Im playtesting the One D&D content, and decided to pick up Magic Initiate (Arcane) as my background feat for my Gloomstalker Ranger.
DO NOT TRY TO PERSUADE ME THAT SHIELD ISN'T THE BEST OPTION FOR THE 1ST LEVEL SPELL! Its an easy way for rangers to get it now, so don't bother telling me find familiar is better.
What I need to try to decide on is what cantrips I need to take. I am kindof the designated rogue of the party that is not a rogue, so my choices are between mage hand, minor illusion, message, and prestidigitasion. The problem is I can choose only two of them. Which will be the best for my character? Any advice?
Prestidigitation is generally worthless, how did that even get on your radar? But also, Shield is not compatible with your claim that your desired role in the party is "rogue that is not a rogue", so it's unclear what your build is actually going for - you've chosen a first level spell that helps not 1 jot with Rogue tasks. You also haven't told us your fighting style.
My generic answers are Minor Illusion and Light (only Minor Illusion, Friends, and True Strike are on your list and can be cast without automatically breaking Stealth, and if you're going to break Stealth anyway, Light on a projectile has all manner of use).
I am stubborn and would normally give you advice about other spells, but on a melee character I find shield to be a spell slot eater and as half caster you have too few slots to begin with.
On the cantrips I would go with mage hand and minor illusion. Message would be useful if you DM really is strict on table talk, prestidigitation would also be good. The other one I would throw in there is Mending. With the new rules in Spelljammer allowing someone with mending to fix a ship this opens up a very reliable use in some campaigns. Also the Ranger who can fix their own gear is a good self reliant thing.
I am assuming you are a ranged ranger because otherwise you should be grabbing chill touch or firebolt. The blade cantrips (boom and green flame) don't play well with extra attack and are kind of a waste when you only get two.
Just an added note to those who have replied so far: yes, I am using a ranged build using crossbow expert. I felt shield will help make use of my unused reaction, because while I have absorb elements, I know that elemental damage will be too few and far between to really use it.
My build is still ranger first and rogue secondary. I will perhaps multiclass once I have sharpshooter at level 8.
Okay, so far Im now deadset on Mage hand and Minor Illusion. Thanks!
IMO Booming Blade and Minor Illusion if you have a good Charisma or you are a Fey Wanderer. If you don't have a good charisma then message instead of minor illusion.
Shield is a good spell, but it is a lot better if you have a high AC and Rangers typically don't. Also keep in mind you can't cast it if you are dual wielding or if using a shield in one hand and a weapon in the other.
Shield is a slot eater and you don’t have any slots yet so it’s actually just a single use spell for the moment. Of the cantrips at level 1 minor illusion is your best option if you are creative in its uses. After that mage hand is your best bet for roguish things but you may wan to consider a ranged damage spell instead. At low level they don’t do any more damage than an arrow but since cantrips increase damage based on character level not caster level they will rapidly overmatch any single ranged attack.
Most of the time I recommend prestidigitation to anyone simply because of how useful it can be with a little imagination. But in your situation, especially if you’re gonna be stealthing forward and scouting, I can’t recommend anything but minor illusion and message. MI will let you hide in a jiffy, and give you some soft cover from time to time, and Message will let you whisper info back to the party.
Also, I will echo the others and say that shield is a slot sucker. On an 18th level Wizard it and misty step are god spells, but on anything else Shield is like a fire extinguisher in a glass case, good to have in an emergency, but otherwise it just sit there collecting dust, and if used too often you’ll be all outta juice in a jiffy.
Hey everyone!
Im playtesting the One D&D content, and decided to pick up Magic Initiate (Arcane) as my background feat for my Gloomstalker Ranger.
DO NOT TRY TO PERSUADE ME THAT SHIELD ISN'T THE BEST OPTION FOR THE 1ST LEVEL SPELL! Its an easy way for rangers to get it now, so don't bother telling me find familiar is better.
What I need to try to decide on is what cantrips I need to take. I am kindof the designated rogue of the party that is not a rogue, so my choices are between mage hand, minor illusion, message, and prestidigitasion. The problem is I can choose only two of them. Which will be the best for my character? Any advice?
Prestidigitation is generally worthless, how did that even get on your radar? But also, Shield is not compatible with your claim that your desired role in the party is "rogue that is not a rogue", so it's unclear what your build is actually going for - you've chosen a first level spell that helps not 1 jot with Rogue tasks. You also haven't told us your fighting style.
My generic answers are Minor Illusion and Light (only Minor Illusion, Friends, and True Strike are on your list and can be cast without automatically breaking Stealth, and if you're going to break Stealth anyway, Light on a projectile has all manner of use).
I am stubborn and would normally give you advice about other spells, but on a melee character I find shield to be a spell slot eater and as half caster you have too few slots to begin with.
On the cantrips I would go with mage hand and minor illusion. Message would be useful if you DM really is strict on table talk, prestidigitation would also be good. The other one I would throw in there is Mending. With the new rules in Spelljammer allowing someone with mending to fix a ship this opens up a very reliable use in some campaigns. Also the Ranger who can fix their own gear is a good self reliant thing.
I am assuming you are a ranged ranger because otherwise you should be grabbing chill touch or firebolt. The blade cantrips (boom and green flame) don't play well with extra attack and are kind of a waste when you only get two.
Just an added note to those who have replied so far: yes, I am using a ranged build using crossbow expert. I felt shield will help make use of my unused reaction, because while I have absorb elements, I know that elemental damage will be too few and far between to really use it.
My build is still ranger first and rogue secondary. I will perhaps multiclass once I have sharpshooter at level 8.
Okay, so far Im now deadset on Mage hand and Minor Illusion. Thanks!
IMO Booming Blade and Minor Illusion if you have a good Charisma or you are a Fey Wanderer. If you don't have a good charisma then message instead of minor illusion.
Shield is a good spell, but it is a lot better if you have a high AC and Rangers typically don't. Also keep in mind you can't cast it if you are dual wielding or if using a shield in one hand and a weapon in the other.
Shield is a slot eater and you don’t have any slots yet so it’s actually just a single use spell for the moment. Of the cantrips at level 1 minor illusion is your best option if you are creative in its uses. After that mage hand is your best bet for roguish things but you may wan to consider a ranged damage spell instead. At low level they don’t do any more damage than an arrow but since cantrips increase damage based on character level not caster level they will rapidly overmatch any single ranged attack.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Most of the time I recommend prestidigitation to anyone simply because of how useful it can be with a little imagination. But in your situation, especially if you’re gonna be stealthing forward and scouting, I can’t recommend anything but minor illusion and message. MI will let you hide in a jiffy, and give you some soft cover from time to time, and Message will let you whisper info back to the party.
Also, I will echo the others and say that shield is a slot sucker. On an 18th level Wizard it and misty step are god spells, but on anything else Shield is like a fire extinguisher in a glass case, good to have in an emergency, but otherwise it just sit there collecting dust, and if used too often you’ll be all outta juice in a jiffy.
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