D&D 5E Elemental Evil companion spells underwhelming?

[houser2112]

But Snilloc's isn't just inferior to Shatter, it's inferior to Ice Knife cast with a level 2 slot. Unless you really, really need that 30 range. It's hard to imagine anybody spending a precious known spell to take it.

In addition to Shadowdweller00's point, SSS is Evocation, which makes it more attractive to an Evoker Wizard.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

SSS also works better with a sorcerer's Elemental Affinity class features. Many of the elemental spells take that into account in their balance.

 

[Savevsdeath]

I dunno, i have a necromancer wizard who's been using Create Bonfire and Control Flames to great effect as crowd control tools (he focuses on fire spells in addition to normal necromancy stuff for flavor reasons), spreading smokin' hot fiery death around in battle and being a very effective tool in many situations out of it (try setting someone's crotch on fire, and if your Dm doesn't give you advantage on the intimidate check, he's full of it), though admittedly the character is one I play in a persistent chat game that's mainly city-based. In fact, as soon as I saw those cantrips I had to have them. They're amazingly easy to use as game-changers if you're smart, especially if you use them in addition to a flask or two of oil. one square of fire may not seem like much, but when used intelligently it's absolutely deadly. I'm thinking about having him pick up elemental adept just so he can deal with the fire-resistant enemies he will surely begin to encounter pretty soon.

 

[houser2112]

SSS also works better with a sorcerer's Elemental Affinity class features. Many of the elemental spells take that into account in their balance.

How so? Both spells cast at 2nd level deal 3d6 cold damage to the affected targets. I'm AFB right now, but I don't think Elemental Affinity interacts with saves at all, which is the only aspect of the cold damage portion of ice knife (no damage on Dex save) which is different than sss (half damage on Dex save).

 

[Sword of Spirit]

How so? Both spells cast at 2nd level deal 3d6 cold damage to the affected targets. I'm AFB right now, but I don't think Elemental Affinity interacts with saves at all, which is the only aspect of the cold damage portion of ice knife (no damage on Dex save) which is different than sss (half damage on Dex save).

Elemental Affinity does interact with saves, so they will be taking your Cha mod in extra damage regardless of whether or not they save.

 

[Uchawi]

At least casters get new spells.

 

[houser2112]

Elemental Affinity does interact with saves, so they will be taking your Cha mod in extra damage regardless of whether or not they save.

I'm no longer AFB, so let's see...

Elemental Affinity
Starting at 6th level, when you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, add your Charisma modifier to that damage. At the same time, you can spend 1 sorcery point to gain resistance to that damage type for 1 hour.

Nothing there mentioning saves. I would love for it to work like you think it does, but I don't think that's the case.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I'm no longer AFB, so let's see...
Nothing there mentioning saves. I would love for it to work like you think it does, but I don't think that's the case.

Okay, I misread it a bit. The Cha mod will be added to the total damage, which means you'd be taking about half of it on a successful save. That still gives SSS a leg up since you are taking the elemental damage (and hence, half of the Charisma mod) on a successful save.

 

[famousringo]

Okay, I misread it a bit. The Cha mod will be added to the total damage, which means you'd be taking about half of it on a successful save. That still gives SSS a leg up since you are taking the elemental damage (and hence, half of the Charisma mod) on a successful save.

Ah, but Ice Knife is Twinnable...

Although it seems a little cheesy to me that you could twin Ice Knife to hit two targets next to each other and they'd each be hit by two AoEs. I can see a lot of DMs ruling the knives are Twinabble but the explosions are not, or something.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Ah, but Ice Knife is Twinnable...

Although it seems a little cheesy to me that you could twin Ice Knife to hit two targets next to each other and they'd each be hit by two AoEs. I can see a lot of DMs ruling the knives are Twinabble but the explosions are not, or something.

True--but that does require expending a limited resource.