D&D 5E Blade Ward cantrip

[SgtShellback]

Yeah, that does sound a bit OP.

 

[brehobit]

In combination with Armor of Agathys it is pretty good. Especially against mindless opponents. Better than Dodge by a long ways.

Not a common case, but it isn't useless for a Warlock.

 

[Stalker0]

Seems like the best use for this is the "kick in the door scenario".

Party is behind a door, about to break in to a room full of baddies. Put blade ward up, so that the first round you have resistance

 

[ExploderWizard]

I had forgotten it was weapons only...man that is bad.

At first I thought it was good for traps or for falling damage, but it wouldn't help on those.

Depends on the trap. A scything blade IS a weapon, as is a spear jutting out from a wall or even a large falling boulder.

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

It's heavily situational, which I think is ok, if you're willing to spend your cantrip slot on that. I don't know how it could be made better without also being made mandatory-level good.

 

[Zaukrie]

I almost used it.....I was going to cast it, walk onto a group of mooks, then next round cast that first level spell that has arms of force within 10.....but was not sure i could take 8 attacks even with resistance.

 

[marcelos]

It's heavily situational, which I think is ok, if you're willing to spend your cantrip slot on that. I don't know how it could be made better without also being made mandatory-level good.

Exactly my problem. Someone suggested to turn the duration to concentration 1 minute, but this would turn this cantrip into obligatory buff for every mage.

I am thinking about turning it to concentration, but you lose the spell as soon as you take any weapon damage (no CON check).

 

[I'm A Banana]

I've got a valor bard who has made occasional use of it. It's a good defensive option when you actually want to drop the damage you take, such as when your HP have been walloped on or when you're about to be the target of a dozen slings and arrows.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

Dodge, unlike, Blade Ward, does not work against enemies you can't see or while one's movement is reduced to 0. So Blade Ward has the benefit of functioning while grappled, restrained, blinded, against hidden or invisible foes, and/or while in heavy obscurement (such as magical darkness). I expect there ARE actually a set of attack bonuses and armor classes at which a 50% damage reduction IS actually better than disadvantage on attack rolls. Though I have not done the math and thus do not know how practical such situations really are. Nor how threatening.

But, yes, dodge will be better in most cases.

 

[Klaus]

I've got a valor bard who has made occasional use of it. It's a good defensive option when you actually want to drop the damage you take, such as when your HP have been walloped on or when you're about to be the target of a dozen slings and arrows.

Yeah, halving damage also reduces the chance of dropping to 0hp and rollover damage hitting your instant death threshold.