"sleeper" spells you didn't realize were so good

[heirodule]

In the vein of everybody asking what was better than you expected: what spells did you used to think were pretty poor, but after seing someone else using them to good effect you think are much better.

I nominate Message.

I always wanted this to be more of a Sending spell (since sending seems way high in level), but the limited range made it pointless.

Then I played at winter fantasy and an arcane trickster showed my wizard the way: It's good for the whole party! at 6th level you can almost have secret whole-party conversations for an hour, 160' apart. The messager acting as relay might get a bit much, but its a nice low-level alternative to Rary's Telepathic Bond.

Others?

 

[Felix]

I've not seen much to-do about Modify Memory but it's my favorite spell in the game. That it is only on the Bard's spell list makes it cool, and that you can insert yourself into 5 minutes of memory is great!

This spell can be used to manipulate the hell out of someone... "who do you think it was that pulled you out of the river when you were 5, hmmm?" "I can barely remember, but it was you... wasn't it? Oh, you saved my life, I am indebted! How can I repay you?"

 

[Voadam]

I never even considered mirror image until I saw the arcane trickster of our group get through several melees with major BBEGs and not get touched. My melee focused Eldritch Knight learned it from him the next downtime we had.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Prying eyes is a spell our wizard uses almost every session. Being able to send those little eyes down passageways to see ahead of us is great...plus if they don't come back we know something bad is there!

 

[Plane Sailing]

Pyrotechnics is hugely underrated. It was my sorcerers first ever 2nd level spell, and as long as you have a torch or something else as a fire source it can be good for the smoke cloud (guaranteed concealment and may choke people - Fort save), or the fireworks - vast area of effect, and blinding for 2-5 rounds is huge on a Will ST. 120ft radius broke up a huge cavalry charge and turned the tide for the party.

 

[Numion]

Now this may come as a 'well du'h of course it's useful', but wait a sec.

Miracle, 3.0E

The freeform use (basically make a wish) is pretty straightforward, but the emulation uses are really great. At high levels this spell gives great sorcerer-like flexibility to clerics. You don't have to pay any Exp for these.

You can emulate:

Any cleric spell up to 8th level
Any other spell up to 7th level

That means a great deal of really good spells, that weren't really meant for clerics. Melee-clerics will really benefit from Polymorph or paladins Holy Sword spell. Thats double damage right there. You can even get a druids animal companion and then Awaken it. You can use druids Spellstaff spell to get a free spell slot. Neat, huh?

 

[Mytholder]

Message is a great solution to the table chatter problem - players tend to give each other advice and make observations anyway, message lets them do it in-character. It's been a consistent part of my group's tactics since the party wizard went "hey...."

The other spell that's kicking ass for them is enlarge person. The difference between the party fighter and the party size party fighter is astonishing.

 

[Painfully]

Nystul's undetectable aura

unseen servant

 

[Plane Sailing]

A kicking combination is shilelagh + enlarge person, especially if it is a human druid with Two Weapon Fighting. Two attacks at -2, but each one does 3d6+str bonus damage.

(shillelagh now increases the weapon damage by two size categories and expressly affects both ends of a quarterstaff simultaneously. Sweet!

 

[Gez]

I've not seen much to-do about Modify Memory but it's my favorite spell in the game. That it is only on the Bard's spell list makes it cool, and that you can insert yourself into 5 minutes of memory is great!

"It's really a masterfully crafted sword! I have to praise your craftmanship! But while I'm very happy of my new acquisition, I'm still waiting for my change, because the gem I gave you is still worth more than this blade, however splendid it is."