D&D 5E Overrated Wizard Spells

[LassiterKeshell]

This is why I said as a concentration spell its bad. Also follow up damage is only 1d12 no matter the slot used to cast it.

Even if you remove Concentration, it's still bad. There's so much outside work you need to do in order to get a second damage roll out of it: you need to somehow trap your opponent (have someone hold your target down, corner your target, get them on the edge of a cliff, etc.). That's way too much work for a 1st level spell (and all just to get some auto-damage).

The fact that's also a concentration spell makes it absolute trash.

About the only thing I can think of that makes it worthwhile is to torture a bound prisoner... and that's not very heroic.

 

[Garthanos]

The example isn't squeezing through the space, it's trying to squeeze through an open threatened area.

its through a 2.5 wide space... and yes its well within capabilities of a small goblin
sure squeezing slows movement through 5 feet where they are squeezing without them other tools which also that take an action sorry not so impressive

 

[abirdcall]

I'll carry that further, however. Goblins aren't lemmings running off a cliff. Everyone one of them knows the fighter is going to be stabbing them on the way by. Generally they would prefer not to get stabbed and either would not try to rush by or would try to engage instead. The fighter might even make an intimidation check and convince them to back down.

Goblins also win battles through numbers. The fighter is swinging at them whether they run by or not. They know the fighter has limited ability to swing at them as they run by. They also know that they're all going to die if they lose the battle (not to mention social pressures).

If enemy creatures are too afraid to run by a fighter they should also be too afraid to be fighting in a life or death fight.

Treatmonk has mage armor listed as a must have spell. I consider him a subject matter expert on the topic. In my experience playing wizards, I agree. AC bonus with no concentration? Yes please. Maybe I have mean DMs, but monsters like to target the guy slinging spells around.

Why? He has no credentials.

He just posts videos where he smugly declares this and that thing.

He has a lot of weird opinions. I think the largest reason is that he seems to have a weird style of playing. Then there is also just the fact that the vast majority of people are not strategic geniuses.

It's just that D&D is not a competitive game so it is hard to show that one way is stronger than another.

Even in highly competitive games where people have put 1000s of hours into study and where results show who is right; people will still argue until they are blue in the face that their interpretation is right, winning or not.

 

[Garthanos]

Everyone one of them knows the fighter is going to be stabbing them on the way by

once because action economy the rest are home free.

Don't use the bearings and it's just a speed bump if they go lemming.

Exactly and why would the goblins assume the fighter is going to do more than one reaction? heck the odds of them swarming past and not getting hit are huge.... that sword limited by reaction is just unimpressive . Also your terrain affects allies as well shrug I am sure often not a problem but still a consideration.

 

[Rabbitbait]

Even if you remove Concentration, it's still bad. There's so much outside work you need to do in order to get a second damage roll out of it: you need to somehow trap your opponent (have someone hold your target down, corner your target, get them on the edge of a cliff, etc.). That's way too much work for a 1st level spell (and all just to get some auto-damage).

The fact that's also a concentration spell makes it absolute trash.

About the only thing I can think of that makes it worthwhile is to torture a bound prisoner... and that's not very heroic.

Yeeep. I had misread the spell. I thought I was getting 5d12 each round. I take it all back then, that spell is overrated.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Why? He has no credentials.

It’s obvious he has put in the work. That right there is more than most people ever do. And his methodology seems fair and without crazy bias. Also, he is pretty highly regarded. Not by you, obviously, but by a lot of people in general.

 

[5ekyu]

Yeeep. I had misread the spell. I thought I was getting 5d12 each round. I take it all back then, that spell is overrated.

In order for that dpell to be overrated, somebody had to consider it good, usually more than one guy. Has that been true?

I mean consider how find traps doesnt actually find traps... it's not overrated - it just sucks.

 

[Zardnaar]

Most damage spells that are not fireball and lightning bolt and even then they're not that good.

 

[abirdcall]

It’s obvious he has put in the work. That right there is more than most people ever do. And his methodology seems fair and without crazy bias. Also, he is pretty highly regarded. Not by you, obviously, but by a lot of people in general.

Being popular is not the same as being right.

He isn't an expert.

It's fine to agree with him. It's another thing to hold him up as an authority.

Putting a lot of time into it doesn't help if you don't have a solid foundation upon which to start.

Having played competitive games at serious levels I probably have a different way of looking at things. Like I said, I've seen people argue non-stop with highly regarded players. Being convinced you're right and convincing others that you are right does not make you right. I've seen it time and again.

 

[Zardnaar]

His stuff isn't perfect but he's a reasonable start. Powergamers might tend to disagree with a lot of what he says.

Mage armor is good IMHO but it's not 1st pick level 1 to 4. I might pick it regardless mostly so I don't have to get it later.