Your favorite unusual spells

[Fedifensor]

Resilient Sphere

It's not an unusual spell in my opinion, but I never see people using resilient sphere. Any 4th level spell that can take a foe completely out of the fight with a failed save is going in my spellbook. It's even evocation, so wizards and sorcerers that love to blast everything can have a non-destructive option that takes advantage of Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus.

 

[shilsen]

It's not an unusual spell in my opinion, but I never see people using resilient sphere. Any 4th level spell that can take a foe completely out of the fight with a failed save is going in my spellbook. It's even evocation, so wizards and sorcerers that love to blast everything can have a non-destructive option that takes advantage of Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus.

One of the PCs in a game I'm in has made some very good use of it. And don't forget the defensive capabilities of the spell too. There's been more than one time when he's cast it around himself, especially when being plagued by incorporeal undead.

 

[Elemental]

Conjure Ice Beast 1-9 (Frostburn) are personal favourites: It conjures icy construct versions of the Summon Nature's Ally List with customisable abilities, such as a breath weapon, extra cold damage on melee attacks, or the ability to engulf smaller opponents, suffocating and freezing them. As a little bonus, Protection From Alignment won't keep them out.

By the same token, Boreal Wind doesn't have the best damage (1d4 / level, maximum 15), but has a ridiculous area of effect--400ft + 40ft per level, in a line that's twenty feet wide and high. And it lasts for one round per two levels. Only problem is that depending on how the DM reads the save entry, a Fortitude save might completely negate the damage.

Sunstroke from Sandstorm is a nice little level 1 spell. 2d6 guaranteed nonlethal damage, might fatigue and dehydrate.