You really have to spend time reading spell descriptions in 5E. I used to gloss over Planar Binding because it was expensive and not particularly powerful compared to simpler summon spells or gate. Now Planar Binding is one of the most powerful wizard spells in the game. Planar Binding is how you summon an elemental or similar creature and bind it to service without using your concentration slot. You can even use gate to bind a more powerful creature to service for a long time. Wizard still has some serious power and is probably still the top of the mountain in power, though that mountain isn't quite as high.
With planar binding and simulacrum, you can have a small army of minions to add to your direct arcane power. It seems the wizard is less about the big hits or save or suck control and more about damage layering. You can layer on damage from multiple sources to equal what other classes are doing.
With planar binding and simulacrum, you can have a small army of minions to add to your direct arcane power. It seems the wizard is less about the big hits or save or suck control and more about damage layering. You can layer on damage from multiple sources to equal what other classes are doing.