Level 17 caster


Advice


Hello all, a cloistered cleric here. We have just reached level 17 and this level 9 spells unlocked. I'm looking for recommendations on the most powerful 9th level spells on the Divine list. I am thinking Heightened Heroism is a must prepare with a fighter in our party, but not sure what else is really good.


Foresight is a fantastic buff.

Overwhelming Presence does have the incapacitation trait, but as long as you use it on multiple enemies then even just two enemies that get a regular success will, in total, lose more actions than you spend casting the spell.

Wails of the Damned isn't the strongest possible damaging spell you could have on the divine list, but it isn't a basic save and does its full damage even if the enemy gets a success, while failure and critical failures result in enemies suffering the drained condition.


It appears a spell like Heightened Roaring Applause would be better than Overwhelming Presence, at a much lower spell slot.


The Total Package wrote:
It appears a spell like Heightened Roaring Applause would be better than Overwhelming Presence, at a much lower spell slot.

6th-rank Roaring Applause is good. Better? Debatable. The effect enemies suffer on a success is more situational, and Roaring Applause is also sustained duration.

Of course you only have two 9th-rank slots at level 17, so you do have to make some choices. Between your desired Heroism and my suggestions you've got four choices already, notwithstanding other spells you could prepare in those two slots. So if I felt that Roaring Applause suited my CC needs I would absolutely consider leaving aside Overwhelming Presence. It's all based on your wants and needs.


The increase in the benefits of bumping Heroism from 6th to 9th feel smaller than the benefits of casting a 9th Rank spell instead. Of course the math shifts if you pack several combats into that Heroism duration, have short adventuring days so seldom run out of high Rank spells, or there's some factor hindering your PC's involvement (that doesn't hinder the Fighter's). And one must consider what situations/saves/enemies the other casters cover & how well.


Overwhelming Presence has incap, but is practically a fight-ender. I wouldn't actually consider it in competition with roaring applause because of the incap and the extreme degree of disruption it pushes onto enemies when it does work. (EDIT: Spirit Song at 8th rank is more something in competition with Roaring Applause.)

Really, the 9th rank list for divine isn't that great. The selective targeting on wails of the damned is alright, and Foresight has obvious uses, but there are just better spells at 8th rank (Canticle of Everlasting Grief is stronger than it looks) and heightening lower level spells can often do more good than your 9th rank options.


Which heightened 9th level spells would you recommend? I guess Calm would be right there wouldn't it?


The Total Package wrote:
Which heightened 9th level spells would you recommend? I guess Calm would be right there wouldn't it?

In my humble opinion? No. No it wouldn't be. I would absolutely choose Overwhelming Presence over Calm. It's not even close. Overwhelming Presence can't be ended prematurely the same way Calm can, it affects a wider area, can trigger move or manipulate triggered reactions, and isn't a sustained duration.

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