What low-level arcane spells are directly relevant to combat where my spellcasting ability score doesn't...
$begingroup$
I'm building a tough front-line Fighter maxed on CON and STR who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm going with no higher than INT 13 (which I intend never to increase, and would love to let it be even lower), but I want to start by taking a brief dip in an arcane class such as Wizard (probably no more than 3rd level) before going full bore in Fighter. My motive is to get a batch of spells where there is no spell attack, no saving throw, i.e. where the low Intelligence doesn't matter (or low Charisma or if I go Bard or Sorcerer), but the spell still helps me in combat. (No Eldritch Knight for me; I want to be a Champion or Battle Master who uses a bit of magic to be even more of a menace in the trenches.)
Because of my purpose, I want no utility spells. I realize that clever folks can come up with a way for just about any spell to be creatively employed in combat, but I don't want things like Fog Cloud. For a spell to make my list it has to deal damage, or protect me from taking damage, period. Misty Step makes it in because it lets me escape out of an onslaught.
The list I have so far is:
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- True Strike
1st level
- Absorb Elements
- False Life
- Magic Missile
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Shield
2nd level
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Shadow Blade
I need a few more. By my reckoning, at Wizard 3 my spellbook will have eight 1st level spells and two 2nd level spells. Are there others that meet my criteria in other published sources? Other classes besides Wizard are OK too. And the more spells I can cast while I'm fighting with a melee weapon, the better.
dnd-5e character-creation wizard fighter
New contributor
$endgroup$
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm building a tough front-line Fighter maxed on CON and STR who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm going with no higher than INT 13 (which I intend never to increase, and would love to let it be even lower), but I want to start by taking a brief dip in an arcane class such as Wizard (probably no more than 3rd level) before going full bore in Fighter. My motive is to get a batch of spells where there is no spell attack, no saving throw, i.e. where the low Intelligence doesn't matter (or low Charisma or if I go Bard or Sorcerer), but the spell still helps me in combat. (No Eldritch Knight for me; I want to be a Champion or Battle Master who uses a bit of magic to be even more of a menace in the trenches.)
Because of my purpose, I want no utility spells. I realize that clever folks can come up with a way for just about any spell to be creatively employed in combat, but I don't want things like Fog Cloud. For a spell to make my list it has to deal damage, or protect me from taking damage, period. Misty Step makes it in because it lets me escape out of an onslaught.
The list I have so far is:
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- True Strike
1st level
- Absorb Elements
- False Life
- Magic Missile
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Shield
2nd level
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Shadow Blade
I need a few more. By my reckoning, at Wizard 3 my spellbook will have eight 1st level spells and two 2nd level spells. Are there others that meet my criteria in other published sources? Other classes besides Wizard are OK too. And the more spells I can cast while I'm fighting with a melee weapon, the better.
dnd-5e character-creation wizard fighter
New contributor
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
5
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm building a tough front-line Fighter maxed on CON and STR who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm going with no higher than INT 13 (which I intend never to increase, and would love to let it be even lower), but I want to start by taking a brief dip in an arcane class such as Wizard (probably no more than 3rd level) before going full bore in Fighter. My motive is to get a batch of spells where there is no spell attack, no saving throw, i.e. where the low Intelligence doesn't matter (or low Charisma or if I go Bard or Sorcerer), but the spell still helps me in combat. (No Eldritch Knight for me; I want to be a Champion or Battle Master who uses a bit of magic to be even more of a menace in the trenches.)
Because of my purpose, I want no utility spells. I realize that clever folks can come up with a way for just about any spell to be creatively employed in combat, but I don't want things like Fog Cloud. For a spell to make my list it has to deal damage, or protect me from taking damage, period. Misty Step makes it in because it lets me escape out of an onslaught.
The list I have so far is:
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- True Strike
1st level
- Absorb Elements
- False Life
- Magic Missile
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Shield
2nd level
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Shadow Blade
I need a few more. By my reckoning, at Wizard 3 my spellbook will have eight 1st level spells and two 2nd level spells. Are there others that meet my criteria in other published sources? Other classes besides Wizard are OK too. And the more spells I can cast while I'm fighting with a melee weapon, the better.
dnd-5e character-creation wizard fighter
New contributor
$endgroup$
I'm building a tough front-line Fighter maxed on CON and STR who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'm going with no higher than INT 13 (which I intend never to increase, and would love to let it be even lower), but I want to start by taking a brief dip in an arcane class such as Wizard (probably no more than 3rd level) before going full bore in Fighter. My motive is to get a batch of spells where there is no spell attack, no saving throw, i.e. where the low Intelligence doesn't matter (or low Charisma or if I go Bard or Sorcerer), but the spell still helps me in combat. (No Eldritch Knight for me; I want to be a Champion or Battle Master who uses a bit of magic to be even more of a menace in the trenches.)
Because of my purpose, I want no utility spells. I realize that clever folks can come up with a way for just about any spell to be creatively employed in combat, but I don't want things like Fog Cloud. For a spell to make my list it has to deal damage, or protect me from taking damage, period. Misty Step makes it in because it lets me escape out of an onslaught.
The list I have so far is:
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- True Strike
1st level
- Absorb Elements
- False Life
- Magic Missile
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Shield
2nd level
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Shadow Blade
I need a few more. By my reckoning, at Wizard 3 my spellbook will have eight 1st level spells and two 2nd level spells. Are there others that meet my criteria in other published sources? Other classes besides Wizard are OK too. And the more spells I can cast while I'm fighting with a melee weapon, the better.
dnd-5e character-creation wizard fighter
dnd-5e character-creation wizard fighter
New contributor
New contributor
edited 4 secs ago
Valley Lad
2,7951034
2,7951034
New contributor
asked 1 hour ago
MystMageMystMage
243
243
New contributor
New contributor
5
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
5
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago
|
show 5 more comments
5
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
5
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago
5
5
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
5
5
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago
|
show 5 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Don't be a Wizard. Be a Divine Soul Sorcerer.
If you're explicitly not going for any of the utility spells, then you correctly see that there aren't that many good offensive or defensive spells that don't require you to have a good casting stat. My suggestion would be that, rather than going Wizard, you go Sorcerer, with the Divine Soul bloodline (Xanathar's, p 50). In short, this bloodline lets you pick spells from both the Sorcerer and Cleric class lists, as well as giving you an ability to add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You'll have a lot fewer spells, since you're a Sorcerer, but you'll have a lot more versatility in how you cast them.
My suggested spell list up to 3rd level would be:
Cantrips: Guidance, Blade Ward, True Strike, Resistance
1st: False Life, Shield of Faith, Shield
2nd: Blur
In addition, you get one more 1st level spell depending on your alignment from the Divine Soul bloodline. Law is a good choice for you, since bless gives you extra bonuses to attack rolls. I'd also suggest taking the Quickened and Twinned metamagic abilities, so you can cast while attacking and buff your allies, respectively.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Don't be a Wizard. Be a Divine Soul Sorcerer.
If you're explicitly not going for any of the utility spells, then you correctly see that there aren't that many good offensive or defensive spells that don't require you to have a good casting stat. My suggestion would be that, rather than going Wizard, you go Sorcerer, with the Divine Soul bloodline (Xanathar's, p 50). In short, this bloodline lets you pick spells from both the Sorcerer and Cleric class lists, as well as giving you an ability to add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You'll have a lot fewer spells, since you're a Sorcerer, but you'll have a lot more versatility in how you cast them.
My suggested spell list up to 3rd level would be:
Cantrips: Guidance, Blade Ward, True Strike, Resistance
1st: False Life, Shield of Faith, Shield
2nd: Blur
In addition, you get one more 1st level spell depending on your alignment from the Divine Soul bloodline. Law is a good choice for you, since bless gives you extra bonuses to attack rolls. I'd also suggest taking the Quickened and Twinned metamagic abilities, so you can cast while attacking and buff your allies, respectively.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't be a Wizard. Be a Divine Soul Sorcerer.
If you're explicitly not going for any of the utility spells, then you correctly see that there aren't that many good offensive or defensive spells that don't require you to have a good casting stat. My suggestion would be that, rather than going Wizard, you go Sorcerer, with the Divine Soul bloodline (Xanathar's, p 50). In short, this bloodline lets you pick spells from both the Sorcerer and Cleric class lists, as well as giving you an ability to add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You'll have a lot fewer spells, since you're a Sorcerer, but you'll have a lot more versatility in how you cast them.
My suggested spell list up to 3rd level would be:
Cantrips: Guidance, Blade Ward, True Strike, Resistance
1st: False Life, Shield of Faith, Shield
2nd: Blur
In addition, you get one more 1st level spell depending on your alignment from the Divine Soul bloodline. Law is a good choice for you, since bless gives you extra bonuses to attack rolls. I'd also suggest taking the Quickened and Twinned metamagic abilities, so you can cast while attacking and buff your allies, respectively.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't be a Wizard. Be a Divine Soul Sorcerer.
If you're explicitly not going for any of the utility spells, then you correctly see that there aren't that many good offensive or defensive spells that don't require you to have a good casting stat. My suggestion would be that, rather than going Wizard, you go Sorcerer, with the Divine Soul bloodline (Xanathar's, p 50). In short, this bloodline lets you pick spells from both the Sorcerer and Cleric class lists, as well as giving you an ability to add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You'll have a lot fewer spells, since you're a Sorcerer, but you'll have a lot more versatility in how you cast them.
My suggested spell list up to 3rd level would be:
Cantrips: Guidance, Blade Ward, True Strike, Resistance
1st: False Life, Shield of Faith, Shield
2nd: Blur
In addition, you get one more 1st level spell depending on your alignment from the Divine Soul bloodline. Law is a good choice for you, since bless gives you extra bonuses to attack rolls. I'd also suggest taking the Quickened and Twinned metamagic abilities, so you can cast while attacking and buff your allies, respectively.
$endgroup$
Don't be a Wizard. Be a Divine Soul Sorcerer.
If you're explicitly not going for any of the utility spells, then you correctly see that there aren't that many good offensive or defensive spells that don't require you to have a good casting stat. My suggestion would be that, rather than going Wizard, you go Sorcerer, with the Divine Soul bloodline (Xanathar's, p 50). In short, this bloodline lets you pick spells from both the Sorcerer and Cleric class lists, as well as giving you an ability to add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You'll have a lot fewer spells, since you're a Sorcerer, but you'll have a lot more versatility in how you cast them.
My suggested spell list up to 3rd level would be:
Cantrips: Guidance, Blade Ward, True Strike, Resistance
1st: False Life, Shield of Faith, Shield
2nd: Blur
In addition, you get one more 1st level spell depending on your alignment from the Divine Soul bloodline. Law is a good choice for you, since bless gives you extra bonuses to attack rolls. I'd also suggest taking the Quickened and Twinned metamagic abilities, so you can cast while attacking and buff your allies, respectively.
answered 55 mins ago
DuckTapeAlDuckTapeAl
37.6k8127221
37.6k8127221
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
+1 This does sound like an improvement and I did not know about it. I take it this means instead of INT 13 that I will need CHA 13 which actually would blend well with having the Intimidation skill for this character.
$endgroup$
– MystMage
50 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
$begingroup$
I want to upvote this, because it's good advice, but my extreme distaste for the Divine Soul is giving me issues.
$endgroup$
– Miniman
32 mins ago
add a comment |
MystMage is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
MystMage is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
MystMage is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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5
$begingroup$
It's worth noting that you must have at least 13 intelligence to multiclass into or out of a wizard.
$endgroup$
– Ruse
1 hour ago
5
$begingroup$
You need 13 INT to multiclass out of Wizard as well.
$endgroup$
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
This question is fine as asked, but I think part of what you're looking for is spells that you can cast in combat without needing to stop hitting people with pointy/heavy objects, i.e. spells you cast as a bonus action or reaction, or buff spells that you cast once before combat. Also, do spells like misty step meet your criteria? Misty step doesn't directly prevent damage, but it can be used to deny an opportunity attack (assuming that you, a front-liner, ever need to run away from danger instead of toward it).
$endgroup$
– Ryan Thompson
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Is Wizard a hard requirement? Or could other casting classes be acceptable options?
$endgroup$
– DuckTapeAl
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
Sorcerer might be a better fit, you need Cha 13 for that. With Divine Soul you can pic Cleric spells too, that don't care about your ability modifier.
$endgroup$
– András
53 mins ago