So, I'm interested in looking at which 9th level spells would be the best when playing a Bard. I know Wish is almost universally considered the one to pick though, so I'd rather just consider it a default, and look at the NEXT best spells.
This seems plenty powerful. I've not seen it in action, but advantage on pretty much everything, disadvantage for attacks against you, and all for 8 hours with no concentration? I have a hard time seeing how any Bard spell beats this.
Most other non-Bard 9th level spells either have suitable Bard-accessible substitutes (Power Word Heal instead of Mass Heal, Resurrection instead of True Resurrection, etc.) or seem a bit limited (such as Weird.) But there's no substitute for Meteor Swarm. City-destroying damage from a mile away... what's not to like?
Prismatic wall. More damage than meteor swarm, several conditions, and it's a non-concentration, no-friendly-fire hazard that lasts 10 minutes. On the other hand, the range and area are much, much smaller. It depends on what you expect to need from your 9th-level spells.
Meteor swarm is a very good one, an powerful npc can just walk around a prismatic wall or just opt out of running through it, though it might be useful when running in a corridor, or trapping an enemy
True Polymorph deserves a mention, due to being almost infinitely adaptable.
First of all, anything in the game with a CR below your level becomes an alternate form for you, which grants you enormous versatility. yeah, it's concentration and by the time you get True Polymorph, concentration can be dicey to maintain...but having the vast majority of the Monster Manual at your fingertips can be a huge boon for your party in or out of combat.
Second of all, you can create animal companions or guardians for yourself with True Polymorph. Any random object can become a critter of up to CR9 that's loyal to you for an hour, and potentially loyal to you even after that if you're good to it. Always wanted a dragon buddy? Make yourself a young silver dragon out of a silver piece and see how your Charisma checks hold up.
And finally, you can just outright eliminate a given enemy from a fight completely and build up a collection of grog-winning 'souvenirs'. Turn that adult black dragon into a sword (after burning off its legendary resistances first), then wield that sword forevermore alongside an epic bard story about why your sword is more amazing than the sword of whoever you're talking to. Turn a rampaging monster into a shelter for the victims of the rampaging monster. Turn that godawful kraken eating your party into a brand new sailing ship. Turn that tavern wench you really like (or dislike) into a commemorative coin you can pack around, then use a 9th-level Dispel Magic to get her back later. if you're that kind of *******, anyways.
True Polymorph lets you change almost anything into almost anything else. If you're remotely creative enough to be playing an 18th-level bard, that should be a thought both terrifying and exhilarating.
Shapechange is underrated in my opinion. You just need to find some interesting and powerful creatures, and you can use their features and can shift between them.
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So, I'm interested in looking at which 9th level spells would be the best when playing a Bard. I know Wish is almost universally considered the one to pick though, so I'd rather just consider it a default, and look at the NEXT best spells.
As far as natural Bard spells go: Foresight
This seems plenty powerful. I've not seen it in action, but advantage on pretty much everything, disadvantage for attacks against you, and all for 8 hours with no concentration? I have a hard time seeing how any Bard spell beats this.
As far as using Magical Secrets: Meteor Swarm
Most other non-Bard 9th level spells either have suitable Bard-accessible substitutes (Power Word Heal instead of Mass Heal, Resurrection instead of True Resurrection, etc.) or seem a bit limited (such as Weird.) But there's no substitute for Meteor Swarm. City-destroying damage from a mile away... what's not to like?
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Prismatic wall. More damage than meteor swarm, several conditions, and it's a non-concentration, no-friendly-fire hazard that lasts 10 minutes. On the other hand, the range and area are much, much smaller. It depends on what you expect to need from your 9th-level spells.
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Meteor swarm is a very good one, an powerful npc can just walk around a prismatic wall or just opt out of running through it, though it might be useful when running in a corridor, or trapping an enemy
True Polymorph deserves a mention, due to being almost infinitely adaptable.
First of all, anything in the game with a CR below your level becomes an alternate form for you, which grants you enormous versatility. yeah, it's concentration and by the time you get True Polymorph, concentration can be dicey to maintain...but having the vast majority of the Monster Manual at your fingertips can be a huge boon for your party in or out of combat.
Second of all, you can create animal companions or guardians for yourself with True Polymorph. Any random object can become a critter of up to CR9 that's loyal to you for an hour, and potentially loyal to you even after that if you're good to it. Always wanted a dragon buddy? Make yourself a young silver dragon out of a silver piece and see how your Charisma checks hold up.
And finally, you can just outright eliminate a given enemy from a fight completely and build up a collection of grog-winning 'souvenirs'. Turn that adult black dragon into a sword (after burning off its legendary resistances first), then wield that sword forevermore alongside an epic bard story about why your sword is more amazing than the sword of whoever you're talking to. Turn a rampaging monster into a shelter for the victims of the rampaging monster. Turn that godawful kraken eating your party into a brand new sailing ship. Turn that tavern wench you really like (or dislike) into a commemorative coin you can pack around, then use a 9th-level Dispel Magic to get her back later. if you're that kind of *******, anyways.
True Polymorph lets you change almost anything into almost anything else. If you're remotely creative enough to be playing an 18th-level bard, that should be a thought both terrifying and exhilarating.
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Shapechange is underrated in my opinion. You just need to find some interesting and powerful creatures, and you can use their features and can shift between them.