Does a Wizard need Dex at all?

[Amon]

I am unfamiliar with D&D 5E, so I wonder if Dex has anything to do with Spell Casting. For example, in Pathfinder 1E, Dex is needed for Ray spells.

[DwarfLivesMatter]

A bit, yes. Ranged attacks for some spells, and bonus armor class. I wouldn't make it your top stat or anything, but some extra dex is good for a wizard.

[MachineGod]

Also consider putting points in your dix as well.

[PwnyHipster]

Depends on the kind of wizard you're making. Also iirc Mage Armor spell does use your dex modifier.

Dex is like mid-tier priority in stats for a wizard.

[Amphieuss]

Dex is the GOD stat

[SpaceNvader]

Originally posted by DwarfLivesMatter:

A bit, yes. Ranged attacks for some spells, and bonus armor class. I wouldn't make it your top stat or anything, but some extra dex is good for a wizard.

In 5e Int is used for ranged hit for wizard spells. Dex is good for some ac though.

[[OTS]EchoZenLogos]

I would argue that for a Wizard, the priority for stats are:

1. Intelligence (main casting stat)
2. Constitution (hit points, they need all the ability to survive possible)
3. Dexterity (saving throws and armor class for people with no armor)
4. Everything else.

So yeah, Dexterity is useful for a Wizard, but it isn't the most important.

[Amon]

Originally posted by manwitch:

Originally posted by DwarfLivesMatter:

A bit, yes. Ranged attacks for some spells, and bonus armor class. I wouldn't make it your top stat or anything, but some extra dex is good for a wizard.

In 5e Int is used for ranged hit. Dex is good for some ac though.

You get one Ability Point per level too, yeah?

[DwarfLivesMatter]

Originally posted by manwitch:

Originally posted by DwarfLivesMatter:

A bit, yes. Ranged attacks for some spells, and bonus armor class. I wouldn't make it your top stat or anything, but some extra dex is good for a wizard.

In 5e Int is used for ranged hit. Dex is good for some ac though.

Good to know, thank you! I mostly just know 2nd & 3.0/3.5 rules and I'm too old to learn new ♥♥♥♥.

[agile_gamer]

Not with ranged spells, no. But Dex is nice for a lot of other things, not least of which is armor class, which a wizard is usually pretty low in having. (Also, being able to dodge fireballs and the like is nice too, etc.) But for your spells, nope.

[Amon]

Originally posted by OTSEchoZenLogos:

I would argue that for a Wizard, the priority for stats are:

1. Intelligence (main casting stat)
2. Constitution (hit points, they need all the ability to survive possible)
3. Dexterity (saving throws and armor class for people with no armor)
4. Everything else.

So yeah, Dexterity is useful for a Wizard, but it isn't the most important.

Wisdom is used for saving throws alongside INT; no good?

[PwnyHipster]

Originally posted by Amphieuss:

Dex is the GOD stat

Dex is unironically the best stat in the game, and in DnD (alongside Charisma).

Strengthcucks perpetually btfo'd

[[OTS]EchoZenLogos]

Originally posted by Amon:

Originally posted by OTSEchoZenLogos:

I would argue that for a Wizard, the priority for stats are:

1. Intelligence (main casting stat)
2. Constitution (hit points, they need all the ability to survive possible)
3. Dexterity (saving throws and armor class for people with no armor)
4. Everything else.

So yeah, Dexterity is useful for a Wizard, but it isn't the most important.

Wisdom is used for saving throws alongside INT; no good?

Wisdom is used for saving throws, but dexterity saving throws tend to be more relevant for things that might instantly get you killed as a Wizard, and dexterity bonuses also give some additional armor class which can save you from getting hit (Wizards struggle to have high AC due to not wearing armor generally, and need every bonus they can get).

For a wizard, the least useful stats are probably strength and charisma on average. Wisdom might be a bit better than those two due to things like the skills and saving throws it assists.

[Zeel Ara]

Originally posted by manwitch:

Originally posted by DwarfLivesMatter:

A bit, yes. Ranged attacks for some spells, and bonus armor class. I wouldn't make it your top stat or anything, but some extra dex is good for a wizard.

In 5e Int is used for ranged hit for wizard spells. Dex is good for some ac though.

Bloody hell, I would have missed that if I hadn't seen your comment. I'm so used to ranged touch attacks being dex. Thank you <3

[DnD Detective]

High dexterity also benefits your Initiative roll. This is very important for spellcasters because it means you can go first and potentially prevent enemies from doing anything before they've even had a turn.

[Amon]

Originally posted by OTSEchoZenLogos:

Originally posted by Amon:

Wisdom is used for saving throws alongside INT; no good?

Wisdom is used for saving throws, but dexterity saving throws tend to be more relevant for things that might instantly get you killed as a Wizard, and dexterity bonuses also give some additional armor class which can save you from getting hit (Wizards struggle to have high AC due to not wearing armor generally, and need every bonus they can get).

For a wizard, the least useful stats are probably strength and charisma on average. Wisdom might be a bit better than those two due to things like the skills and saving throws it assists.

Damn. I usually have my main in video game CRPG be good at Perception, so I went with 16 INT & 16 WIZ.