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D&D 5E Dnd's Most Deadly Spell - MAGIC MISSILE!


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Rune

Once A Fool
Indeed. As I recall there was an official ruling that each missile counts separately for purposes of forcing the target to make concentration checks, so presumably if you hit a downed target with them, each missile causes a failed death save.
Since you mention it, I always wonder why no wizard in an official D&D adventure ever seems to have shield prepared — or even in their spellbook. Seems like a pretty big oversight.
 

GuyBoy

Hero
As I recall, it was rarely taken in 1E in the groups I gamed with. D4+1 just didn’t cut it compared with sleep for example, which was almost a “save or die” situationally.
From 3e onwards, I’ve rarely known a mage not take it.
 


My bard always used it against spellcasters.
In ADnD magic missile at level 9 was one of the best ways to deal with enemy high level spellcasters. An initiative modifier of 1 and the ability to split it was more effective than 5e counterspell.

High level spells had higher ini modifiers. So your chance to disable up to 5 spellcasters each round was incredibly useful.
 


A few crabs are a deadly fight to the average commoner, so they really ought to be terrified of all living things.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion taught us this lesson years ago.

FEAR THE MUDCRAB!!!

===

On topic - that classic picture of Emikol the Chaotic blasting people in the city? Sure, it may look like some kind of ray spell. But we all know in our hearts he's using the most gangsta of all spells, MAGIC FREAKIN' MISSILE.

Emirikol-1e.jpg
 
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doctorbadwolf

Heretic of The Seventh Circle
A few crabs are a deadly fight to the average commoner, so they really ought to be terrified of all living things.
This is why I just don’t listen to the official stats for commoners. Instead, 1st level PCs aren’t special when it comes to HP. (Well high con Barbarians still are way outside the norm)

Basically they all have d8 hit die starting HP, unless they’re noticeably frail.

The idea of almost anything having 1 HP is just silly to me. The cat can kill another cat with one non even especially precise strike? Really?
 

In 5e, it's great against enemy casters (barring use of the shield spell), because it will provoke three separate concentration checks.

My bard always used it against spellcasters.
In ADnD magic missile at level 9 was one of the best ways to deal with enemy high level spellcasters. An initiative modifier of 1 and the ability to split it was more effective than 5e counterspell.
 

Stalker0

Legend
This is why I just don’t listen to the official stats for commoners. Instead, 1st level PCs aren’t special when it comes to HP. (Well high con Barbarians still are way outside the norm)

Basically they all have d8 hit die starting HP, unless they’re noticeably frail.

The idea of almost anything having 1 HP is just silly to me. The cat can kill another cat with one non even especially precise strike? Really?
Well if you want the truly definitive answer.....

 

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