There are lots of utility spells which rock their particular niche. (Plant Growth's area works out to 500 acres!) Which spells have more uses than a Swiss Army knife? ...Yes, I know, Wish. Okay, which lower-level spells?
Guidance, the cleric cantrip: if there is a cleric in your party, do you ever make any noncombat skill check without guidance? Enhance Ability is also rather good, and the two can be used together, but Enhance costs a slot or a scroll, so save it for the more important checks.
Illusion magic, as a general category for influencing NPC behavior out of combat, has been discussed in many venues. Is there anything specific to the 5E lineup of Illusions? Same for influence/charm magic. Strongest-for-its-level, I'd say, is Suggestion, because 8-hour duration. "If you'll take me where you keep your most valuable treasure, we can make extra sure it's safe." Entering Phlan, stopped at a Black Guard checkpoint: "These aren't the constructs you're looking for."
3rd level Conjure Beast gives you a lot of options. Horses carry you overland, badgers dig, nightingales sing, bloodhounds track, eagles can see for miles, owls scout silently in darkness, packrats pass through small spaces to scout indoors and steal small items, woodchucks chuck wood, dolphins scout underwater and/or fend off sharks after that shipwreck, honey badgers have Epic apathy*, and so on. I imagine that a pair of giant eagles could carry a PC; if you interpret LOTR as canon, then it only takes one Giant Eagle to carry an unarmored, unencumbered human or dwarf. You could Conjure horses, then sell them for quick cash - but you'd better be disguised, or about to leave town anyways. You could, more honestly, Conjure animals and then rent their services.
4th level Polymorph ("Polymorph Into Beast") subsumes Water Walk, Water Breathing, Spider Climb, Jump, etc. Now that you're not limited to CR2, you can become an elephant, if you have a reason to carry tons or break down walls. Need a mount? Become your own warhorse, camel, etc. You can't spellcast as a flying beast, but if you can poly into a Roc then you can carry the whole party. As a Giant Ape, you throw rocks like a living catapult. As a T-rex, you win the village's annual "who can eat the most hot dogs" competition... as long as you have a way to get them into your mouth, other than with your inadequate forelimbs.
Polymorph Into Beast does not subsume Speak with Animals or Animal Friendship, but it could help in some interactions. Contrariwise, becoming a giant scorpion might disproportionately terrify a horde of giant spiders, when they recognize you as their natural predator.
*Honey badger don't care.
Guidance, the cleric cantrip: if there is a cleric in your party, do you ever make any noncombat skill check without guidance? Enhance Ability is also rather good, and the two can be used together, but Enhance costs a slot or a scroll, so save it for the more important checks.
Illusion magic, as a general category for influencing NPC behavior out of combat, has been discussed in many venues. Is there anything specific to the 5E lineup of Illusions? Same for influence/charm magic. Strongest-for-its-level, I'd say, is Suggestion, because 8-hour duration. "If you'll take me where you keep your most valuable treasure, we can make extra sure it's safe." Entering Phlan, stopped at a Black Guard checkpoint: "These aren't the constructs you're looking for."
3rd level Conjure Beast gives you a lot of options. Horses carry you overland, badgers dig, nightingales sing, bloodhounds track, eagles can see for miles, owls scout silently in darkness, packrats pass through small spaces to scout indoors and steal small items, woodchucks chuck wood, dolphins scout underwater and/or fend off sharks after that shipwreck, honey badgers have Epic apathy*, and so on. I imagine that a pair of giant eagles could carry a PC; if you interpret LOTR as canon, then it only takes one Giant Eagle to carry an unarmored, unencumbered human or dwarf. You could Conjure horses, then sell them for quick cash - but you'd better be disguised, or about to leave town anyways. You could, more honestly, Conjure animals and then rent their services.
4th level Polymorph ("Polymorph Into Beast") subsumes Water Walk, Water Breathing, Spider Climb, Jump, etc. Now that you're not limited to CR2, you can become an elephant, if you have a reason to carry tons or break down walls. Need a mount? Become your own warhorse, camel, etc. You can't spellcast as a flying beast, but if you can poly into a Roc then you can carry the whole party. As a Giant Ape, you throw rocks like a living catapult. As a T-rex, you win the village's annual "who can eat the most hot dogs" competition... as long as you have a way to get them into your mouth, other than with your inadequate forelimbs.
Polymorph Into Beast does not subsume Speak with Animals or Animal Friendship, but it could help in some interactions. Contrariwise, becoming a giant scorpion might disproportionately terrify a horde of giant spiders, when they recognize you as their natural predator.
*Honey badger don't care.
Last edited:
