D&D 5E Ranking 1st level spells

[Stoutstien]

The effect is pretty minor when compared to other save spells.

The concentration really kills it. There are better spells at all levels to be concentrating on. Ones that will actually take away from enemy creature's actions and other nasty effects.

Upcasting it just makes it worse.



Multiple healing potions can be purchased.

After the first few levels the cost is quite minor.

If long rests are easy to come by then all spells are fine. There will be little challenge anyway so it doesn't matter if a spell is good or not.

Upcasting Cure Wounds just makes it worse. Compare it to the spells at those higher levels.

100% Dm dependent outside of AL. Even most of the published campaigns have limited access to them. this is expececaly true for the lower level where healing effects are most likely to be needed. not to mention the cost factor.

a better comparison would be a healer kit and the feat compared to the spells because at least it could be acquired earlier or with starting gold.

 

[abirdcall]

100% Dm dependent outside of AL. Even most of the published campaigns have limited access to them. this is expececaly true for the lower level where healing effects are most likely to be needed. not to mention the cost factor.

a better comparison would be a healer kit and the feat compared to the spells because at least it could be acquired earlier or with starting gold.

I only play published campaigns and the only one I have played out of many that doesn't have access to them is Curse of Strahd.

It's shocking to me to hear about how much people are relying on low level healing spells.

Potions and hit dice are sufficient for our table most of the time. Needing to burn through slots for small amounts of healing would be a desperate situation where we probably don't even have the slots to do that anyway.

 

[Stoutstien]

I only play published campaigns and the only one I have played out of many that doesn't have access to them is Curse of Strahd.

It's shocking to me to hear about how much people are relying on low level healing spells.

Potions and hit dice are sufficient for our table most of the time. Needing to burn through slots for small amounts of healing would be a desperate situation where we probably don't even have the slots to do that anyway.

as a Dm i follow the idea of' " build fair,play fair." i dont hold back just because of poor choices or luck.
a party may only rely on the that healing spell once or twice but crits happen and ability checks are failed so having the means of dealing with a near dead party member is worth the prepared slot to get them to that short rest or back on their feet so they can reach in a pack and grab a potion.

healing spells are insurance plain and simple.

you rank feather fall as top tier even if you never see it used but healing lower because....it may never be used?

 

[Gladius Legis]

You'd put it as A then?

It does get better after level 5 when 2 attacks are available.

Yeah A is fine. Since you'll only do it against a boss.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Where do you rank Charm Person, by the way? Didn't see it anywhere.

 

[abirdcall]

as a Dm i follow the idea of' " build fair,play fair." i dont hold back just because of poor choices or luck.
a party may only rely on the that healing spell once or twice but crits happen and ability checks are failed so having the means of dealing with a near dead party member is worth the prepared slot to get them to that short rest or back on their feet so they can reach in a pack and grab a potion.

healing spells are insurance plain and simple.

you rank feather fall as top tier even if you never see it used but healing lower because....it may never be used?

A Healing Potion is just an action too...

I rank those healing spells low because they're easily duplicated by something that the PCs can readily purchase.

Having Feather Fall opens up a lot of possibilities for the party. I always want to have it in every campaign.

 

[Prakriti]

C Tier:
Cure Wounds

Huh. I'd rank Cure Wounds as an A at the lowest. I can see how it might seem less impressive to classes that get to choose between it and Healing Word, but there are classes (such as Paladin and Ranger) that don't get to make that choice.

 

[Stoutstien]

A Healing Potion is just an action too...

I rank those healing spells low because they're easily duplicated by something that the PCs can readily purchase.

Having Feather Fall opens up a lot of possibilities for the party. I always want to have it in every campaign.

eactly how much gold would you say a lv 2 party have to spend after covering the basics?

 

[Prakriti]

Where do you rank Charm Person, by the way? Didn't see it anywhere.

I don't see it either. But it's a tricky one to judge because not everyone runs it the same way. I've had players who seemed to think that Charm Person flipped a creature's allegiances, i.e. that a charmed creature will change sides in a battle. Which is not how it works at all (at least in my games). A charmed creature only views the spellcaster as a friend, not the whole party. Nor will a charmed creature turn against its other friends and allies. At most, it will stop attacking the spellcaster, or try to stop the fight.

 

[Stoutstien]

I don't see it either. But it's a tricky one to judge because not everyone runs it the same way. I've had players who seemed to think that Charm Person flipped a creature's allegiances, i.e. that a charmed creature will change sides in a battle. Which is not how it works at all (at least in my games). The charmed creature only view the spellcaster as a friend, not the whole party. Nor will a charmed creature turn against its other friends and allies.

yea charm and illusion spells can range from the best spell to a waste of space from table to table or even session to session for some.