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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goken100" data-source="post: 6904553" data-attributes="member: 42968">I want to report a major finding I have had with my Bladesinger grappler. The Manual here is wrong - Enlarge is NOT a good grappling spell. It is mediocre at best. Enhance Ability is far better for the simple reason that Enlarge is a 1 minute duration. Here's the explanation: It's a rare combat that you can convince the other players and DM to let you somehow get a spell set up JUST BEFORE the combat starts. It requires that you are basically able to either ambush the enemies or you can see or hear them coming. So already that's 50% of the time at best, probably lower. Then there's the logistics: "Okay we want to ambush these guys, I need to have enlarge going. So that means casting a spell far enough away that they can't hear me chanting, but close enough that I can attack them before a significant portion of my tiny 1 minute duration has elapsed. Plus I'm now WAY easier to spot because I'm large, so the DM and/or players will probably resent everything I'm doing, rather than thanking me for being such a useful part of the team. Arg." Alternatively, you can spend the WHOLE FIRST ROUND getting set up to even begin to contribute to combat by casting Enlarge and moving into position. But there's a reason grapplers needs high movement and good initiative: they need to lock things down AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Taking the whole first round to cast a spell basically means you've missed your chance to contribute to any battle other than a long, grueling one. You'd be better off just attacking.Contrast this with a Bard or Druid that has Enhance Ability: I grapple EVERY COMBAT with those characters (except against oozes and ghosts), and it is undeniably powerful and fun. Enormous difference. What about Huge or larger creatures? Well, I try to collect Potions of Enlarge for those special occasions. Which are WAY BETTER than the Enlarge spell, by the way, because they last for 1d4 hours (plus don't require concentration, but that's beside the point).In summary: Is Enlarge a useful grappling spell? Yes. Is it better than Enhance Ability? Not by a LONG SHOT. And certainly inferior to Barbarian Rage as well. So not only do I recommend downgrading the spell, but also any classes or builds that require it, particularly the Wizard. Which is a shame, because the Bladesinger does have some very nice features that recommend it for a grappling build. But that's another post.DISCLAIMER: While I have discovered our august OP is off on the topic of the Enlarge spell, he is brilliant on many many other topics about grappling. So I don't mean to seem ungrateful or overly critical. In fact, I can never thank him enough for introducing me to this wonderful way to engage with 5e. My 5 grappling characters and I all offer our sincerest thanks.</blockquote>

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