Wizard Spells that Damage & Penalize Abilities / Stats ...


Advice


I'm in the process of creating a 12th level Wizard who specializes in damaging, penalizing and draining ability stats (DEX, WIS, CHA etc.).

While I have decent familiarity with the spells that do this in 3.5 play, I do not know of Pathfinder's strengths in this type of spellcaster theme. To note, I did do a fair amount of homework on learning the various rule tweaks that stat damage/penalizination/drain went through in the 3.5-to-PF conversion process for spells. For example, I see how Ray of Enfeeblement took a minor hit. I also see that the (+1 MM) Reach Spell feat makes for a good combo on spells of this theme that are Touch-Attack based. Which is much better than the 3.5 equivalent.

So if any of you have suggestions for spells, feats, combos or gear I should look at for this 12th level Wizard, please do holler back! Thank you.


Negative levels can be great for debffing as well.

If you specialize in Enervation with a metamagic trait and Spell Perfection you can get a pretty powerful debuff.

When you hit level 15 you'd be able to have a Quickened Empowered Enervation as a level 6 slot, followed by a Maximized Empowered enervation to do a total of 1d4+8 negative levels.

Might want to check my math though, this was off the top of my head. Your enervation at level 12 should be good with the metamagic trait too (Quickened as a level 7, empowered as a level 5).

EDIT: Fixed some maths.


I'm looking more so for true, dedicated spells that attack ability stats ... and attack them via damage, penalization and/or drain.

Thanks though.

Dark Archive

Calcific Touch all day. Especially if u have a good familiar with something like flyby attack. Touch attack spell that allows 1 touch/round/CL that drains 1d4 Dex and they have to save or be slowed for 1 round. (Dex damage happens even on a save) if their dex hit 0 they suffer permanent petrification. My Sorcerer casts it and dssignates his Arbiter familiar as the `toucher` so for 9 rounds he's flyby attacking someone until they are a statue while thevsorc is free to cast other spells


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7crown wrote:
Calcific Touch all day. Especially if u have a good familiar with something like flyby attack. Touch attack spell that allows 1 touch/round/CL that drains 1d4 Dex and they have to save or be slowed for 1 round. (Dex damage happens even on a save) if their dex hit 0 they suffer permanent petrification. My Sorcerer casts it and dssignates his Arbiter familiar as the `toucher` so for 9 rounds he's flyby attacking someone until they are a statue while thevsorc is free to cast other spells

That sounds like it'd be perfect for a Spirit Binder Wizard.

Sure it's touch AC, but getting a familiar with full BAB is pretty awesome. Let it actually attack while carrying the charge to cause some pain too.


Crai wrote:
... I also see that the (+1 MM) Reach Spell feat makes for a good combo on spells of this theme that are Touch-Attack based. Which is much better than the 3.5 equivalent. ...

Wand of spectral hand (to not waste casting slots) gives you more reach without losing a spell level.

touch of idiocy is one of my favorites.

Dark Archive

177cheese wrote:
7crown wrote:
Calcific Touch all day. Especially if u have a good familiar with something like flyby attack. Touch attack spell that allows 1 touch/round/CL that drains 1d4 Dex and they have to save or be slowed for 1 round. (Dex damage happens even on a save) if their dex hit 0 they suffer permanent petrification. My Sorcerer casts it and dssignates his Arbiter familiar as the `toucher` so for 9 rounds he's flyby attacking someone until they are a statue while thevsorc is free to cast other spells

That sounds like it'd be perfect for a Spirit Binder Wizard.

Sure it's touch AC, but getting a familiar with full BAB is pretty awesome. Let it actually attack while carrying the charge to cause some pain too.

Not sure what that archtype is, but I know that finesse works with touch attacks and the arbiter is +10 to hit with finesse. So full BAB while making that super close to auto hit would be cool I don't consider it necessary.

Sadly the spell doesn't let you hold the charge. It specifically gives you 1 free touch attempt/round for the duration of the spell, if you miss then you lose that touch unless you get an AoO before your next turn I suppose. You could probably argue that your 1 touch attack is part of an unarmed strike or spell combat if you had those options. You still would only get the single instance of dex drain per round however. It's a fun spell, makes your familiar a target real fast so something sturdy is recommended (hence why my sorc has an Arbiter with Regen 2/chaos lol)


Spirit binder

Really cool archetype! Pretty Full Metal Alchemist in flavor.
Could even give it the mauler archetype and make it just scary. Nothing wrong with adding a little extra pain along with the ability damage, but it could easily go both ways.


This thread lists a lot of spells that damage ability scores.

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