Most common sorcerer/wizard spells?

[Firebeetle]

I'm making some quick reference materials, and I need a highly abbreviated list of the most common sorcerer and wizard spells. What spells does nearly EVERY wizard or sorcerer have on their list? What spells do other player goggle and sneer when they hear their party's wizard/sorcerer DOESN'T have it?

Thank you.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Magic missile, shield and sleep at level 1, for sure.

 

[Avatar_V]

Adding to Whizbang's list off the top of my head:

- Scorching Ray (the newest core 'must have' spell)
- Mage Armor
- Web
- [Improved] Invisibility
- Fireball
- Lightning Bolt
- Gaseous Form (at least in my groups, not sure about others)
- Haste (at least in 3.0; I still see it in 3.5, but I'm not sure if it's quite as popular now...)
- If you use extra-core stuff, the orb spells are popular
- Teleport

Ah, dinner's ready - maybe I'll add more later

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm kind of prone to playing arcane casters with the anti-stereotypical spell list (you know, the kind that gets sneered at), so I'll just say this:

Ask Thanee for a comprehensive level-by-level list.

 

[IamTheTest]

color spray, in my opinion, is more viable than sleep.

 

[Plane Sailing]

- Gaseous Form (at least in my groups, not sure about others)

Why gaseous form, out of interest? The only time we've seen it used by a PC they got cut to ribbons by everyone with a magic weapon (which at 7th level was everyone)

 

[jasin]

I agree. Sleep is better in the perfect circumstances, but color spray is much more robust.

These are the spells that immediately come to mind when a spell level is mentioned. That doesn't mean that all arcanists will have all of them, obviously, but almost all arcanists can be expected to have at least one for each level, unless they're making some sort of point:

0--detect magic, prestidigitation, mage hand
1st--magic missile, mage armor
2nd--scorching ray
3rd--fly, fireball, haste
4th--dimension door, improved invisibility, polymorph
5th--teleport, overland flight
6th--distintegrate, superior resistance (if SC is in use)
7th--limited wish
8th--...?
9th--...? I dunno, haven't seen many arcanists at those levels

 

[meomwt]

Having seen how good the Summon Monster spells can be when utilised effectively, I'd include those on the spell lists as well.

Dropping a stack of low-level monsters behind enemy lines to provide flanking bonuses (especially for rogue-ish types) can be a very effective tactic.

 

[green slime]

8th Mindblank
9th Time Stop, Gate

 

[VirgilCaine]

color spray, in my opinion, is more viable than sleep.

3.0 CS, yes. In 3.5 they made it into another Burning Hands.