I'm playing a 3rd level Vhuman tempest cleric with the warcaster feat in a phandelver campaign. I'm planning to pick magic initiate wizard at 4th level for booming blade. Which is a better option for the 1st level spell, absorb elements or shield, or something else entirely? Silvery barbs is not allowed.
Seeing as you can only cast it once those are both good choices depending on what happens. Clerics are notorious for bad DEX saves so absorb elements works well there.
Not sure clerics really want Booming Blade as you will quickly get to the point you want to cast levelled spells most of the time.
If you are going that way however I would go with find familiar, have an own fly by each round and give the help action so those Booming blades are at advantage
Not sure clerics really want Booming Blade as you will quickly get to the point you want to cast levelled spells most of the time.
If you are going that way however I would go with find familiar, have an own fly by each round and give the help action so those Booming blades are at advantage
I was going to say something similar. I played a tempest cleric through level 13 or 14. I barely swung my weapon, especially with warcaster so I could cantrip for my OAs. My wisdom was just so much higher than my str that they hit more reliably. What is your wisdom? The asi at 4 isn’t nearly as cool, but will probably do you more good in the long run. Or a 1/2 feat if you have an odd number.
But to answer the question, I’d probably go shield. It remains consistently useful without upcasting all the way to level 20. And it seems like you’re planning to be up in melee a lot.
Something to bear in mind with Shield and Absorb Elements is you can only cast the spell once per day. This is unlike feats like fey touched that allow to cast more than onse by using a spell slot (if you have any).
Misty Step saves lives. You could have the worst spell for the first level choice and it would be worth it.
As for good first level choices (bless being very good). You don't want something that takes concentration unless it is better than something you already have (not likely with spirit guardians and bless). I recommend: Dissonant Whispers - very useful to rearrange the battlefield, get your rogue an offturn sneak and you can do it while maintaining your other spells. Charm Person - Long lasting control over people Command - Short lasting control again a useful thing to do while concentrating Silvery Barbs - If your DM lets you take it Detect magic - This is a personal favorite, but not that strong.
Tempest Cleric works as a kinda melee cleric and booming blade can work as kinda "aggro" spell, so maybe they want that. (Especially with war caster because the target gets the choice whether it wants to move or take extra damage).
I would go with either shield/absorb elements for extra defense when it is REALLY nessessary once per day or you could go for "Find Familiar" and get a little helping pet that stays with you, since you usually don't resummon that pet more than once a day the restriction isn't that big of a deal.
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I'm playing a 3rd level Vhuman tempest cleric with the warcaster feat in a phandelver campaign. I'm planning to pick magic initiate wizard at 4th level for booming blade. Which is a better option for the 1st level spell, absorb elements or shield, or something else entirely? Silvery barbs is not allowed.
Seeing as you can only cast it once those are both good choices depending on what happens. Clerics are notorious for bad DEX saves so absorb elements works well there.
Not sure clerics really want Booming Blade as you will quickly get to the point you want to cast levelled spells most of the time.
If you are going that way however I would go with find familiar, have an own fly by each round and give the help action so those Booming blades are at advantage
I was going to say something similar. I played a tempest cleric through level 13 or 14. I barely swung my weapon, especially with warcaster so I could cantrip for my OAs. My wisdom was just so much higher than my str that they hit more reliably.
What is your wisdom? The asi at 4 isn’t nearly as cool, but will probably do you more good in the long run. Or a 1/2 feat if you have an odd number.
But to answer the question, I’d probably go shield. It remains consistently useful without upcasting all the way to level 20. And it seems like you’re planning to be up in melee a lot.
Something to bear in mind with Shield and Absorb Elements is you can only cast the spell once per day. This is unlike feats like fey touched that allow to cast more than onse by using a spell slot (if you have any).
But fey touched really is not that great since the best pick outside of dynamancy spells, bless is already on the cleric list.
Misty Step saves lives. You could have the worst spell for the first level choice and it would be worth it.
As for good first level choices (bless being very good). You don't want something that takes concentration unless it is better than something you already have (not likely with spirit guardians and bless). I recommend:
Dissonant Whispers - very useful to rearrange the battlefield, get your rogue an offturn sneak and you can do it while maintaining your other spells.
Charm Person - Long lasting control over people
Command - Short lasting control again a useful thing to do while concentrating
Silvery Barbs - If your DM lets you take it
Detect magic - This is a personal favorite, but not that strong.
Tempest Cleric works as a kinda melee cleric and booming blade can work as kinda "aggro" spell, so maybe they want that. (Especially with war caster because the target gets the choice whether it wants to move or take extra damage).
I would go with either shield/absorb elements for extra defense when it is REALLY nessessary once per day or you could go for "Find Familiar" and get a little helping pet that stays with you, since you usually don't resummon that pet more than once a day the restriction isn't that big of a deal.