What Spells To Pick?

[The Infinity Sock]

I am having a hard time picking witch spells to pick for my sorcerer can you lot help me out

[Dis-Sasha]

burning hands or mage armor and colour spray

if you play silvan, mage armor can buff pet

CC is better than dmg mosty but burning hands will be wild once they fix feats and you can spell specialise it. its really good for spider swarm later etc..


fyi curently no feats work for sorcerer so no spell specialisation no spell focus no nothing..not even spell bound object.

which is a huge issue

either play a mage or wait for patch >( everything works for mages

[The Infinity Sock]

I have two spells in mind glitterdust and greater dispel magic but that's about it could do with same help here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K1vGcH3gSY

[CaoLex]

Glitterdust a bit more reliable, but if you have a bard with you, then it's probably she who should pick it.

[fastello]

Colour Spray is fine if you can switch it out later otherwise once you get past level 5 or 6 it will be bad glitterdust is good for level 2 control but it may be hard to cast since all the enemies get to you so quickly.
Black tentacles for your level four is another good one Snowball and magic missile for level one spells are good. Magic Missile can't miss and Snowball has a 1 turn debuff they have to save for

[GrandMajora]

I know a lot of people like to recommend Fireball as the iconic spell for D&D, but I personally think Lightning Bolt would be a better option.

It does the same amount of damage as Fireball, but it's easier to aim, and doesn't run the risk of obliterating your own party. A fact which Tartuccio failed to realize when he immediately started casting Fireball during my fight with him!

The moron wiped out his own guards in one shot!

[The Infinity Sock]

Originally posted by Dis-Sasha:

burning hands or mage armor and colour spray

if you play silvan, mage armor can buff pet

CC is better than dmg mosty but burning hands will be wild once they fix feats and you can spell specialise it. its really good for spider swarm later etc..


fyi curently no feats work for sorcerer so no spell specialisation no spell focus no nothing..not even spell bound object.

which is a huge issue

either play a mage or wait for patch >( everything works for mages

Originally posted by Yan Zhaoge:

Glitterdust a bit more reliable, but if you have a bard with you, then it's probably she who should pick it.

Originally posted by fastello:

Colour Spray is fine if you can switch it out later otherwise once you get past level 5 or 6 it will be bad glitterdust is good for level 2 control but it may be hard to cast since all the enemies get to you so quickly.
Black tentacles for your level four is another good one Snowball and magic missile for level one spells are good. Magic Missile can't miss and Snowball has a 1 turn debuff they have to save for

Ok thanks keep them coming this will help me out a lot :)

[The Infinity Sock]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

I know a lot of people like to recommend Fireball as the iconic spell for D&D, but I personally think Lightning Bolt would be a better option.

It does the same amount of damage as Fireball, but it's easier to aim, and doesn't run the risk of obliterating your own party. A fact which Tartuccio failed to realize when he immediately started casting Fireball during my fight with him!

The moron wiped out his own guards in one shot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3qWRiFbP_o

[CaoLex]

Originally posted by fastello:

Black tentacles for your level four is another good one Snowball and magic missile for level one spells are good. Magic Missile can't miss and Snowball has a 1 turn debuff they have to save for

Snowball scales good and it's recommended spell in most of Pathfinder modules, but you can be fine without it. Magic Missile you are absolutely need for dealing with that Will-o-whips killer machines (which are can be dealth easily with so long as you have defence against lighting and unmissing attacks) since there is quite a number of hard encounters with them and not-quite-optional quest.

[SIlverblade-T-E]

don't take spels sthat only affect a set low level of hit dice
for example sleep only affects 4HD, like 4 bandits, BASIC bandits at that

when you get to higher levels the spell is useless so the spell slot is wasted!
So avoid such spells

Magic Missile scales well,
Scorching Ray is THE best danage dealing spell you'll get for a long long time
note that RAY spells and touch attacks ignore armour and hit large creatures easier (they have lousy touch armour class as it's hard to miss them lol)

Slow, GLitterdust are superb crowd control spells
Tasha laughter, Hold person, Hold Monster are also veyr useful crowd control

blur is superb all round buff to help survive hard fights
dispalcement for super hard fights
mirror image only works on you so is less useful but it IS a superb defence spell

do NOT take the Monster Summoning spells until higher level unless you have good reason, as, say you end up lvl 15,what use is a lvl 1 dog?! ;)
but at lvl 15 a magic Missile is still useful

Note that if you take Spell Focus Conjuration feat you can take Augment summoning which boosts summoned critters stats
best use of summon critters is to summon them on the OTHER side of enemies to create "flanking attacks", or, as a barrier if enemies rush you

hope that helps :)

[Weaver]

My recommendation for lvl1 spell (not in order, you'll get 5 in the end + bloodline spell)
-Magic Missile (must, reliable from end to finish)

-Shield (shield bonus to AC + immunity to magic missile) though low duration not great at lvl1, better to select later

-Enlarge (great buff on your Frontline) same duration issue

-Protection against alignment (small AC bonus, but save bonus is the real win) same low duration

-burning hand is interesting for some air and fire damage, though hard to place without hitting your team

-Snowball is good if you're build for ranged touch spells (and/or cold damage like white/silver dragon bloodline)

-Ear piercing scream is great of you focus on evocation, sound damage is not.much resisted and it has a 1 round daze (fortitude save, but casters usually have low fortitude so you can shut them 1 round while doing damage)

I would not recommend:
-Mage armor is a trap, the +4 AC won't help you much (see how often the warriors are hot despite much higher AC) and once you get good bracer of armor it's useless (except if you get animal companion then it's great)

-hypnotism/sleep/fear
They have HD limit, so they will quickly he useless

-Color Spray
As for burning hand, it will be hard to position yourself without hitting your allies (and the CC will be worst than some fire damage, especially if the opponents save and not your team), illusion doesn't work on everything, and lose a lot of effect against opponent more than 5HD (if there was no friendly fire that would be m1 for illusionist though!!!)

Hard to say after that haven't reached lvl 4 yet (not enough time to play!!!)

[timechef]

Spell specialization seemed to work fine for my sorcerer. With it, Snowball dealt 3d6 damage at level 1. Unless the patch broke it?

[GrandMajora]

Another spell that I highly recommend is Resist Energy Communal, particularly using it to resist Electricity.

Will-O-Wisps are annoying little D-Bags who love to spam lightning bolt, and there's a quest that has you visiting an island that is infested with the damn things!

[fastello]

lvl 1
Burning Hands Great for early swarms hard to pull off
Snowball Good damage and bonus save vs staggered 1 round better damage than magic missile but have to hit target
Magic Missile Cant Miss Solid Damage
Enlarge Person Good for front line
Shield Good for anybody and immunity to magic missile
Mage Armor if have Sylvan Great spell till you get bracers or if you have a monk
Ray of Enfeeblement = strong if not resisted but even if resisted at maxed out can reduce str by 3-5

Lvl 2
Glitterdust
Scorching Ray
Not sure how well Invisibility will work in this game
Web is great pnp in this i think it may hinder more than help
Bone Shaker looks interesting but scorching ray will out damage it
Blindness is a save or suck spell but if they fail the save they are screwed
Mirror Image One of the best personal defense spells
Blur
Resist Energy A great spell if you have rangers they get it at level one but you really cant have to much of this spell

Lvl 3
Dispel Magic Harder to pull off in these games but still helpful
Fireball again hard to use w/o hurting party but sometimes you need it
Heroism Good long lasting buff wont work with the bards ability on whoever has it
Slow or Haste is really good in this game haste is probably better because you can cast it on your group before the pile up
Lightning Bolt same damage as fire ball may be easier to use in the mosh pit fighting

Lvl 4
Ice Storm ok damage perception penalty and difficult terrain again hurt by the rts but can still be used
Boneshatter looks like a good single target blast
Animate Dead should be really effective in here as you cant hit your own party and it summons quite a few wich will spare your party some damage
Confusion is good if you can avoid your party
Controlled fireball atleast doesnt hurt your party much
Obsidian flow looks like a better ice storm honestley
Stone Skin always helpful Looks like they have diamond dust required wich i dont know how easy it is to get
Crushing Despair good debuff if you can avoid your party
Volcanic storm looks like a firey Ice Storm
Appearently there is no black tentacles :(...

Level 5
Animal growth if you have a companion gdam
Cone of cold great damage hard to aim
Baleful Polymorph Great save or suck spell
Acid Spray Improved Lightning Bolt basically But does damage in another round to
Feeblemind Save or an enemy caster is useless and they get a penalty on their save
Fire Snake does a line spell says it avoids allies wich may make it the best one
Waves Of fatigue good debuff if you can avoid allies doesnt work on undead or constructs


Level 6
Banshee Blast good damage and can frighten foes if you can avoid party members
Chain Lightning Lightning bolt hits one target bounces to another gets weaker till used up Not sure if it hits party members if it does this spell is bad not great either way
Cold Ice Strike Strong cold lightning bolt basically
Disintegrate good single target damage
Elemental Assesor hits all elements and most damaging persists for a few rounds can be useful to also find out weaknesses and then use those spells against it
Hellfire ray improved Scorching ray but half Is unholy so ignores fire resistance not sure if this means it partially heals undead or not if it does this spell is not as good but still good
heroism Greater twice the buff lot shorter duration but still really good
Tar Pool Improved Obsidian flow basically
Transformation only if you are playing a melee caster like dragon disciple or eldritch knight or magus probably
Undeath to death May be good not sure how the hd limits will work
True Seeing lets you ignore blur and invisibility etc. good if A.I. uses that a lot later on otherwise probably not so good
Sirroco Not much damage but can knock foes down and fatiuge or exhaust them so not bad

Level 7
Waves of Exhaustion great debuff if you don't hit party doesnt work on undead or constructs
Caustic Eruption Good damage Centered on you so easier to avoid party members but if your surrounded your screwed almost anyway
Ki SHout Great damage can stun 1 round and is sonic damage almost nothing has sonic resistance
Legendary Proportions Improved Enlarge person will only work on allies or animal companions
Umbral Strike Good Single target good damage half cold half negative so do not use on undead! Causes blindness on failed saves for duration

Level 8
Sunburst Great for undead not sure how undead heavy the game gets so situational
Stormbolts 30' Burst from you only hits enemies wich makes it really good
Shout Greater Mediocre damage but can stun for 4d6 rounds wich basically means they are dead on failed saves no undead or constructs the damage is sonic though so not resisted much
Polar ray great single target damage and dex damage
Horrid Wilting great damage if you can avoid party again
Frightful Aspect Better for combat casters but also frightens enemies w/in 30 feet of you as well so move around scaring everyone
Protection From spells takes 10 diamond dust again not sure how painful that is gives +8 to save vs spells and spell like abilites good duration does not stack with cloaks

Level 9
Tsunami Does Bludgeoning damage wich is good for energy resistant foes Can knock down and bull rush targets in a line
Fiery Body good buff for you increases dc of fire spells lets you heal from fire so drop fireballs on your self increases dex so your ac goes up
Energy Drain good debuff DO NOT USE ON UNDEAD
Clashing Rocks Good Single target damage
Wail of the banshee does 10 dmg per caster level so first time could deal 180 damage lol unfortunatley fort negates instead of halves but if it works dang

Go ahead bump again i dare you!

[The Infinity Sock]

Originally posted by fastello:

lvl 1
Burning Hands Great for early swarms hard to pull off
Snowball Good damage and bonus save vs staggered 1 round better damage than magic missile but have to hit target
Magic Missile Cant Miss Solid Damage
Enlarge Person Good for front line
Shield Good for anybody and immunity to magic missile
Mage Armor if have Sylvan Great spell till you get bracers or if you have a monk
Ray of Enfeeblement = strong if not resisted but even if resisted at maxed out can reduce str by 3-5

Lvl 2
Glitterdust
Scorching Ray
Not sure how well Invisibility will work in this game
Web is great pnp in this i think it may hinder more than help
Bone Shaker looks interesting but scorching ray will out damage it
Blindness is a save or suck spell but if they fail the save they are screwed
Mirror Image One of the best personal defense spells
Blur
Resist Energy A great spell if you have rangers they get it at level one but you really cant have to much of this spell

Lvl 3
Dispel Magic Harder to pull off in these games but still helpful
Fireball again hard to use w/o hurting party but sometimes you need it
Heroism Good long lasting buff wont work with the bards ability on whoever has it
Slow or Haste is really good in this game haste is probably better because you can cast it on your group before the pile up
Lightning Bolt same damage as fire ball may be easier to use in the mosh pit fighting

Lvl 4
Ice Storm ok damage perception penalty and difficult terrain again hurt by the rts but can still be used
Boneshatter looks like a good single target blast
Animate Dead should be really effective in here as you cant hit your own party and it summons quite a few wich will spare your party some damage
Confusion is good if you can avoid your party
Controlled fireball atleast doesnt hurt your party much
Obsidian flow looks like a better ice storm honestley
Stone Skin always helpful Looks like they have diamond dust required wich i dont know how easy it is to get
Crushing Despair good debuff if you can avoid your party
Volcanic storm looks like a firey Ice Storm
Appearently there is no black tentacles :(...

Level 5
Animal growth if you have a companion gdam
Cone of cold great damage hard to aim
Baleful Polymorph Great save or suck spell
Acid Spray Improved Lightning Bolt basically But does damage in another round to
Feeblemind Save or an enemy caster is useless and they get a penalty on their save
Fire Snake does a line spell says it avoids allies wich may make it the best one
Waves Of fatigue good debuff if you can avoid allies doesnt work on undead or constructs


Level 6
Banshee Blast good damage and can frighten foes if you can avoid party members
Chain Lightning Lightning bolt hits one target bounces to another gets weaker till used up Not sure if it hits party members if it does this spell is bad not great either way
Cold Ice Strike Strong cold lightning bolt basically
Disintegrate good single target damage
Elemental Assesor hits all elements and most damaging persists for a few rounds can be useful to also find out weaknesses and then use those spells against it
Hellfire ray improved Scorching ray but half Is unholy so ignores fire resistance not sure if this means it partially heals undead or not if it does this spell is not as good but still good
heroism Greater twice the buff lot shorter duration but still really good
Tar Pool Improved Obsidian flow basically
Transformation only if you are playing a melee caster like dragon disciple or eldritch knight or magus probably
Undeath to death May be good not sure how the hd limits will work
True Seeing lets you ignore blur and invisibility etc. good if A.I. uses that a lot later on otherwise probably not so good
Sirroco Not much damage but can knock foes down and fatiuge or exhaust them so not bad

Level 7
Waves of Exhaustion great debuff if you don't hit party doesnt work on undead or constructs
Caustic Eruption Good damage Centered on you so easier to avoid party members but if your surrounded your screwed almost anyway
Ki SHout Great damage can stun 1 round and is sonic damage almost nothing has sonic resistance
Legendary Proportions Improved Enlarge person will only work on allies or animal companions
Umbral Strike Good Single target good damage half cold half negative so do not use on undead! Causes blindness on failed saves for duration

Level 8
Sunburst Great for undead not sure how undead heavy the game gets so situational
Stormbolts 30' Burst from you only hits enemies wich makes it really good
Shout Greater Mediocre damage but can stun for 4d6 rounds wich basically means they are dead on failed saves no undead or constructs the damage is sonic though so not resisted much
Polar ray great single target damage and dex damage
Horrid Wilting great damage if you can avoid party again
Frightful Aspect Better for combat casters but also frightens enemies w/in 30 feet of you as well so move around scaring everyone
Protection From spells takes 10 diamond dust again not sure how painful that is gives +8 to save vs spells and spell like abilites good duration does not stack with cloaks

Level 9
Tsunami Does Bludgeoning damage wich is good for energy resistant foes Can knock down and bull rush targets in a line
Fiery Body good buff for you increases dc of fire spells lets you heal from fire so drop fireballs on your self increases dex so your ac goes up
Energy Drain good debuff DO NOT USE ON UNDEAD
Clashing Rocks Good Single target damage
Wail of the banshee does 10 dmg per caster level so first time could deal 180 damage lol unfortunatley fort negates instead of halves but if it works dang

Go ahead bump again i dare you!

I don't need to do that this is what i was looking for thanks you have made my day :)

[Antoniius]

The long answer by Fastello is the best i could find, even if i do not agree with some points. I do not find fireball hard to use, if you aim correctly (use ctrl to unlock aiming) you can easily hit 3-5 enemies without touching you party from the backlines with no need to move to the side to use lightning bolt. I also find useful Dragon breath because you can use on the fly 4 elemental damages depending in the situation with 2 different patrerns (cone or line).