D&D 5E A use for True Strike

[Asisreo]

This isn't an argument or anything, I think true strike is broken (in the underpowered way) but I think these combos are decent enough:

Level 3 sorcerer, Brass/Gold Draconic, Quickened & Twinned Metamagic. So, first round, cast Quickened Burning Hands and cast twinned True Strike as an action. Pray you don't get touched (you don't have to stay within the initial casting range, just be around 15ft away and use movement to be another 30ft for a total separation of 45 ft) and if you do get touched, enjoy your around +5-6 bonus to the concentration check. Next turn, cast Scorching Ray, your next attack for two targets have advantage and your third ray can double down anyone left. This did use 3 sorcery points so it's a good nova tactic but you still have a 2nd and 3 1st level spellslot which equates to about 5 more sorcery points if needed.

This thread isn't necessarily to "fix" true strike. I'm kinda curious if they're anymore action-efficient uses for true strike (aside from sneak attacks and casting before combat.)

 

[FrogReaver]

This isn't an argument or anything, I think true strike is broken (in the underpowered way) but I think these combos are decent enough:

Level 3 sorcerer, Brass/Gold Draconic, Quickened & Twinned Metamagic. So, first round, cast Quickened Burning Hands and cast twinned True Strike as an action. Pray you don't get touched (you don't have to stay within the initial casting range, just be around 15ft away and use movement to be another 30ft for a total separation of 45 ft) and if you do get touched, enjoy your around +5-6 bonus to the concentration check. Next turn, cast Scorching Ray, your next attack for two targets have advantage and your third ray can double down anyone left. This did use 3 sorcery points so it's a good nova tactic but you still have a 2nd and 3 1st level spellslot which equates to about 5 more sorcery points if needed.

This thread isn't necessarily to "fix" true strike. I'm kinda curious if they're anymore action-efficient uses for true strike (aside from sneak attacks and casting before combat.)

Wouldn't you have been better off just casting firebolt with quicken instead of true strike?

 

[Asisreo]

Wouldn't you have been better off just casting firebolt with quicken instead of true strike?

Perhaps, but it doesn't quite help with making sure the scorching rays (a limited resource) connect which would be more disappointing since at 3rd, a 2nd level slot is the highest spellslot.

 

[FrogReaver]

Perhaps, but it doesn't quite help with making sure the scorching rays (a limited resource) connect which would be more disappointing since at 3rd, a 2nd level slot is the highest spellslot.

When all the scorching ray spell does is damage it kind of does. You are worse off using the same strategy you just mentioned with true strike than using the same resources at the same time with firebolt.

 

[FrogReaver]

The only spell I can think of where using true strike might be advantageous would be inflict wounds. Giving advantage to a level 2 inflict wounds that will do 4d10 damage on a hit is fairly compelling.

That spell and cantrip aren't typically on the same spell lists though.

 

[Asisreo]

When all the scorching ray spell does is damage it kind of does. You are worse off using the same strategy you just mentioned with true strike than using the same resources at the same time with firebolt.

How so? What I mean is that whether or not firebolt hits, the scorching ray has no extra benefits. Scorching Ray is three attacks that do 2d6 each which has a higher average damage and higher max damage than a firebolt's 1d10. If all of these attack rolls hit, it's 1d10+6d6 damage but that's if they hit. If even one of the scorching rays miss, the damage would've been below the damage if only the three scorching rays hit without firebolt. Twinning true strike ensures two of the scorching rays have a target with advantage and increases the chances that all three hits.

 

[FrogReaver]

How so? What I mean is that whether or not firebolt hits, the scorching ray has no extra benefits. Scorching Ray is three attacks that do 2d6 each which has a higher average damage and higher max damage than a firebolt's 1d10. If all of these attack rolls hit, it's 1d10+6d6 damage but that's if they hit. If even one of the scorching rays miss, the damage would've been below the damage if only the three scorching rays hit without firebolt. Twinning true strike ensures two of the scorching rays have a target with advantage and increases the chances that all three hits.

Assuming 60% chance to hit
Twin True Strike + Scorching Ray DPR = 15.96
Twin Firebolt + Scorching Ray DPR = 19.2

That's a 20% increase if you just use firebolt instead of true strike.

2d10 + 4d6 is better than 4d6 at advantage

 

[jmartkdr2]

Another possible edge case: assuming you have a character built around greenflame blade, (ergo no Extra Attack) who also has the Elven Accuracy feat - could it be better to use true strike instead of attacking twice?

Assuming of course no other source of advantage is in play.

 

[Asisreo]

Assuming 60% chance to hit
Twin True Strike + Scorching Ray DPR = 15.96
Twin Firebolt + Scorching Ray DPR = 19.2

That's a 20% increase if you just use firebolt instead of true strike.

2d10 + 4d6 is better than 4d6 at advantage

Okay, so there's 2 things with that. 1: Technically Firebolt isn't a candidate to be twinned per the Sage Advice Compendium. Is it dumb? Yes. But that's how it is. 2: The probability calculations are a bit off. .6 is assuming the damage is a uniform thing between the two rounds but it's actually back-loaded where the higher damage is on round 2 with scorching rays. True strike increases the probability of the two scorching rays by an amount (that I need to reference) but firebolt just increases potential damage output. Like I said, it's worse if the scorching rays miss which they might compared to advantage.

 

[FrogReaver]

Okay, so there's 2 things with that. 1: Technically Firebolt isn't a candidate to be twinned per the Sage Advice Compendium.

Firebolt is a legitimate spell that can be twinned. No rulings about not twinning firebolt.

The probability calculations are a bit off

My DPR calculation is accurate (excluding crits).