Best Spells 0th-9th level

[turtle]

The thread about 5th level spells and the discussion of ghostform got me wondering... What spells of each level do you people think are the most powerful (overall)...

Personally, I think

Disrupt Undead is a useful 0th level
Color Spray is one of the best 1st level spells
Fly is one of the best 3rd level
Polymorph Other is one of the best 4th level spells
Time Stop is one of the best 9th level spells

I know this is subjective, but I want to power up my Wizard and I don't want to pass over good spells...

 

[Zappo]

Magic Missile at 1st.
Harm at 6th.
Invisibility at 2nd.
Haste at 3rd.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

1 - Color Spray, Magic Missile, Shield (+7 AC!)
2 - Invisibility, Rope Trick (no one will ever find you, works great for hiding out to ambush/assassinate someone, or for hiding out from pursuers--also a good place to rest to avoid wandering monsters)
3 - Fly, Haste, Lightning Bolt (better than fireball because you can cast it into melee without hitting your allies)
4 - Improved Invisibility, Polymorph Other, Polymorph Self, Stoneskin
5 - Teleport
6+ - I never got to play this high, unfortunately...

If you have Book of Eldritch Might (I), get Mark of Air (2nd level, gives +5 AC for 10 rounds). That spell rocks!

 

[FireLance]

2 - Alter Self

Possibly the most flexible low-level spell. Useful in many situations: whenever you need flight or water breathing capabilities, or for stealth, misdirection and disguise purposes.

 

[Carnifex]

Hmm, if using just spells from the core book (And I'll stick to arcane spells too):

1)Magic Missile
2)Alter Self (amazing utility)
3)Haste, baby, haste. Thing is though, there are *loads* of good 3rd level spells.
4)Polymorph Self
5)Hard one, but Hold Monster is solid.
6)Trying to think... Greater Dispel maybe?
7)Gotta love lvl 7 attack spells - Prismatic Spray, D.B.Fireball, etc. But I think Teleport w/o Error tops the 7th level spells.
8)I'm really not sure, for eight level. Prismatic Wall isn't bad...
9)Time Stop

 

[milo]

3rd-haste, fly
4th-improved ivisibility, stoneskin

These are the only four that really matter. It is nice to have magic missile, fireball, ice storm, and cone of cold to go with this.

 

[KDLadage]

Best Spells at each level:

Sticking with the Player's Handbook only, these would be my picks (my favorites, or ones I have seen used with great creativity):

Bard
--- Level 0: Daze
--- Level 1: either Mage Armor or Sleep
--- Level 2: either Cat's Grace or Bull's Strength
--- Level 3: Lesser Geas
--- Level 4: Modify Memory
--- Level 5: Mislead
--- Level 6: Geas/Quest

Cleric
--- Level 0: Create Water
--- Level 1: either Command or Sanctuary
--- Level 2: Death Knell
--- Level 3: Prayer
--- Level 4: Inflict/Cure Critical Wounds
--- Level 5: Greater Command
--- Level 6: Geas/Quest
--- Level 7: any of the series of spells Blasphemy, Dictum, Holy Word, and Word of Chaos
--- Level 8: Un/Holy Aura
--- Level 9: Implossion (too much fun!)

Druid
--- Level 0: Create Water
--- Level 1: Entangle
--- Level 2: Tree Shape
--- Level 3: Dominate Animal
--- Level 4: Giant Vermin
--- Level 5: Tree Stride
--- Level 6: Anti-life Shell
--- Level 7: Sunbeam
--- Level 8: Reverse Gravity
--- Level 9: Sympathy

Paladin
--- Level 1: Divine Favor
--- Level 2: Shield Other
--- Level 3: Prayer
--- Level 4: Holy Sword

Ranger
--- Level 1: Entangle
--- Level 2: Sleep
--- Level 3: Tree Shape
--- Level 4: Tree Stride

Wizard/Sorcerer
--- Level 0: Daze
--- Level 1: either Magic Missile or True Strike
--- Level 2: Invisibility
--- Level 3: either Fireball or Lightning Bolt
--- Level 4: Enervation
--- Level 5: Permanency
--- Level 6: Circle of Death
--- Level 7: either Limited Wish or Simulacrum
--- Level 8: Trap the Soul
--- Level 9: either Timestop or Wish

 

[Voadam]

For 0 it varies depending on the character.

If you are a rogue wizard then ray of frost for sneak attacks.

At low levels daze is pretty good,

I like the general utility of detect magic.

First level Magic missile

second level I like invis, web and knock.

third level haste, fly, and a boomer (either fireball or lightning bolt)

Fourth poly other, stoneskin, charm monster, improved invisibility and I like the flexibility of the one action shadow conjuration.

Fifth, feeblemind is a gross spell caster shutdown but I consider fifth flexible for choices.

Sixth analyze dweomer is great, true seeing, and I find great uses for permanent and programmed illusions.

Seventh power word stun, teleport without error, limited wish

eighth mind blank, poly any object, symbol

ninth foresight, wish,

 

[sircaren]

I've always been a huge fan of Grease .

 

[KDLadage]

I've always been a huge fan of Grease .

Grease is a multifaceted spell, to be sure...

Grease is the word, is the word that you heard
It's got groove, it's got meaning
Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion
Grease is the way we are feeling