Dungeons & Dragons is full of interesting spells with a variety of effects, ranging from innocuous bursts of light to devastating balls of fire. Although the game is well-balanced when it comes to these spells, there are a few that are incredibly powerful when combined with the right strategy. Whether they deal damage or trick enemies, some D&D spells are must haves for players looking to make their character as powerful as possible.
Available to Bards and Druids at a low level in Dungeons & Dragons, Heat Metal can be a huge asset in a fight. The 2nd level transmutation spell can be cast on any manufactured metal object, and the object then causes 2d8 damage to creatures touching it. Using a bonus action, this damage can be repeated and any creature wearing or holding the object is in danger of receiving disadvantage on attacks and ability checks. Normally, this spell is underwhelming, since a creature can drop whatever object is heated up. However, many types of armor in Dungeons & Dragons are made out of metal, and heavy armor takes 5 minutes to take off. Considering a single round of combat is 6 seconds, nailing a heavily armored enemy with Heat Metal means dealing a lot of damage without much cost.
Not usually thought of as one of D&D‘s strongest spells, Mind Spike is a divination spell that deals 3d8 damage to a target and also allows the caster to track them for an hour. Although this spell doesn’t necessarily stand out on it’s own, it becomes much better when in use by one of D&D‘s best subclasses: Divination Wizards. Divination Wizards gain back spell slots of a lower level when they cast divination spells, and this paired with a damaging spell allows the wizard to have nearly limitless resources in the form of spell slots during a fight.
Phantasmal Force and Wish Spells In Dungeons & Dragons
A departure from spells meant to damage enemies, Phantasmal Force is perfect for D&D’s more creative players. The spell itself allows for the conjuring of any sort of object or creature, and failing an Intelligence check, others are forced to believe in the legitimacy of the creation. So long as the Dungeon Master is lenient, the possibilities for this spell are nearly endless. For example, the player could conjure a king that gives orders to their servants, or a terrifying monster that causes an entire village to evacuate in fear. At the cost of just a 2nd level spell, Phantasmal Force is one of D&D‘s best spells so as long as enemies fail the save.
It’s hard to talk about powerful Dungeons & Dragons spells without mentioning Wish, the 9th level spell that can essentially accomplish anything the player and DM agree upon: like granting immunities, fully restoring someone’s health and conditions, or even rewriting history. This spell has the potential to be the most powerful in D&D and totally reshape a campaign, and as such players and DMs should be cautious when it is in play.
The effects of Dungeons & Dragons spells are carefully thought out, so players shouldn’t necessarily feel like they are cheating when using them. With that said, many are still up to the discretion of the Dungeon Master, and players should be understanding when a DM occasionally overrules Dungeons & Dragons rules for the sake of the entire campaign.