what types of foes I might be facing (if any) and what spells deal with their capabilities best?

I don't think I'd be doing this in the absence of any expectation as to what is to come soon, but if I were, I'd likely favor the 3 and 1 as a default - one spell to be significant in combat situations (slot 3), and a second to help deal with utility situations in and out of combat (slot 1).

 

[James Gasik]

Maybe it's just my spell selection, but on my Wizard, the 3rd-level spell slots are more valuable than my 4th-level ones. I can usually toss out a slow or fireball in most combats, but my polymorph and sickening radiance have more niche uses (I tend to use polymorph if someone is low on hit points/resources, and sickening radiance has a large enough area that I have to be careful to avoid friendly fire). So I'd take the 3rd and the 1st.

 

[Stormonu]

Probably two 1st and a 2nd. Mainly for the 1st in case Shield is needed, and 2nd lets me cast Invisibility.

 

[Shiroiken]

Lots of factors here, but in general the higher level spell slot is going to be better. However, 4th level spells generally feel like they punch below their weight, and 3rd level spells feel like they punch above their weight. Because of this, I'd probably go with a 3rd and a 1st. If a 5th level slot was an option, I'd take that over a 4th and a 1st, or a 3rd and two 1sts.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Assuming I don't have pre-knowledge of the type of encounters that might be coming, a 1st and a 3rd. One cast of shield/absorb elements/silvery barbs for emergencies, and you tend to get the most bang for your buck from 3rd level slots.

If you do have some idea of upcoming encounters, than obviously the situation is a lot more nuanced than that.

1st and 3rd level slots tend to be comparatively powerful spell levels.

 

[DeviousQuail]

I went one 2nd and two 1st level spells. 3rd level spells are some of the best bang for your buck spells around. But I've still got two of them remaining, whereas I'm mostly or completely drained everywhere else. I'd only take the single 4th level spell if I knew what was coming and had the right spell prepared for it. Four 1st level spells is nice. I just like the trade off with a 2nd level spell to open up more variety.