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So I will keep the current situation vague so I don't put spoilers out.
Our group is exploring a bandit town and need to overthrow its leaders. We known who they are, and it looks like the majority of our opponents are humanoid.
My sorcerer is an air elementalist, and almost 5th level. I have shield, burning hands, magic missile, color spray, obscuring mist and create pit. I get scorching ray next level ( and have precise shot and pbs). I carry a wand of mage armor, and scribe scrolls. Stats are S12, D12, C14, I12, W10, 18Ch.
The mist spell has saved us, and the color spray is still very handy. I am more than happy to pick up another 1st level spell with FCB. We will likely be in close quarters, so vanish is on my to get list with FCB.
That leaves a first and a second. Thoughts? Summon monster 2? Grease? Sleep? Mirror image? Glitterdust?
Mirror image is going to save your life more than anything else during your career.
Pro Evil will also save your life because it'll stop the fighter from being controlled by the enemies!
If your party is good at keeping enemies off your back, glitterdust is almost required for dealing with invisible enemies. If they're not, mirror image is required to not die when enemies get in your face.
It's probably a little early for invisible creature popping up all that often but Glitterdust is an awesome spell, even if it's just for the blinding or concealment nullifying.
1. Liberating Command: It's super useful and will always be useful. I know that as a high level caster it's pretty much the only 1st level spell I really use in combat anymore.
2. Glitterdust: It's an amazing sorcerer spell due to the versatility and it is also something that stays useful forever. Debuffs, reveals invisible, gets rid of concealment, and can hit multiple targets. It's really a great spell all around.
I would take those two, but as far as some non-standard-choice runner up suggestions for 2nd level spells:
Burst of Radiance: Reflex or blind aoo and also automatically does 5d6 damage to evil creatures. It's pretty sweet.
Ghoul Touch: 2nd level save or die. If you find yourself close to another caster it will ruin their day, but being a touch spell is iffy.
Limp Lash: It can easily be broken, but it wastes enemy actions to do so and the 1d6 to all physical stats is incredibly mean. It's even funnier if you are fighting something too stupid to understand what it happening to it and as such doesn't know to break the lash or move away. It also has some great kill stealing potential; lower con, HP goes down, perhaps enough to take them out.
It's probably a little early for invisible creature popping up all that often but Glitterdust is an awesome spell, even if it's just for the blinding or concealment nullifying.
I'd have thought that if a bunch of bandits (see the OP) had any spell at all it'd be invisibility. Will o'wisps probably won't be around the town but at CR 6 they are a possibility in the near future.
No denying that it's a good spell otherwise too.
Glitterdust is THE most powerful second level spell. A must have. For first level, grease is a good option. Apart from targetting the floor, you can also use it to cast on an enemy's weapon, which is really handy and an often forgotten use. In certain cases it can be targetted on an ally to help with escape artists checks, though that is up to the DM.
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Level 2: Glitterdust, mirror image (blur if you want to buff others), scorching ray(flame sphere is better but you have pbs and precise shot), create pit, pyrotechnics (since running with alchemist)
Level 3: haste, aqueous orb, disple magic, spiked pit, stinking cloud, SM3
Level 4: black tentacles, confusion, d. Door, enervation, fear, stone shape, emergency force shield, wall of fire
Level 5: magic jar, wall of force, cloud kill,
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If you're using invisibility for combat rather than out of combat utility, don't bother. Vanish will last long enough, and your second level spells are precious to you.
Mirror Image is my personal favorite spell pretty much ever. I'm a bit biased though, I use it with a tank cleric of deception who used favored spell with it. May not have as much value when every strike will take an image out, and your caster level isn't netting you many bonus images yet. May need to wait until 6th.
I'm not fond of glitterdust, but admittedly have no rational justification for my distaste.
Grease and Create Pit are the standouts imho. I don't care for Summon Monster until 4. The duration is brutally short until then, and before then virtually nothing you get can take a hit.