Fireball fireball fireball and oh fireball
Just Fireball.
I’ve been using ice storm a lot more. It has a wider radius, does almost as much damage, and imposes difficult terrain, which frequently knocks enemies prone, wasting their turn.
Uh…counterspell?
Best spell in the game.
Edit: also for clerics i’d pick spirit guardians over everything.
Playing a druid currently and I couldn’t count the number of vile glares I’ve gotten from the DM as I utter “I cast Dispell Magic”…
Spore Druid and Call Lightning is absolutely amazing. A level 3+ spell that you can cast infinite times without expanding further spell slots? Oh hell yes, please!
Works great for moon druids too, to give them a ranged option in wild shape.
I don’t pick Counterspell because I don’t want to piss off my DM.
My current wizard character didn’t take counterspell until the dm sent a wizard at us with it first. He had no one to blame but himself.
I have a house rule where a counter spelled counter spell is nullified but causes a roll on the wild magic table for both casters.
That is a great idea!
Mutually assured destruction. I like it.
They need to think more creatively. You’re now focused on countering the enemy caster, and the party might be more distracted helping you to clear out the threat.
This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of, and put some nice pressure down.
Nah, the group where I play the caster who could take Counterspell has a fairly green DM and I just don’t want to stress him out more by thwarting his plans.
With a veteran DM? Boy I am fucking them every which way front, back and sideways with creatively misused utility spells.
A player having access to counterspell is need-to-know DM information just like a player having access to flight is. It can and should be planned around.
Also, if the player and DM are into it, escalate the arms race, start having enemies prepare counterspells. Lots of interesting casters have it on their lists but DMs are afraid to use it to its full potential. Players would do it to enemies all day long but when the tables are turned, nobody ever forgets what it’s like to have the enemy lich counterspell their heal.
Hypnotic Pattern. Damage is for chumps. Mass save or suck for me
This says a lot about spells in 5e.
Yes, there are many great choices, but one choice is usually greater than others.
Come to Pathfinder, where all the spells are kind of okay I guess.
please don’t kill mePathfinder 2 is even worse in that regard. You have a few kind of okay ones and then a bunch you’ll essentially never use. The price of Pf2s strife for “balance”.
It’s probably my biggest pain point with the system. I have a buddy who only likes to play magicians. She’s miserable playing 2e because the cool evocative spells she gravitates towards just aren’t the narrow list of reliable, evergreen, and efficient spells that thrive in 2e’s ecosystem.
Hey now, you only need to pick twelve interdependent feats in order to make Counterspell useful!
I think my next stop on the TTRPG tour will be Blades In The Dark. I borrowed the flashback mechanic for a 5e heist and it was pretty great.
Hypnotic Pattern, Haste, and Revivify are all great choices too
But
Fireball, Fireball, and (Fireball for Light clerics) Spirit Guardians is understandable
(Fireball for Light clerics)
“What kind of holy man packs Fireballs?!?”
“The awesome kind, that you’re lucky to afford. Now stand clear.”
Is hypnotic pattern actually good? I tried it, and it was mostly resisted every time I cast it, so I dumped it.
Hypnotic pattern is good if you know what you’re casting it against isn’t immune or resistant to Charm.
If it isn’t resisted, it can be a combat-ending spell.
Is this some sort of DnD joke I’m too Pathfinder to understand?
No, this works in Pathfinder too. There is a very obvious meta and people follow it.
Fair enough! What’s the Pathfinder 3rd tier spell everybody chooses? :D
Haste, Slow, and Dispel Magic are mandatory. If you are playing in a heroic fantasy campaign, Fireball and Fly are also essentially mandatory. Otherwise, Tongues is the popular pick.
Ahem. FEAR 3
Real
Tiny hut.
What about tiny fireball?
Think A wall of force and a fireball can make a fireball hut?
Leomund would be proud
Fear,Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern, Fireball, Haste, and Revivify + Spirit Guardians (for the divine soul sorcerer) are just too good.
Spirit Shroud is also great for Martials.
Ashardalaon’s stride is really really fun in the right place as well. Unmitigated fire damage just for using your move speed? Not always worth the concentration slot, but by far one of the coolest 3rd level spells.
I’m a big fan of Plant Growth too actually. But that’s more Bard and Druid.
Feign death every time. Most OP spell in the game.
Clerics don’t need to choose.
