D&D 5E Do magic missiles automatically hit

[aramis erak]

of course.
it did 1d6+1 damage

not 1d4+1 like the later 1edADnD.

And it does not SAY it needs a roll to hit.

Supplement 1: Grayhawk - p. 22

Magic Missile: This is a conjured missile equivalent to a magic arrow, and it does full damage (2-7 points) to any creature it strikes. For every five levels the magic-user has attained he may add an additional two missiles when employing this spell, so a 6th level magic-user may cast three magic missiles at his target, an 11th level magic-user casts five, and so on. Range 15".​

Supplement 2 allows Monks a save vs Spells to dodge.

AD&D 1E is clearer. AD&D 1E PHB 67

Use of the magic missile spell creates one or more magical missiles which dart forth from the magic-user's fingertip and unerringly strike their target. Each missile does 2 to 5 hit points (d4+1) of damage. If the magic-user has multiple missile capability, he or she can have them strike a single target creature or several creatures, as desired. For each level of experience of the magic-user, the range of his or her magic missile extends 1" beyond the 6" base range. For every 2 levels of experience, the magic-user gains an additional missile, i.e. 2 at 3rd level, 3 at 5th level, 4 at 7th level, etc.​

 

[Tormyr]

I really like this idea of how wizard students learn. I don't know what reasoning was given for giving Wizard students a 1st level slot before they have access to cantrips. But I can see how, before you internalize a simple spell (or three) you have to learn how to cast slightly more powerful spell once. Learn magic missile first, then you can internalize Ray of Frost.

It's like teaching C before you learn Python.

I meant they had only 1 first level slot before all they had left were 2 cantrips (just so they were not completely useless for the rest of the encounter).

 

[fanboy2000]

I meant they had only 1 first level slot before all they had left were 2 cantrips (just so they were not completely useless for the rest of the encounter).

This just isn't my day.

That said, I'm stealing my own idea born out of misunderstanding.

 

[doctorhook]

Disagree. The DM's job is to set the tone, setting, narrate the story, describe the world, whatever, and challenge the characters. It's the player's job to keep their character alive. (Though granted in the above situation there wasn't really a chance in Hell of that happening it doesn't sound like.)

DM'ing is definitely an art, with a lot of room for judgement and subjectivity on the part of the DM in the context of his game group. That said, I definitely subscribe to a similar philosophy to your own.

TL;DR: Me too.

I was in the middle of making the following post, when I started thinking about it and looking for examples, when I realized in this edition it is wrong.

It is better to say they automatically damage. Since there is no attack roll, they don't trigger things that say "on a hit".


In 5e Magic Missiles do automatically "hit", this doesn't do much as there is very little other effects that could trigger on a spell hit that is not built into the spell.

Two of the interesting ones I found were the rogue assassin subclass ability "assassinate" that turns any hit on a surprised creature into a critical hit and attacking an unconscious creature while within five feet of it that also turns any hit into a critical hit. So normally a magic missile spell can not critically hit because there is no attack roll, these two exceptions allow the spell to.

I think you're spot-on that magic missile shouldn't "hit" (in the rules-sense of the word), it should just auto-damage. I'm inclined to say it shouldn't even grant a critical under the circumstances you outlined; I prefer magic missile to target only creatures, and only their centers-of-mass, as pure, unadulterated, uncomplicated damage. I might make an exception for a rogue/wizard character who emphasizes their mastery of this spell or something.

Yeah ... dead players really sucks the wind out of a game...

XP'd ye.

I really like this idea of how wizard students learn. I don't know what reasoning was given for giving Wizard students a 1st level slot before they have access to cantrips. But I can see how, before you internalize a simple spell (or three) you have to learn how to cast slightly more powerful spell once. Learn magic missile first, then you can internalize Ray of Frost.

It's like teaching C before you learn Python.

But I learned C before Python. Wait, that was your point.

I see that you're a polar bear. Can you teach me ray of frost now?

 

[fanboy2000]

But I learned C before Python. Wait, that was your point.

I'm not sure I had one.

I see that you're a polar bear. Can you teach me ray of frost now?

Sure, meet me in Deadhorse, Alaska in a week. Dress warmly.

 

[Piratecat]

I actually used this idea tonight with my 15th level party of heroes -- an archmage with a coterie of 20 apprentices, all of which had magic missile. Casting simultaneously they cast 60 missiles, averaging 210 hp. They aimed it at the summoned elemental, though, not at the PCs -- and anyways, they kept their boss safe while he cast meteor swarm on a mansion and followed it up with earthquake.

Urban renewal.

The PCs didn't pick a fight, so they didn't face off. One fireball could have wiped out the apprentices, so it would have been a case where initiative would have really mattered.

 

[Stalker0]

My favorite use of magic missile. I created these aberrations. Small black creatures with no eyes, and just a giant row of teeth set in an eternal smile. Very creepy. They would point their claws at people and make a swiping motion. Then claw marks would appear on the players bodies and do damage.


Players were freaking out "What do you mean it just did damage, no attack roll!"

The whole time it was just at-will magic missile, and only 3 missiles at that. Its all in the packaging.

 

[Piratecat]

**slow clap**

 

[PeelSeel2]

.....Players were freaking out "What do you mean it just did damage, no attack roll!"

The whole time it was just at-will magic missile, and only 3 missiles at that. Its all in the packaging.

Repackage a beholder as a human arch-mage and they really freak out! "How can he cast that many spells in a round?!? TOTALLY unfair!!"

 

[Piratecat]

Repackage a beholder as a human arch-mage and they really freak out! "How can he cast that many spells in a round?!? TOTALLY unfair!!"

I once repackaged a beholder as nearly a dozen dead wizards necromantically sewn together into a single levitating arcane golem's body, heads and arms sprouting off the torso at weird angles, each with wands or a hand to cast with. Completely freaked them out.