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What's the worst spell?
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<blockquote data-quote="Gadget" data-source="post: 8230092" data-attributes="member: 23716"><p>Well, I'll add a few to the list. As a note, I tend to give a pass to utility/World Building spells that are less of trap option, so things like <em>Illusory Script</em> don't make the cut (though I would change the duration on that spell to 'until dispelled' or some such).</p><p></p><p><strong>Cantrips</strong>: The clear winner hear is True Strike. Absolutely terrible spell. I would change it to just be like Resistance, but for attacks (add 1d4 to an attack roll before spell expires, change duration to 10 min/1 hr with conc.) Honorable mentions are: Friends and Blade Ward.</p><p></p><p><strong>1st level:</strong> Witch Bolt is another clear winner. Between the low damage, action economy drain, short range and concentration requirement; just no. I've seen many "fixes" for this spell, I'm kind of partial to having it grapple the target (with the rules for escaping a grapple applied), but that might be too much. Maybe just a range increase with a knock back or speed reduction effect. Honorable mentions: Ray of Sickness, Jump.</p><p></p><p><strong>2nd level:</strong> Find Traps seems particularly bad the way it is designed. Honorable mentions: Cordon of Arrows, Crown of Madness, Ray of Enfeeblement and Melf's Acid Arrow. Some would add Barkskin and Flame Blade to the list, but I think they have their uses, as indeed CoM & RoE do, but they are not well designed. </p><p></p><p><strong>3rd level</strong>: Not a lot of real stinkers, but Feign Death, Flame Arrows, Bestow Curse, and Vampiric Touch all are a bit lacking in one way or another, or are overshadowed in some way by lower level effects. </p><p></p><p><strong>4th level</strong>: Blight, Grasping Vine & Phantasmal Killer are all candidates. All have niche uses and can be applied successfully, but seem worse than other spells at this level or overshadowed by lower level effects; or are just too little for this level a spell.</p><p></p><p><strong>5th level</strong>: Immolation & Negative Energy Flood stand out here. Dispel Evil & Good is a bit too niche as well, with the lower level Banishment & Protection from G&E around.</p><p></p><p><strong>6th level</strong>: The Investiture Spells are probably not really worth it at this level and Flesh To Stone is a little too restrictive for PCs to use to greatest effect(though NPC can still make use). Create Homunculus & Drawmij's Instant Summons seem to be a little over leveled, though they are more downtime/ritual spells.</p><p></p><p><strong>7th level</strong>: Mordenkainen's Sword takes the cake here (one wonders if you could take the recent Blade of Disaster, tone down the damage a bit, and have a decent implementation of MS). Divine Word, Regenerate, PWP, and Prismatic Spray all are either too niche or lack oomph for the level.</p><p></p><p><strong>8th level:</strong> Ali-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting seem to be the one here. Although arguments could be made for Glibness, Demiplane, & Power Word Stun.</p><p></p><p><strong>9th level</strong>: Weird is probably the winner here. Though Blade of Disaster, Astral Projection, and Timestop could all be be contenders.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Gadget, post: 8230092, member: 23716"] Well, I'll add a few to the list. As a note, I tend to give a pass to utility/World Building spells that are less of trap option, so things like [I]Illusory Script[/I] don't make the cut (though I would change the duration on that spell to 'until dispelled' or some such). [B]Cantrips[/B]: The clear winner hear is True Strike. Absolutely terrible spell. I would change it to just be like Resistance, but for attacks (add 1d4 to an attack roll before spell expires, change duration to 10 min/1 hr with conc.) Honorable mentions are: Friends and Blade Ward. [B]1st level:[/B] Witch Bolt is another clear winner. Between the low damage, action economy drain, short range and concentration requirement; just no. I've seen many "fixes" for this spell, I'm kind of partial to having it grapple the target (with the rules for escaping a grapple applied), but that might be too much. Maybe just a range increase with a knock back or speed reduction effect. Honorable mentions: Ray of Sickness, Jump. [B]2nd level:[/B] Find Traps seems particularly bad the way it is designed. Honorable mentions: Cordon of Arrows, Crown of Madness, Ray of Enfeeblement and Melf's Acid Arrow. Some would add Barkskin and Flame Blade to the list, but I think they have their uses, as indeed CoM & RoE do, but they are not well designed. [B]3rd level[/B]: Not a lot of real stinkers, but Feign Death, Flame Arrows, Bestow Curse, and Vampiric Touch all are a bit lacking in one way or another, or are overshadowed in some way by lower level effects. [B]4th level[/B]: Blight, Grasping Vine & Phantasmal Killer are all candidates. All have niche uses and can be applied successfully, but seem worse than other spells at this level or overshadowed by lower level effects; or are just too little for this level a spell. [B]5th level[/B]: Immolation & Negative Energy Flood stand out here. Dispel Evil & Good is a bit too niche as well, with the lower level Banishment & Protection from G&E around. [B]6th level[/B]: The Investiture Spells are probably not really worth it at this level and Flesh To Stone is a little too restrictive for PCs to use to greatest effect(though NPC can still make use). Create Homunculus & Drawmij's Instant Summons seem to be a little over leveled, though they are more downtime/ritual spells. [B]7th level[/B]: Mordenkainen's Sword takes the cake here (one wonders if you could take the recent Blade of Disaster, tone down the damage a bit, and have a decent implementation of MS). Divine Word, Regenerate, PWP, and Prismatic Spray all are either too niche or lack oomph for the level. [B]8th level:[/B] Ali-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting seem to be the one here. Although arguments could be made for Glibness, Demiplane, & Power Word Stun. [B]9th level[/B]: Weird is probably the winner here. Though Blade of Disaster, Astral Projection, and Timestop could all be be contenders. [/QUOTE]
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