Is UMD useful for anything but wands and scrolls?

[Brian]

I basically never use wands in these games and I only use scrolls to memorize. Does this mean I shouldn't bother with UMD on any of my characters?

[Drake]

Depends on the difficulty. On higher difficulties, especially early game, you'll use scrolls and wands to save spell slots (or have more variety, I know that I use the grease wand in chapter 1 to spam grease in the garrison, it makes the place so much easier), because of the resting mechanic that applies debuffs if you rest too much outside.

Plus you can craft scrolls that have better levels, so they can be useful.
Also without UMD you can't resurrect a party member if you can't cast raise dead. So depending on your party composition, some spells like restoration, heal, raise dead, death ward etc. will be unavailable in dangerous areas.

[canuck250]

Drake beat me and has all the relative info about being to craft meta magic scrolls so they last longer. But otherwise, if you don't want them, you only need a point and then forget.

A couple notable are shield scrolls and hurricane bow, so a tank or archer might want umd. Having a cleric scroll scribe is pretty good for eaglesoul alone, then any damage dealer would want that.

[kodama]

There are few fairly high UMD checks later in game (in Act 3), but that quest & area are completely optional.

[reidj062]

UMD is very helpful in Baphomet's labyrinth.

[Soul]

I think ive seen people say the highest UMD check outside of scrolls and such is the one found at blackwater... a dungeon that locks you in when you enter and need a huge use magic device check to leave or clear the area...