D&D 5E (2024) Is the new spell Transfixed overpowered?

[Mort]

So when I was asking if it was OP, I was thinking about the PCs using it. Bad guys using it is pretty weak IMO.

A Charisma save is a pretty good save to target for bad guys, but it is a weak save to target against PCs I think, also PCs have tons of ways to break a charm (aside from some races flat having advantage). Also it is not enough damage against PCs, someone casting this could be a side player or a henchman for a much stronger Big Bad, but I don't think this works well at all on a boss.

Definitely not that strong against PCs unless the situation is optimal (an AoO death funnel might be an interesting set up)

Again, I think it fits as a 7th level spell, but it's just not OP. And it's one of those spells where if the caster, or even their allies, get careless it can do more harm then good. As in baddie gets close to caster and caster loses concentration.

 

[Zardnaar]

So when I was asking if it was OP, I was thinking about the PCs using it. Bad guys using it is pretty weak IMO.

A Charisma save is a pretty good save to target for bad guys, but it is a weak save to target against PCs I think, also PCs have tons of ways to break a charm (aside from some races flat having advantage). Also it is not enough damage against PCs, someone casting this could be a side player or a henchman for a much stronger Big Bad, but I don't think this works well at all on a boss.

Fairly useless vs boss. Sucks up a legendary saves. Even if depleted theres other spells that do something similar and hit minions.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So can the boss, and Legendary Actions are only a joke if you don't use them for powerful actions.

So, as long as you replace what’s in the rules with things like “do a million hp of damage”!

So don't use it on a squishy caster? Like...no boss should be squishy anyway.

All bosses are squishy when the PCs unload everything they have at them. You would need to give them around ten times as many hp as suggested by the CR and immunity to all conditions to keep them alive for long enough for Transfixed to do anything more than paint a sign on their back, and by the time you have done that, why are they messing around with this pathetic spell?!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think it fits as a 7th level spell

I do think the reason this and other 7th level spells are in this book is there are only a couple of good ones in the PHB.

 

[Zardnaar]

I do think the reason this and other 7th level spells are in this book is there are only a couple of good ones in the PHB.

I'm not convinced its even that good.

Its only single target. They fail theyre kinda screwed. Common immunity plus legendary saves.

Anything vulnerable to this os probably vulnerable to mental saves in general. Pick your favorite hoser of choice.

Its big advantage is targets cha instead of wisdom tier 4.

Even if you use it every round to hit another target its consuming your action as well.

Is it better than upcast lower level spells. Eg hold monster, banishment etc.

Probably compare with soells targeting cha or int tbf.

Its it better than an upcast summons for an hour or two? Always reliable.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Alright, well I got to read the actual text of the spell finally. I was really hoping there was just something I was missing.

Now I like the only one save and they stay charmed approach for a high level spell well enough, and I even like getting to do the spell's damage without more saves. But having seemingly any type of harm other than dangerous terrain not give them another save seems excessive, and just unfun once you consider that the DM might be casting this spell on you. Also it practically begs the caster to step away from the victim and make them take psychic damage approaching again and again, which just feels cheesy (have it automatically happen each turn they are next to the caster if that's the intention). It also creates the probably reasonably frequent scenario of having all the enemies transfixed, and hence the battle effectively won, but then needing to wail on them for several rounds because they are high HP and or high AC.

I don't know that its overpowered per se for a level 7 spell, but it feels like it's mostly powerful in an annoying and cheesy way rather than in a fun and evocative way. If the spell just said, "keep them transfixed for three rounds and they die" or something it wouldn't really be substantially more powerful but it would feel more powerful and waste less table time.

Did they even playtest this more than trying it out once and having fun with it? The spell seems distinctly half-baked.

 

[Tigris]

Did they even playtest this more than trying it out once and having fun with it? The spell seems distinctly half-baked.

Why would you assume they even playtest in the beginning? Just looking at the unearthed arcanas they release for me makes it sure that they dont playtest in person ever.

Else they would not add so many features where enemies need to roll saving throws every round for 1d4 or 1d6 at higher level damage.


Also I do think the spell does deal damage if the enemy is near you:

"If the Charmed creature ends its turn within 5 feet of you, it takes 4d8 Psychic damage."

Its just, as so often, written more complicated than needed.

 

[Thommy H-H]

It's a level 7 spell from a non-core supplement - I guarantee you won't ever see it in a published monster stat block. If you, as DM, want to give it to a monster you design, you need to think carefully about how it'll be used and balance the CR accordingly. Remember, there is no hard and fast rule (in 5.5) for swapping out spells in a stat block. Personally, I probably wouldn't worry too much about swapping this in for another level 7 spell that deals damage, but I don't know that I'd find it worth the bother over using a much simpler spell or effect that charms a target, and there aren't many monsters that can chuck out spells of that level by default anyway. You're talking a relatively high level encounter, and probably a suboptimal use of the creature's action economy.

 

[Zardnaar]

It's a level 7 spell from a non-core supplement - I guarantee you won't ever see it in a published monster stat block. If you, as DM, want to give it to a monster you design, you need to think carefully about how it'll be used and balance the CR accordingly. Remember, there is no hard and fast rule (in 5.5) for swapping out spells in a stat block. Personally, I probably wouldn't worry too much about swapping this in for another level 7 spell that deals damage, but I don't know that I'd find it worth the bother over using a much simpler spell or effect that charms a target, and there aren't many monsters that can chuck out spells of that level by default anyway. You're talking a relatively high level encounter, and probably a suboptimal use of the creature's action economy.

If tgat spell it used on PCs I woukd expect to see a lot of rerolls used. My groups learning as well theyre raking more defensive stuff eg mage slayer, gnomes, Paladins hell even artificer 7 and indomitable.

Charisma saves often weaker vs wisdom saves against PCs.

Almost every party has 2 charisma character in it. Sometimes 3 rarely 4.

Sorcerers, Warlocks, bards popular. Paladins are just good.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm not convinced its even that good.

Its only single target. They fail theyre kinda screwed. Common immunity plus legendary saves.

Anything vulnerable to this os probably vulnerable to mental saves in general. Pick your favorite hoser of choice.

Its big advantage is targets cha instead of wisdom tier 4.

Even if you use it every round to hit another target its consuming your action as well.

Is it better than upcast lower level spells. Eg hold monster, banishment etc.

Probably compare with soells targeting cha or int tbf.

Its it better than an upcast summons for an hour or two? Always reliable.

Banishment is the main comparison, since it also targets CHA and doesn't allow repeated saves. I notice its range is nerfed in 5.5 from 60 to 30 ft, So transfix does better there, but upcast to level 7 Banishment takes up to four targets out of the fight with one action, whereas Transfix needs at least 4 actions (would benefit from quickened spell or action surge) to do the equivalent. Whist it's easier to kill Transfixed targets, banishment auto-kills Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, and Fiends if you can keep up concentration for the duration. It's situational which is better.