I'm working on making a list of the iconic spells for each class (that can cast spells), and wanted to get some input from the community as to what those spells are. Ideally, there would be a list with 2-5 spells for each class that are iconic for that class. These spells don't necessarily need to be the best spells for each class, but the spells that you think of when you think of that class.
For example, 2 of the iconic spells for Wizards would be Magic Missile and Fireball, at least for me.
I would suggest that iconic cleric spells would be cure xx wounds, bless, and sanctuary.
Magus would likely be Shocking Grasp, Bladed Dash, and True Strike.
Some of the iconic Bard spells are Charm Person, Heroism, and Silent Image. At least, in my opinion.
Cleric: Bless, Prayer, Speak with Dead, Flame Strike, Blade Barrier
Cleric: Raise Dead. Also, Cure Light Wounds, Restoration, Flame Strike (terrible spell that it is), Speak with Dead.
Wizard: Fly, Invisibility, Shapechange, Wall of Force, Teleport. Honestly, the do-anything, I'm-not-just-delivering-DPS-I'm-playing-an-entirely-different-game spells are far more iconic than Fireball.
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Honestly, the do-anything, I'm-not-just-delivering-DPS-I'm-playing-an-entirely-different-game spells are far more iconic than Fireball.
While I agree with this in terms of power, in terms of iconic, "This is a wizard", Fireball is at the top of the list, even if it's not an optimal choice in most situations.
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Druid would be entangle, faerie fire, and flame blade, possibly also shillelagh or goodberry.Barkskin, Obscuring Mist, Create Water, warp wood/wood shape/that whole series.
Everybody gets obscuring mist and basically every divine caster gets create water; they're hardly iconic druid stuff.
100% agree with barkskin though, and could even go with heat metal.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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It's really hard for wizards because there are so many spells that could have iconic status based on their long history in the game. Things like acid arrow, stinking cloud, cloudkill, floating disc, color spray, mirror image, the Bigby's X hand spells that aren't Bigby's anymore, etc.
It's really hard for wizards because there are so many spells that could have iconic status based on their long history in the game. Things like acid arrow, stinking cloud, cloudkill, floating disc, color spray, mirror image, the Bigby's X hand spells that aren't Bigby's anymore, etc.
Bigby gets a shout out, but no love for Tenser, Melf and Mordenkainen, eh?
Definitely Mirror Image is an iconic Wizard spell...Polymorph, as well. Of the high level stuff, I'd say Prismatic Spray and Time Stop probably qualify.
Am I the only one who thinks of sleep and web as iconic wizard spells? Or maybe I've read too much Dragonlance. ;)
In all seriousness, at high levels I would include wish and meteor swarm for wizards, and prayer for clerics.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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It's really hard for wizards because there are so many spells that could have iconic status based on their long history in the game. Things like acid arrow, stinking cloud, cloudkill, floating disc, color spray, mirror image, the Bigby's X hand spells that aren't Bigby's anymore, etc.Bigby gets a shout out, but no love for Tenser, Melf and Mordenkainen, eh?
Definitely Mirror Image is an iconic Wizard spell...Polymorph, as well. Of the high level stuff, I'd say Prismatic Spray and Time Stop probably qualify.
All the love for Tasha and her uncontrollable hideous laughter. :)
While I agree with this in terms of power, in terms of iconic, "This is a wizard", Fireball is at the top of the list, even if it's not an optimal choice in most situations.Honestly, the do-anything, I'm-not-just-delivering-DPS-I'm-playing-an-entirely-different-game spells are far more iconic than Fireball.
He has a point. Iconic does not mean optimal. It is just the spells that people associate with the list. And it just happens to be that using your magic in a big fire-y explosion to destroy all tha oppose you is more memorable than a lot of support and battlefield control spells. People tend to remember when their character got exploded more than the time they got changed into a toad (even if that can be more effective for taking out an opponent for the fight)
Now, it doesn't mean that fireball can't get into the same game of control. Once you got past the inexperienced attitude of simply "KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL", you start looking at meta magics and other build choices. I am sure you will admit that a meta'd up fire ball, such as one with dazing (with all those delightful traits that allow you to keep it low level) can also bring a dimension of control to the fight.
Of course, now with kineticists, I suppose there is less need for the wizard to play with perfectly crafted blasts. So it will be interesting to see how that affects the way builds form.
EDIT: While on that subject- for kinetists, though not proper spell casters in the traditional sense- I guess the iconic blasts would be deadly earth+grappling for earth (cause black tentacles), explosion for fire (adjustable range full damage AoE), chain for air (chain lightning, of course), and hmmm... fragmentation for water? I'm not an expert on this, but those seem like a nice set of basics.
Anything "sonic" should be iconic for a Bard: Sound Burst, Thunderous Drums, Dissonant Chord, Deafening Song Bolt...
I really like "Dirge of the Victorious Knights" as a rather thematic 6th level Bard spell (ISWG) as well.
Animal Growth and entangle tops it for druids. That said, druids have their own whole subcategories of themes.
There are the animal and plant focused ones, of course, but there's also the water druids, and the storm druids. Hard to pick out a single theme as the main one. It's really why druids are so much better than fighters.
Longstrider for rangers.
Holy Sword and Bless Weapon for paladins.
For a wizard I'd say Fly, Invisibility and Fireball.
For a cleric Cure *** Wounds, Bless and Protection from Evil.
The druid gets Entangle, Call Lightning and Speak with Animals.
For a bard Charm Person, Heroism and Suggestion seem good.
I placed a cutoff of 3rd level spells on the basis that most games get that far, but the mere existence of E6 suggests that many people aren't comfortable past that point.