What's the weakest wizard specialty?

[Choranzanus]

Personally, I like sorcs specializing in enchantment for exactly this reason. Being able to blast away with the same spell after spell for save or die effects is not a bad way to go.

Not to say something about the fact that enchanter specialist can have charisma 6 and be just fine, which just doesn't sound right.

 

[Wolfwood2]

In concept that is great and arguably, D&D is built on "whoever hits hardest wins!". The problem is that most evocations are still doing 2e damage against monsters with 3E HP.

In fairness, there are some excellent high level Evocation spells that don't depend so much on damage.

Sunburst is a long range, large area, heightened Blindness. With a Reflex save no less, something that big bad monsters traditionally neglect. The fact that it also does a little fire damage is merely a cherry on top.

Bigby's Crushing Hand gets a grapple score so high that you're not going to see it beaten very often. And it can be cast during Time Stop. Sure many opponents will just dimensionally transport out, but they blow their action to do it and the hand is after them again next round.

And of course, we all know the power of Force Cage + a Quickened Dimensional Anchor.

 

[Deset Gled]

That really depends on what suppliments you allow in your game. If you are going core-only, conjuration isn't all that...

Even core only, I have to disagree. IMO, a wizard who can't teleport, plane shift, or occasionally summon a rabbit out of his hat really isn't much of a wizard at all.

Consider ever time your party has used teleport. Now think of how much of a pain it would be if you had to use a higher level spell like Shadow Walk, or rely on the rogue with a scroll every time you wanted it. Conjuration may not have a lot of bang to it (without splat books), but there's no way I would ever consider giving up its great utility spells.

 

[wildstarsreach]

I agree with many here that evocation is on the weaker of them but as many have said they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Depends also on the campaigns. Age of worms would present many challanges to illusionist, necromancer or transmuter. It is also campaign dependant as well as spell availability.