D&D (2024) +Caster Single Target Damage+

[FrogReaver]

Thread is intended to be a + thread where we optimize caster single target encounter damage and discuss the implications when comparing this with martial damage. The idea is for the + to short circuit all the comments like 'doing damage with a caster is bad' or 'why not control'. Etc. My focus is for level 1-10, feel free to go higher if you want. Preferably the combos being used are repeatable, but not necessarily for 6-8 encounters a day.

My initial thoughts:

Cleric
War Cleric - Spirit Guardians, True Strike (magic initiate), spiritual weapon (when used with the War Cleric level 6 feature it doesn't require concentration.

3d8 save for half (spirit guardians, level 5, can be 4d8 for 1 encounter) + 1d8+4 (spiritual weapon, level 6) + 1d8+4 (attack) + 1d6 (true strike bonus, magic initiate feat) + 1d8 (blessed strikes, level 7)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 10.8 + 5.1 + 9.9 = 25.8 DPR

Damage will also continue to scale decently with higher slots used for spirit guards, more true strike and blessed strike damage bonuses.

Wizard
Evocation Wizard - Summon Fey, True Strike, Evocation savant.

2d6+3+3 (summon fey, lvl 3) + 1d8+1d6+4 (true strike)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 10.92 + 7.2 + 2.4 = 20.52

Damage really ramps up if you can use summon fey in a 4th level slot = 29.76

Druid
Circle of Stars Druid - Starry Form Archer, Conjure Animals (better than summon fey in a 3rd level slot, slightly worse single target in a 4th level slot), true strike (magic initiate), Elemental Fury primal strike

3d10 save for half (Conjure Animals), 1d8+4 (Starry Form Archer), 1d8+4+1d6 (true strike) + 1d8 (primal strike)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 13.2 + 5.1 + 7.2 +2.7 = 28.2

*Moon Druid may ultimately end up higher single target damage (need to see new beast monsters to know for sure).

Initial Takeaways
These numbers tend to be competitive with martial damage at these levels from what I've seen. And while it can't be kept up all day, it probably won't need to be. Sometimes options other than high damage will be more useful, it's just good to know the damage is there if you need it. AOE and Control are still usually strong options.

Though such high caster damage potential does make me think martials are a clear step behind.

 

[FrogReaver]

Reserved. Plan to post combos here as they come up.

 

[FrogReaver]

Reserved. Plan to post more combos here as they come up.

 

[FrogReaver]

Please discuss!

 

[Mistwell]

Thread is intended to be a + thread where we optimize caster single target encounter damage and discuss the implications when comparing this with martial damage. The idea is for the + to short circuit all the comments like 'doing damage with a caster is bad' or 'why not control'. Etc. My focus is for level 1-10, feel free to go higher if you want. Preferably the combos being used are repeatable, but not necessarily for 6-8 encounters a day.

My initial thoughts:

Cleric
War Cleric - Spirit Guardians, True Strike (magic initiate),

I see no reason to spend the feat on Magic Initiate, when you can just be an Elf (High) and retrain the cantrip to be True Strike. That allows you to pick another feat that can help DPR like Lucky or Musician for advantage/re-rolls on attacks.

spiritual weapon (when used with the War Cleric level 6 feature it doesn't require concentration.

3d8 save for half (spirit guardians, level 5, can be 4d8 for 1 encounter) + 1d8+4 (spiritual weapon, level 6) + 1d8+4 (attack) + 1d6 (true strike bonus, magic initiate feat) + 1d8 (blessed strikes, level 7)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 10.8 + 5.1 + 9.9 = 25.8 DPR

Damage will also continue to scale decently with higher slots used for spirit guards, more true strike and blessed strike damage bonuses.

Wizard
Evocation Wizard - Summon Fey, True Strike, Evocation savant.

2d6+3+3 (summon fey, lvl 3) + 1d8+1d6+4 (true strike)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 10.92 + 7.2 + 2.4 = 20.52

Damage really ramps up if you can use summon fey in a 4th level slot = 29.76

Druid
Circle of Stars Druid - Starry Form Archer, Conjure Animals (better than summon fey in a 3rd level slot, slightly worse single target in a 4th level slot), true strike (magic initiate), Elemental Fury primal strike

3d10 save for half (Conjure Animals), 1d8+4 (Starry Form Archer), 1d8+4+1d6 (true strike) + 1d8 (primal strike)
Assuming 60% chance to hit = 13.2 + 5.1 + 7.2 +2.7 = 28.2

*Moon Druid may ultimately end up higher single target damage (need to see new beast monsters to know for sure).

Initial Takeaways
These numbers tend to be competitive with martial damage at these levels from what I've seen. And while it can't be kept up all day, it probably won't need to be. Sometimes options other than high damage will be more useful, it's just good to know the damage is there if you need it.

This is a good start. Nice analysis. This is around level 7?

 

[FrogReaver]

I see no reason to spend the feat on Magic Initiate, when you can just be an Elf (High) and retrain the cantrip to be True Strike. That allows you to pick another feat that can help DPR like Lucky or Musician for advantage/re-rolls on attacks.

Great Call! EDIT: Wanted to add i was thinking human with the additional origin feat for the magic initiate wizard. True Strike and Shield spell seemed really appealing.

This is a good start. Nice analysis. This is around level 7?

Mostly, I think all the ones above I'm calculating through level 7 (though for full casters i'm using the level 3 spell slot mostly (though i might make a note if a level 4 spell or slot significantly buffs the damage, it's just you have so few 4th level slots).

I'm interested in other levels too though.

 

[mellored]

Valor 10/Dragon Sorcerer 5/Warlock 2/Oath of Vengence 3

Conjure Minor Elemental + Pact of the Blade + Attack with Eldritch Blast + Quicken Eldritch Blast + Vow of Enmity.

9 attacks dealing 1d10+5+12d8 damage, with advantage. +15 per turn.

 

[FrogReaver]

Valor 10/Dragon Sorcerer 5/Warlock 2/Oath of Vengence 3

Conjure Minor Elemental + Pact of the Blade + Attack with Eldritch Blast + Quicken Eldritch Blast + Vow of Enmity.

9 attacks dealing 1d10+5+12d8 damage, with advantage. +15 per turn.

how would the evocation wizard level 3 ability interact with that? Would it be half of 1d10+5+12d8 on a miss?

 

[Ashrym]

CME on a Valor Bard and Warlock splash is going to be a solid base. I expect errata at some point.

Valor Bard still works decently well on it's own for people who don't want to multi-class.

CME + Extra Attack with Truestrike + the Nick trick thru a feat + Battle Magic produces 4 weapon attacks by 14th level and Magic Initiate can pick up Shillelagh for 3 of them.

3d12+15+1d4+8d8+2d6 with a 4th level slot at 14th level. 6d6+15+1d4+16d8+3d6 with a 5th level slot at 17th level.

 

[FrogReaver]

CME on a Valor Bard and Warlock splash is going to be a solid base. I expect errata at some point.

Valor Bard still works decently well on it's own for people who don't want to multi-class.

CME + Extra Attack with Truestrike + the Nick trick thru a feat + Battle Magic produces 4 weapon attacks by 14th level and Magic Initiate can pick up Shillelagh for 3 of them.

3d12+15+1d4+8d8+2d6 with a 4th level slot at 14th level. 6d6+15+1d4+16d8+3d6 with a 5th level slot at 17th level.

While maybe not quite as strong i think a moon druid in a 3 attack (possibly will be a 4 attack one in the new MM) makes a much more straightforward way to build such a character. And it will still be plenty strong.