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What spells should be dropped?
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<blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 9013703" data-attributes="member: 58172"><p>Here is a list of the worst spells in 5e.</p><p></p><p>They either are too weak or their usefulness is too infrequent.</p><p></p><p>A main consideration here is if a spell is actually worth preparing. If a spell isnt worth preparing, then it probably shouldnt be in the design space of a "spell".</p><p></p><p>The following spells in this post need to</p><p>• be deleted</p><p>• demote to a lower slot where they can compete with lower spells</p><p>• buff up to stay competitive in the same slot</p><p>• or be completely redesigned</p><p></p><p></p><p>ABBREVIATIONS</p><p></p><p>[NUMBER] (official spell slot level)</p><p>ph (in Players Handbook but not in the SRD)</p><p>xg (Xanathars Guide to Everything)</p><p>tc (Tashas Cauldron of Everything)</p><p></p><p></p><p>ALMOST STRICTLY USELESS !</p><p></p><p>Identify 1 − identification automatically happens during every Short Rest</p><p></p><p></p><p>BAD CANTRIPS</p><p>− DELETE OR REDISIGN</p><p></p><p>True Strike 0 − perhaps combat Action like Dodge or Charge</p><p>Blade Ward 0ph − perhaps combat Action like Dodge or Charge</p><p></p><p>Magic Stone 0xg</p><p>Mold Earth 0xg</p><p>Thunderclap 0xg</p><p></p><p></p><p>OBSOLETE LEGACY SPELLS </p><p>THAT SHOULD NOW BE SKILL CHECKS</p><p>IN 5e</p><p></p><p>Legend Lore 5 − History</p><p>Find The Path 6 − Survival</p><p>Locate Animals Or Plants 2 − Survival</p><p>Detect Poison And Disease 1 − Medicine</p><p>Animal Friendship 1 − Animal Handling</p><p>Enthrall 2 − Persuasion/Intimidation/Bluff</p><p>Find Traps 2 − Perception/Investigation</p><p>Jump 1 − an Athletics stunt requiring a check, beyond the reliable Jump distance</p><p>Detect Evil And Good 1 − Arcana/Religion</p><p></p><p>Feign Death 3ph − perhaps Medicine</p><p>Glibness 8 − perhaps Deception</p><p>Detect Thoughts 2 − perhaps Insight</p><p></p><p>Charm Person 1 − as written, might instead be an Ability (Persuasion) Check</p><p></p><p></p><p>SPELLS THAT RELY ON DM GIVING A HINT</p><p>(MAYBE MAKE INTO SKILL CHECKS OR PURCHASE AS CONSUMABLE MAGIC ITEM)</p><p></p><p>Contact Other Plane 5</p><p>Augury 2</p><p>Divination 4</p><p>Commune With Nature 5</p><p>Commune 5</p><p>Speak With Dead 3</p><p></p><p></p><p>NEAR-WORTHLESS SPELLS, TOO SITUATIONAL</p><p></p><p>Hallucinatory Terrain 4</p><p>Mirage Arcane 7</p><p>Imprisonment 9</p><p>Move Earth 6</p><p>Secret Chest 4</p><p>Illusory Script 1</p><p>Animal Messenger 2</p><p>Skywrite 2xg</p><p>Instant Summons 6</p><p></p><p></p><p>TOO WEAK FOR ANY SLOT</p><p></p><p>Color Spray 1</p><p>Acid Arrow 2</p><p>Witch Bolt 1ph</p><p>Warding Bond 2</p><p></p><p></p><p>SPELLS SORELY NEEDING REDESIGN</p><p></p><p>Reincarnate 5 − make level 1, so dead PCs come back as new PCs with memory</p><p>Passwall 5 − phase thru any solid object, make ethereal effects lower level</p><p>Daylight 3 − merge with Continual Flame</p><p>Water Walk 3</p><p></p><p></p><p>THE FOLLOWING SPELLS NEED DEMOTION TO LOWER SLOT</p><p>OR ELSE GET A SIGNIFICANT BUFF OR REDISIGN ...</p><p></p><p></p><p>REDESIGN AS A CANTRIP</p><p></p><p>Darkvision 2 − rewrite as cantrip</p><p>Water Breathing 3 − rewrite as cantrip</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 1</p><p></p><p>Phantom Steed 3</p><p>Continual Flame 2</p><p>Cordon Of Arrows 2</p><p>Flame Blade 2</p><p>Magic Weapon 2</p><p>Ray Of Enfeeblement 2</p><p>Snowball Storm 2xg</p><p>Dust Devil 2xg</p><p>Cloud of Daggers</p><p></p><p>Irresistible Dance 6 − level 1 ! (Compare Hideous Laughter and Entangle)</p><p></p><p>Barkskin 2 − PLAYTEST FIXED THIS WITH A MORE USEFUL BUFF</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 2</p><p></p><p>Faithful Hound 4</p><p>Wall Of Water 3xg</p><p>Plant Growth 3 − might need redesign</p><p>Meld Into Stone 3</p><p>Flame Arrows 3xg</p><p>Vampiric Touch 3</p><p>Conjure Barrage 3ph</p><p>Grasping Vine 4ph</p><p></p><p></p><p>CONSOLIDATE ALL TELEPATHY INTO SINGLE "TELEPATHY SPELL" AT SLOT 2</p><p></p><p>Telepathy 8ph</p><p>Telepathy Language (Monster Manual)</p><p>Sending 3</p><p>Tongues 3</p><p>Telepathic Bond 5</p><p>Comprehend Languages 1 − might need redesign anyway to make worthy of prep</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 3</p><p></p><p>Guards And Wards 6</p><p>Sequester 7</p><p>Elemental Bane 4xg</p><p>Creation 5</p><p>Cloudkill 5</p><p>Programmed Illusion 6</p><p>Stone Shape 4</p><p>Immolation 5xg</p><p>Guardian Of Faith 4</p><p>Ice Storm 4</p><p>Aura Of Life 4ph</p><p>Phantasmal Killer 4</p><p>Flame Strike 5</p><p>Circle Of Death 6</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 4</p><p></p><p>Storm Of Vengeance 9</p><p>Hallow 5</p><p>Wind Walk 6</p><p>Investiture Of Ice 6xg</p><p>Investiture Of Flame 6xg</p><p>Control Winds 5xg</p><p>Geas 5</p><p>Insect Plague 5</p><p>Divine Word 7</p><p>Investiture Of Wind 6xg</p><p>Tree Stride 5</p><p>Arcane Gate 6ph</p><p>Create Undead 6</p><p>Arcane Sword 7</p><p>Weird 9</p><p>Investiture Of Stone 6xg</p><p>Transmute Rock 5xg</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 5</p><p></p><p>Control Weather 8</p><p>Word Of Recall 6</p><p>Demiplane 8</p><p>Magnificent Mansion 7</p><p>Holy Aura 8</p><p>Transport Via Plants 6</p><p>Blade Barrier 6</p><p>Wall Of Thorns 6</p><p>Wall Of Ice 6</p><p>Project Image 7</p><p>Prismatic Spray 7</p><p>Sunbeam 6</p><p></p><p>Resurrection 7 (Revivify 3 is now a gamechanger for resurrection spells)</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 6</p><p></p><p>Teleport 7</p><p>Etherealness 7</p><p>Fire Storm 7</p><p>Time Stop 9</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 7</p><p></p><p>True Resurrection 9 − needs redesign (Revivify 3 is now a gamechanger)</p><p></p><p>Animal Shapes 8</p><p>Earthquake 8</p><p>Sunburst 8</p><p></p><p></p><p>DEMOTE TO SLOT 8</p><p></p><p>Power Word Kill 9</p><p>Gate 9</p><p></p><p></p><p>PROMOTE TO SLOT "10"</p><p></p><p>Forcecage 7</p><p>− is one of the few spells that is actually broken </p><p>− increase to slot 8 or 9</p><p>− or better yet, redesign completely</p><p></p><p>Wish 9</p><p>− not "broken" ... but ...</p><p>− so much better than all of the other spells, even the ones in slot 9</p><p>− make Wish an Epic Boon</p><p></p><p></p><p>THE FOLLOWING SPELLS NEED A MINOR BUFF</p><p>TO COMPETE BETTER WITH OTHER SPELLS IN THE SAME SLOT</p><p>− MOST NEED TO BECOME WORTH PREPPING</p><p>− MAKE MORE USEFUL MORE SITUATIONS</p><p>− BUT SOME NEED TO BE A BIT STRONGER</p><p>...</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE CANTRIPS</p><p></p><p>Sword Burst 0tc</p><p>Poison Spray 0</p><p>Gust 0xg</p><p>Friends 0ph − probably needs redesign</p><p>Shape Water 0xg</p><p>Acid Splash 0</p><p>Produce Flame 0</p><p>Control Flames 0xg</p><p>Spare The Dying 0</p><p>Message 0</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 1</p><p></p><p>Floating Disk 1</p><p>Unseen Servant 1</p><p>Speak With Animals 1</p><p>Arms Of Hadar 1ph</p><p>Ray Of Sickness 1ph</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 2</p><p></p><p>Gentle Repose 2</p><p>Arcanist's Magic Aura 2</p><p>Zone Of Truth 2</p><p>Gust Of Wind 2</p><p>Protection From Poison 2</p><p>Calm Emotions 2</p><p>Knock</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 3</p><p></p><p>Elemental Weapon 3ph</p><p>Remove Curse 3</p><p>Speak With Plants 3</p><p>Nondetection 3</p><p>Gaseous Form 3</p><p>Wall Of Sand 3xg</p><p>Wind Wall 3</p><p>Hunger Of Hadar 3ph</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 4</p><p></p><p>Private Sanctum 4</p><p>Control Water 4</p><p>Locate Creature 4</p><p>Blight 4</p><p>Dominate Beast 4</p><p>Stoneskin 4</p><p>Wall Of Fire 4</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 5</p><p></p><p>Dream 5</p><p>Planar Binding 5</p><p>Mislead 5</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 6</p><p></p><p>Forbiddance 6</p><p>Primordial Ward 6xg</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 7</p><p></p><p>Symbol 7</p><p>Finger Of Death 7</p><p>Delayed Blast 7</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 8</p><p></p><p>Power Word Stun 8</p><p>Horrid Wilting 8xg</p><p>Incendiary Cloud 8</p><p>Feeblemind 8</p><p>Antimagic Field 8 − negating ones own magic is too situational</p><p></p><p></p><p>NOTE AGAIN, THESE SLOT 9 SPELLS ARE UNWORTHY OF SLOT 9</p><p></p><p>Storm Of Vengeance 9 − truly a less useful spell</p><p>Imprisonment 9</p><p>Weird 9</p><p>Time Stop 9 − unworthy as written</p><p>Power Word Kill 9</p><p>Gate 9</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Yaarel, post: 9013703, member: 58172"] Here is a list of the worst spells in 5e. They either are too weak or their usefulness is too infrequent. A main consideration here is if a spell is actually worth preparing. If a spell isnt worth preparing, then it probably shouldnt be in the design space of a "spell". The following spells in this post need to • be deleted • demote to a lower slot where they can compete with lower spells • buff up to stay competitive in the same slot • or be completely redesigned ABBREVIATIONS [NUMBER] (official spell slot level) ph (in Players Handbook but not in the SRD) xg (Xanathars Guide to Everything) tc (Tashas Cauldron of Everything) ALMOST STRICTLY USELESS ! Identify 1 − identification automatically happens during every Short Rest BAD CANTRIPS − DELETE OR REDISIGN True Strike 0 − perhaps combat Action like Dodge or Charge Blade Ward 0ph − perhaps combat Action like Dodge or Charge Magic Stone 0xg Mold Earth 0xg Thunderclap 0xg OBSOLETE LEGACY SPELLS THAT SHOULD NOW BE SKILL CHECKS IN 5e Legend Lore 5 − History Find The Path 6 − Survival Locate Animals Or Plants 2 − Survival Detect Poison And Disease 1 − Medicine Animal Friendship 1 − Animal Handling Enthrall 2 − Persuasion/Intimidation/Bluff Find Traps 2 − Perception/Investigation Jump 1 − an Athletics stunt requiring a check, beyond the reliable Jump distance Detect Evil And Good 1 − Arcana/Religion Feign Death 3ph − perhaps Medicine Glibness 8 − perhaps Deception Detect Thoughts 2 − perhaps Insight Charm Person 1 − as written, might instead be an Ability (Persuasion) Check SPELLS THAT RELY ON DM GIVING A HINT (MAYBE MAKE INTO SKILL CHECKS OR PURCHASE AS CONSUMABLE MAGIC ITEM) Contact Other Plane 5 Augury 2 Divination 4 Commune With Nature 5 Commune 5 Speak With Dead 3 NEAR-WORTHLESS SPELLS, TOO SITUATIONAL Hallucinatory Terrain 4 Mirage Arcane 7 Imprisonment 9 Move Earth 6 Secret Chest 4 Illusory Script 1 Animal Messenger 2 Skywrite 2xg Instant Summons 6 TOO WEAK FOR ANY SLOT Color Spray 1 Acid Arrow 2 Witch Bolt 1ph Warding Bond 2 SPELLS SORELY NEEDING REDESIGN Reincarnate 5 − make level 1, so dead PCs come back as new PCs with memory Passwall 5 − phase thru any solid object, make ethereal effects lower level Daylight 3 − merge with Continual Flame Water Walk 3 THE FOLLOWING SPELLS NEED DEMOTION TO LOWER SLOT OR ELSE GET A SIGNIFICANT BUFF OR REDISIGN ... REDESIGN AS A CANTRIP Darkvision 2 − rewrite as cantrip Water Breathing 3 − rewrite as cantrip DEMOTE TO SLOT 1 Phantom Steed 3 Continual Flame 2 Cordon Of Arrows 2 Flame Blade 2 Magic Weapon 2 Ray Of Enfeeblement 2 Snowball Storm 2xg Dust Devil 2xg Cloud of Daggers Irresistible Dance 6 − level 1 ! (Compare Hideous Laughter and Entangle) Barkskin 2 − PLAYTEST FIXED THIS WITH A MORE USEFUL BUFF DEMOTE TO SLOT 2 Faithful Hound 4 Wall Of Water 3xg Plant Growth 3 − might need redesign Meld Into Stone 3 Flame Arrows 3xg Vampiric Touch 3 Conjure Barrage 3ph Grasping Vine 4ph CONSOLIDATE ALL TELEPATHY INTO SINGLE "TELEPATHY SPELL" AT SLOT 2 Telepathy 8ph Telepathy Language (Monster Manual) Sending 3 Tongues 3 Telepathic Bond 5 Comprehend Languages 1 − might need redesign anyway to make worthy of prep DEMOTE TO SLOT 3 Guards And Wards 6 Sequester 7 Elemental Bane 4xg Creation 5 Cloudkill 5 Programmed Illusion 6 Stone Shape 4 Immolation 5xg Guardian Of Faith 4 Ice Storm 4 Aura Of Life 4ph Phantasmal Killer 4 Flame Strike 5 Circle Of Death 6 DEMOTE TO SLOT 4 Storm Of Vengeance 9 Hallow 5 Wind Walk 6 Investiture Of Ice 6xg Investiture Of Flame 6xg Control Winds 5xg Geas 5 Insect Plague 5 Divine Word 7 Investiture Of Wind 6xg Tree Stride 5 Arcane Gate 6ph Create Undead 6 Arcane Sword 7 Weird 9 Investiture Of Stone 6xg Transmute Rock 5xg DEMOTE TO SLOT 5 Control Weather 8 Word Of Recall 6 Demiplane 8 Magnificent Mansion 7 Holy Aura 8 Transport Via Plants 6 Blade Barrier 6 Wall Of Thorns 6 Wall Of Ice 6 Project Image 7 Prismatic Spray 7 Sunbeam 6 Resurrection 7 (Revivify 3 is now a gamechanger for resurrection spells) DEMOTE TO SLOT 6 Teleport 7 Etherealness 7 Fire Storm 7 Time Stop 9 DEMOTE TO SLOT 7 True Resurrection 9 − needs redesign (Revivify 3 is now a gamechanger) Animal Shapes 8 Earthquake 8 Sunburst 8 DEMOTE TO SLOT 8 Power Word Kill 9 Gate 9 PROMOTE TO SLOT "10" Forcecage 7 − is one of the few spells that is actually broken − increase to slot 8 or 9 − or better yet, redesign completely Wish 9 − not "broken" ... but ... − so much better than all of the other spells, even the ones in slot 9 − make Wish an Epic Boon THE FOLLOWING SPELLS NEED A MINOR BUFF TO COMPETE BETTER WITH OTHER SPELLS IN THE SAME SLOT − MOST NEED TO BECOME WORTH PREPPING − MAKE MORE USEFUL MORE SITUATIONS − BUT SOME NEED TO BE A BIT STRONGER ... BUFF THESE CANTRIPS Sword Burst 0tc Poison Spray 0 Gust 0xg Friends 0ph − probably needs redesign Shape Water 0xg Acid Splash 0 Produce Flame 0 Control Flames 0xg Spare The Dying 0 Message 0 BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 1 Floating Disk 1 Unseen Servant 1 Speak With Animals 1 Arms Of Hadar 1ph Ray Of Sickness 1ph BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 2 Gentle Repose 2 Arcanist's Magic Aura 2 Zone Of Truth 2 Gust Of Wind 2 Protection From Poison 2 Calm Emotions 2 Knock BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 3 Elemental Weapon 3ph Remove Curse 3 Speak With Plants 3 Nondetection 3 Gaseous Form 3 Wall Of Sand 3xg Wind Wall 3 Hunger Of Hadar 3ph BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 4 Private Sanctum 4 Control Water 4 Locate Creature 4 Blight 4 Dominate Beast 4 Stoneskin 4 Wall Of Fire 4 BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 5 Dream 5 Planar Binding 5 Mislead 5 BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 6 Forbiddance 6 Primordial Ward 6xg BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 7 Symbol 7 Finger Of Death 7 Delayed Blast 7 BUFF THESE SPELLS IN SLOT 8 Power Word Stun 8 Horrid Wilting 8xg Incendiary Cloud 8 Feeblemind 8 Antimagic Field 8 − negating ones own magic is too situational NOTE AGAIN, THESE SLOT 9 SPELLS ARE UNWORTHY OF SLOT 9 Storm Of Vengeance 9 − truly a less useful spell Imprisonment 9 Weird 9 Time Stop 9 − unworthy as written Power Word Kill 9 Gate 9 [/QUOTE]
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