Best Low level Spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Low level Spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
crowclub
02-12-06, 02:14 PM It's easy picking out a broken high level spell that blows the c**p out of something but what about the low level spells? Are they any good?

Whats the best Lvl 1, 2 and 3 spells for Wizards/Sorcerer, Bard, and Cleric ?
smrtgmp
02-12-06, 02:45 PM A high level spell being powerful does not make it broken. High level spells are supposed to be powerful.

As far as low level wizard spells go, my favorites include:

Core:

1st level:

Grease (fantastic combat control, and versitile to boot), charm person (for those occasions when violence will get you nowhere fast), sleep (borderline broken at 1st level, though it quickly becomes worthless beyond that), Magic Missile (I'll pass at 1st level, but a great with metamagic, especially as a fell drain delivery system), color spray (a 1st level spell that stuns over an area? yes please.), ray of enfeeblement (one of the few 1st level spells that remains useful as the game progresses), enlarge/reduce (great combat buff).

2nd level:

Glitterdust (nullifies invisibility and blinds those caught in its area), Web (I cant believe this is a 2nd level spell), Hideous Laughter (this is absolutely devestating against enemy bruisers, and is akin to a death sentance to those who fail their save), touch of idiocy (nasty against enemy spellcasters, especially when used in conjunction with a lesser rod of maximize and delivered via spectral hand), Shatter (a great multi-purpose utility spell), Blur (a great combat buff; slap this on your front-liners to improve their staying power), Mirror Image (combine with blur or displacement on yourself and you become exceedingly difficult to hit), Command Undead (no save for mindless undead, with a duration measured in days), Spectral Hand (to deliver those nasty touch spells from a safe distance), Alter Self (hooray for versatility), Rope Trick (the ultimate low level escape spell, especially when prefaced by an obscuring mist).

3rd level:

Dispel Magic (a no-brainer), Nondetection (makes your invisible rogue buddy that much harder to find), Stinking Cloud (absolutely devestating), Suggestion (loads of fun and extreamly versitile), Windwall (fantastic protection against enemy archers), Displacement (as blur, only better), Major Image (never underestimate the power of a well timed illusion), Fly (get this spell), Haste (one of the best party buffs for its level in the whole game), Shrink Item (a very useful utility spell), Slow (absolutely devestating to those who fail their saves, especially if your allies are hasted).

I'll come back with some non-core goodies when I have the time, but my game is about to start.
Wind of Darkness
02-12-06, 04:02 PM There is no best, but I certainly have my favorites.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd? Lessee...

Wizard first:

1: Grease is brilliant for its sheer utility. Ray of Enfeeblement makes melee combatants cry. True Strike is decent early on and excellent when combine with Quicken Spell.

2: Shatter is among the greatest utility spells ever. The various animal's attribute spells (in particular the physical stat ones) are good early on until you start replacing them with magic items. I <3 rope trick. Glitterdust is AoE, blinds, and reveals hidden, invisible stuff. Ph34r. Web can halt armies indoors. Combo it with AoE damage spells and...

3: Fly has a multitude of uses, not the least of which is keeping oneslf away from the spears and swords and axes and other nasty things. Wind wall is to bows what fly is to swords. Haste is absolutely crazy and can buff the whole party. I never go without it. Dispel magic is one of the reasons why you should never, ever drop Abjuration. Suggestion is fun. That's all I have to say. It's fun.

Now Bard:

NOTE: For all levels, the various cure spells get an honorable mention because healing is never, ever a bad thing.

1: Hideous laughter kills (great for wizards, too, mind, but it's a must-have for Bards). I still love grease.

2: Suggestion, shatter, and glitterdust are all just as good for a bard as for a Wizard.

3: Whee, haste! Confusion is pretty amusing, and can take a few people out for a while. Dispel magic is, as I've said, win.

Finally Cleric:

My experience in using Clerics is limited. I have no favorite Cleric spells.
tarkin
02-12-06, 07:09 PM Some of it depends on what level you are. When you are first level, Sleep is incredibally powerfull. By 5th level it is worthless.

Charm Person is usefull through almost all levels. I call it the best first level spell.

----

2nd level has a lot of good stuff.

Alter Self has multiple uses, including combat buff, water breather, flight

Mirror Image is often one of the best defensive spells around, regardless of level.

-----

At 3rd level, Fireball is the standard that everybody compares the other attacks to, and usually finds the other spells lacking.

Dispell Magic on the other hand is something that most people need.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
crowclub 02-12-06, 02:14 PM	It's easy picking out a broken high level spell that blows the c**p out of something but what about the low level spells? Are they any good? Whats the best Lvl 1, 2 and 3 spells for Wizards/Sorcerer, Bard, and Cleric ?
smrtgmp 02-12-06, 02:45 PM	A high level spell being powerful does not make it broken. High level spells are supposed to be powerful. As far as low level wizard spells go, my favorites include: Core: 1st level: Grease (fantastic combat control, and versitile to boot), charm person (for those occasions when violence will get you nowhere fast), sleep (borderline broken at 1st level, though it quickly becomes worthless beyond that), Magic Missile (I'll pass at 1st level, but a great with metamagic, especially as a fell drain delivery system), color spray (a 1st level spell that stuns over an area? yes please.), ray of enfeeblement (one of the few 1st level spells that remains useful as the game progresses), enlarge/reduce (great combat buff). 2nd level: Glitterdust (nullifies invisibility and blinds those caught in its area), Web (I cant believe this is a 2nd level spell), Hideous Laughter (this is absolutely devestating against enemy bruisers, and is akin to a death sentance to those who fail their save), touch of idiocy (nasty against enemy spellcasters, especially when used in conjunction with a lesser rod of maximize and delivered via spectral hand), Shatter (a great multi-purpose utility spell), Blur (a great combat buff; slap this on your front-liners to improve their staying power), Mirror Image (combine with blur or displacement on yourself and you become exceedingly difficult to hit), Command Undead (no save for mindless undead, with a duration measured in days), Spectral Hand (to deliver those nasty touch spells from a safe distance), Alter Self (hooray for versatility), Rope Trick (the ultimate low level escape spell, especially when prefaced by an obscuring mist). 3rd level: Dispel Magic (a no-brainer), Nondetection (makes your invisible rogue buddy that much harder to find), Stinking Cloud (absolutely devestating), Suggestion (loads of fun and extreamly versitile), Windwall (fantastic protection against enemy archers), Displacement (as blur, only better), Major Image (never underestimate the power of a well timed illusion), Fly (get this spell), Haste (one of the best party buffs for its level in the whole game), Shrink Item (a very useful utility spell), Slow (absolutely devestating to those who fail their saves, especially if your allies are hasted). I'll come back with some non-core goodies when I have the time, but my game is about to start.
Wind of Darkness 02-12-06, 04:02 PM	There is no best, but I certainly have my favorites. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd? Lessee... Wizard first: 1: Grease is brilliant for its sheer utility. Ray of Enfeeblement makes melee combatants cry. True Strike is decent early on and excellent when combine with Quicken Spell. 2: Shatter is among the greatest utility spells ever. The various animal's attribute spells (in particular the physical stat ones) are good early on until you start replacing them with magic items. I <3 rope trick. Glitterdust is AoE, blinds, and reveals hidden, invisible stuff. Ph34r. Web can halt armies indoors. Combo it with AoE damage spells and... 3: Fly has a multitude of uses, not the least of which is keeping oneslf away from the spears and swords and axes and other nasty things. Wind wall is to bows what fly is to swords. Haste is absolutely crazy and can buff the whole party. I never go without it. Dispel magic is one of the reasons why you should never, ever drop Abjuration. Suggestion is fun. That's all I have to say. It's fun. Now Bard: NOTE: For all levels, the various cure spells get an honorable mention because healing is never, ever a bad thing. 1: Hideous laughter kills (great for wizards, too, mind, but it's a must-have for Bards). I still love grease. 2: Suggestion, shatter, and glitterdust are all just as good for a bard as for a Wizard. 3: Whee, haste! Confusion is pretty amusing, and can take a few people out for a while. Dispel magic is, as I've said, win. Finally Cleric: My experience in using Clerics is limited. I have no favorite Cleric spells.
tarkin 02-12-06, 07:09 PM	Some of it depends on what level you are. When you are first level, Sleep is incredibally powerfull. By 5th level it is worthless. Charm Person is usefull through almost all levels. I call it the best first level spell. ---- 2nd level has a lot of good stuff. Alter Self has multiple uses, including combat buff, water breather, flight Mirror Image is often one of the best defensive spells around, regardless of level. ----- At 3rd level, Fireball is the standard that everybody compares the other attacks to, and usually finds the other spells lacking. Dispell Magic on the other hand is something that most people need.