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<blockquote data-quote="Esker" data-source="post: 7607390" data-attributes="member: 6966824">If you spend much time fighting in the dark/dim light, it's really hard to beat shadow blade, especially once you get 3rd level slots and can upcast it. Automatic advantage on every attack any time you're in a relatively common environment, more damage than a greatsword, and psychic, to boot. At a 3rd level slot it does nearly as much damage on a hit as a greatsword even with +10 from GWM, and well more once you factor in chance to hit. Oh, yes, and you can throw it; potentially twice in a turn by spending your bonus action in between. I think that, haste, and, situationally, fly, are the melee gish staples.I like most of the other spells you list, too, but as you say, most of them are better suited to a full caster controller, due to the opportunity cost (though if you can afford the spells known/prepared it can't hurt to have some of them in your arsenal for times when the full caster is busy concentrating on something more important). You won't likely benefit much from fog cloud yourself since you won't be very good at range, and since you're not a rogue, can't dip in, hide, pop out and attack in the same turn.Cloud of daggers is great damage for the level if you have a way of keeping the enemy in the zone, maybe via grapples, or with a booming blade rock-and-hard-place situation, etc. But again, probably better suited for someone who doesn't need to be in melee doing weapon damage themselves.Blur is better than mirror image for a front-liner if you don't factor in the concentration opportunity cost, since you'll be taking a lot of attacks, and so MI won't last long. Against a horde it may even be worth giving up shadow blade or haste for.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Esker, post: 7607390, member: 6966824"] If you spend much time fighting in the dark/dim light, it's really hard to beat shadow blade, especially once you get 3rd level slots and can upcast it. Automatic advantage on every attack any time you're in a relatively common environment, more damage than a greatsword, and psychic, to boot. At a 3rd level slot it does nearly as much damage on a hit as a greatsword even with +10 from GWM, and well more once you factor in chance to hit. Oh, yes, and you can throw it; potentially twice in a turn by spending your bonus action in between. I think that, haste, and, situationally, fly, are the melee gish staples. I like most of the other spells you list, too, but as you say, most of them are better suited to a full caster controller, due to the opportunity cost (though if you can afford the spells known/prepared it can't hurt to have some of them in your arsenal for times when the full caster is busy concentrating on something more important). You won't likely benefit much from fog cloud yourself since you won't be very good at range, and since you're not a rogue, can't dip in, hide, pop out and attack in the same turn. Cloud of daggers is great damage for the level if you have a way of keeping the enemy in the zone, maybe via grapples, or with a booming blade rock-and-hard-place situation, etc. But again, probably better suited for someone who doesn't need to be in melee doing weapon damage themselves. Blur is better than mirror image for a front-liner if you don't factor in the concentration opportunity cost, since you'll be taking a lot of attacks, and so MI won't last long. Against a horde it may even be worth giving up shadow blade or haste for. [/QUOTE]

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