Magic Missile as a Ranged Basic Attack

[scottchiefbaker]

Magic Missile counts as a ranged basic attack for Wizards. Do any other attacks count as ranged basic attack? Is there something special about Magic Missile that makes it ranged basic?

There is a feat that affects ranged basic attacks I was hoping to take. I don't want to be required to have Magic Missile. It'd be nice if I could use another spell as a ranged basic.

 

[stonegod]

Magic Missile counts as a ranged basic attack for Wizards. Do any other attacks count as ranged basic attack? Is there something special about Magic Missile that makes it ranged basic?

There is a feat that affects ranged basic attacks I was hoping to take. I don't want to be required to have Magic Missile. It'd be nice if I could use another spell as a ranged basic.

Magic Missile is the only wizard power that is a ranged basic attack (RBA).

A wizard could used any ranged weapon with an RBA as well. This, however, isn't usually a great idea as they are not very proficient with them (not having Dex or Str as primary abilities, though Wand-wizards will do okay).

 

[Garthanos]

I consider Magic Missile the ulimate reskinnable... so its like having dozens of RBA... http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1138977

 

[renau1g]

The sorcerer class has 2 that count as MBA's (Dragonfrost and Acid Orb), while the Warlock has their Eldritch Blast, but yeah the wizard is stuck with MM., which isn't a bad spell, but there's many other good options

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Yes and multiclass seeker will make it a very potent spell from paragon upwards.

 

[Garthanos]

I recall something I think called Wizards Fury... a magic missile as a minor action hurrah.

 

[renau1g]

Yeah, what level daily is that? 1 or 5? A nice DPR, but not the best controller power out there.

 

[mneme]

renau1: like some defenders, some controllers control monsters by making them dead. A wizard who does this is basically acting as an alt-striker (whenever they drop a daily, mostly), mind.

Lich: that's Primal Eye, right? Nice feat -- particularly for multiclass ranger/seekers and wizard/seekers.

 

[DracoSuave]

Gotta be careful with new MRA at-wills. Generally, they have some trait that makes them 'safe'. Either they only do damage, or the pull, or they push, but anything more than that, and you're looking behind MRA country.

Ray of Frost's actually a good candidate for it, as is Phantom Bolt, or Illusory Ambush.

 

[renau1g]

I'm aware that there's different ways to build wizards, such as a genasi blaster wizard which is definitely an alt-striker with a dash of controller, but I was just commenting that MM is a fairly weak at-will relative to the others (unless you're a human or have a warlord who grants lots of RBAs) so picking it to grab the 1/day bump in damage from Wizard's Fury (which is nearly the same damage as Flaming Sphere's auto-damage, only 1d4 higher, but it can hit multiple foes each round) is a fairly high price to pay.