Best 1st level combat spell for 1st level caster?

[Venator]

Color Spray and Sleep.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Oh yeah, as a second choice after Color Spray I have to go with Magic Missile. Guaranteed damage is *nice*, even if only 1d4+1 at first level.

MM has saved my party countless times from incorporeals, concealed (normally 20% miss chance) monsters, fleeing foes, etc. Old Reliable is just plain handy.

 

[brehobit]

So color spray is really nice, but the very short range makes it tough to pull off. The full-round action factor of sleep and hail of stone make them hard to use effectively IME. Grease is hard to argue with AND unlike the others, it remains useful pretty much forever. (A quickened grease is a reasonable use of a 5th level slot once you hit 12th or so.) But I still think 1d8 damage (at first level) in a 10' radius of untyped damage is darn handy at 1st level...

Mark

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Sleep is great. Being able to single-handedly drop up to four foes of the CR you're likely to be facing ... that's impressive.

Recent "Sage Advice" just turned grease into an incredibly powerful first-level spell for fighting higher CR creatures -- as opposed to the well-balanced and interesting spell it always was -- but you'll need a sneak-attacker to enjoy its full effect.

 

[nittanytbone]

Mount is good for the long duration. Its a big sack of Hit Points that hits hard if it gets scared or angry and it lasts for an hour.

 

[Thanee]

Recent "Sage Advice" just turned grease into an incredibly powerful first-level spell for fighting higher CR creatures -- as opposed to the well-balanced and interesting spell it always was -- but you'll need a sneak-attacker to enjoy its full effect.

Have they clarified the balancing issues?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Asmo]

Another vote for Grease.

Asmo

 

[Aus_Snow]

Color Spray. . . eighthed? - something like that.

That would always be #1 in 3e, I think.

 

[Sound of Azure]

1st level war human warmage 18int with precious apprentice feat n PBS using scorching ray (ok its second level)

4d6+4+1PBS.....kills the BBEG of the 1st level dungeon if it hits (which it will as u cast true strike last round)

JohnD

Tee hee. That's just.... precious!

Um... Yeah, another vote for Colour Spray and/or Sleep.