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There are powerful spells, there are efficient spells, and then there are spells that exist for no other reason than to show off. The spell you, as a powerful caster, keep prepared just to demonstrate your power in as audacious a manner as possible. The type of thing a BBEG throws around in their first encounter to off a beloved NPC in as fashionable a way as possible.
Whether its snapping your fingers and causing someone's Head To Explode, ripping out someone's blood and turning it into an elemental, or going full cultist and ripping out a heart there are some spells that are absolutely displays of power.
What other spells are there that do this, show off a caster's raw might despite being suboptiomal under most circumstances. They don't all need to be save or suck spells, but those tend to have the largest effects.
turning to stone and stealing life (or age) seem like a good evil ones.
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For showy whilst holding back on the bigger Spells to deal with the P.C. Party, I would fall back on the old staple of Disintegrate. A favourite would be Suffocation, counting down the Rounds until their little friend dies in front of them - unless the Party can get past the enemy smirking before them. If we go high-level then Suffocation, Mass is a terrifying Spell that can traumatize a Party as they scrabble to save themselves, let alone anyone else. Hold Monster, Mass is more for those B.B.E.G.s that like to gloat/monologue as they kill the Party's friends one by one.
My all time favourite displays of power are the insultingly low power - there is nothing better than the B.B.E.G. arranging it so that the P.C.s rush over to save a dying comrade, only for the amused antagonist to have readied Dispel Magic (for a Wand/Spellcasting), or worse neutralizing their Potion with a Cantrip, (Putrefy Food and Drink)!
For a Summoning-heavy Party strategy I prefer the use of Bite the Hand (Greater); with a flick of the wrist the antagonist turns their own allies against them, ruining their plans. Flee petty adventurers, flee ... if you can.
Rather than immediate death or explosions, you may note a running theme of overwhelming dominance over lives, plans and Magic in my preferred tactics. OvvO
For high-level, sheer power I would go with Wail of the Banshee and Implosion. To Attack a village/town under the P.C.s' protection, undermining the people's faith in them and pressuring the Party to take action before they are ready, Storm of Vengeance seems fun. (However, with my own particular tastes, instead of killing the favoured N.P.C., I might keep around a good book.)
I can't think of many times I've done this. But I did have a BBEG use an Sphere of Annihilation against the group. Picking them off one by one. It was a blessing in disguise though since it was one of the faulty orbs that merely teleports you instead of killing you. It gave the party a chance to regroup and lay low for a bit, while at the same time making the group terrified to face him directly.
As far as terrifying body horror spells go, we can add boneshatter and slough to our list.
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Greater angelic aspect is pretty damn showy. So is form of the dragon.
Some showy or vain items I like are muleback cords for the +8 vanity str and inheritor's ring for prestidigitation.
Cloudkill - also known as "How to depopulate small villages"
Symbol of exsanguination is even better than explosive runes for putting on a letter and mailing to someone. I might deliver one in sealed envelope to my PCs some day . . .