PvP has never been the realm of Dungeons & Dragons. However, in a campaign, there may come a time for 1v1 fights between a player and a NPC. I would say the Wizard (if they have time to prepare).
If they are optimizing for a fight between each other at high level, then the Sorcerer wins hands down. The Sorcerer can use the Subtle Spell metamagic to cast without the Wizard being able to use Counterspell, while the Sorcerer is able to use Counterspell freely.
Sorcerers don't have something like wish, but metamagics can easily eliminate a wizard at higher levels. Metamagic is your word. Heightened maze, then some buffs, then come back, and then quickened hold person, and just spam fireball or scorching ray. And if the wizard starts being annoying and dropping spells faster then you are, quickened glibness, dodge, then counterspell your hearts away.
Sorcerers don't have something like wish, but metamagics can easily eliminate a wizard at higher levels. Metamagic is your word. Heightened maze, then some buffs, then come back, and then quickened hold person, and just spam fireball or scorching ray. And if the wizard starts being annoying and dropping spells faster then you are, quickened glibness, dodge, then counterspell your hearts away.
Sorcerers do have wish, but on the other hand, they don't have maze or glibness.
The ability to use subtle or distant counterspell is probably the deciding factor, however. A wizard can't win if they can't cast a spell.
Oh right I forgot. Quickened time stop, go drink some potions, maximized/heightened delayed blast fireball, and wait for the effect to end and the shit to hit the fan. If he still survives, slap on banishment and go recharge some spell slots, then when he returns throw on heightened/maximized minute meteors and just pummel him. Metamagic is key.
Or, heightened power word stun (hope he fails), then maximized/twinned disintegrate (he's gonna fail anyway) at a higher level if you want to, then if he is still there, maximized vitriolic sphere, then while he is still there, twinned finger of death to zombify him or deal high damage. And your 9th level slot goes to power word kill or meteor swarm if he still lives. PESKY WIZARD.
Whichever one won initiative. They both have access to spells / abilities that can make the other one save or die and some spells that will do a one hit kill even if the other one makes his save. So whichever one gets off the first action is the one that’s most likely to win the fight.
What if the sorcerer used a subtle counterspell though? Plus, it can use subtle on all of its spells so they cannot be counterspelled. Sorcerers have few spells, but can overpower them against other spellcasters.
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"Whichever one won initiative". There are pure wizards with initiative bonuses, war mages. There are no pure sorcerers with initiative bonuses.
Wizards use Intelligence and are therefore (most likely) smarter than a Charisma depending Sorcerer. That means Wizards can think of a better strategy. If a slugfest of a magic battle gives the sorcerer an equal chance or better, then the wizard will not go that way. Bladesingers can use a tactic to deplete the spells of the sorcerer and use their superior melee abilities to win.
Wizards can also invent and write new spells in their spellbook to overcome obstacles, a sorcerer cannot.
Definitely sorcerer. The various metamagic abilities would be the deciding factor. The wizard's strong point is the vast array of spells that they have access to, but most of these involve ritual casting, which is useless in a PvP.
Even if the wizard wins initiative, the sorcerer can just subtle counterspell, then either twin or subtle its next spell, and keep doing that until he either wins or runs out of resources.
If the wizard can survive that, then he'd win the battle of attrition.
Assuming an arena type conflict....Wizard spell selection could just do it. Walk in with Invulnerability on....blast Feeblemind. Does the Sorcerer even know the level of the spell he is attempting to counterspell?
Bladesinger with Blackstaff. Wins initiative due to being higher Dexterity dependent, using the Blackstaff to drain magic. Sorcerer doesn’t stand a chance.
Bladesinger with Blackstaff. Wins initiative due to being higher Dexterity dependent, using the Blackstaff to drain magic. Sorcerer doesn’t stand a chance.
Uh, this is in general, not in a specific setting.
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Most likely sorcerer. Aside from subtle counterspell, you also have access to multiclass options like paladin or warlock. That being said, I'd say a wizard could maybe win if they had more time to prepare.
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In a PvP, who would win a max level fight? A Sorcerer or Wizard?
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PvP has never been the realm of Dungeons & Dragons. However, in a campaign, there may come a time for 1v1 fights between a player and a NPC. I would say the Wizard (if they have time to prepare).
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If they are optimizing for a fight between each other at high level, then the Sorcerer wins hands down. The Sorcerer can use the Subtle Spell metamagic to cast without the Wizard being able to use Counterspell, while the Sorcerer is able to use Counterspell freely.
Lower levels a Wizard, but once a sorcerer gets metamagic and their level 3 spells it's basically no contest.
"Maximum level fight"? Hum... I'll place a bet on the Sorcerer.
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Depends on level, but sorcerer
Sorcerers don't have something like wish, but metamagics can easily eliminate a wizard at higher levels. Metamagic is your word. Heightened maze, then some buffs, then come back, and then quickened hold person, and just spam fireball or scorching ray. And if the wizard starts being annoying and dropping spells faster then you are, quickened glibness, dodge, then counterspell your hearts away.
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Oh right I forgot. Quickened time stop, go drink some potions, maximized/heightened delayed blast fireball, and wait for the effect to end and the shit to hit the fan. If he still survives, slap on banishment and go recharge some spell slots, then when he returns throw on heightened/maximized minute meteors and just pummel him. Metamagic is key.
Or, heightened power word stun (hope he fails), then maximized/twinned disintegrate (he's gonna fail anyway) at a higher level if you want to, then if he is still there, maximized vitriolic sphere, then while he is still there, twinned finger of death to zombify him or deal high damage. And your 9th level slot goes to power word kill or meteor swarm if he still lives. PESKY WIZARD.
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Homebrew stuff
Sorcerer. Easily.
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Wizard easily.
Whichever one won initiative. They both have access to spells / abilities that can make the other one save or die and some spells that will do a one hit kill even if the other one makes his save. So whichever one gets off the first action is the one that’s most likely to win the fight.
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What if the sorcerer used a subtle counterspell though? Plus, it can use subtle on all of its spells so they cannot be counterspelled. Sorcerers have few spells, but can overpower them against other spellcasters.
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"Whichever one won initiative". There are pure wizards with initiative bonuses, war mages. There are no pure sorcerers with initiative bonuses.
Wizards use Intelligence and are therefore (most likely) smarter than a Charisma depending Sorcerer. That means Wizards can think of a better strategy. If a slugfest of a magic battle gives the sorcerer an equal chance or better, then the wizard will not go that way. Bladesingers can use a tactic to deplete the spells of the sorcerer and use their superior melee abilities to win.
Wizards can also invent and write new spells in their spellbook to overcome obstacles, a sorcerer cannot.
Definitely sorcerer. The various metamagic abilities would be the deciding factor. The wizard's strong point is the vast array of spells that they have access to, but most of these involve ritual casting, which is useless in a PvP.
Even if the wizard wins initiative, the sorcerer can just subtle counterspell, then either twin or subtle its next spell, and keep doing that until he either wins or runs out of resources.
If the wizard can survive that, then he'd win the battle of attrition.
Assuming an arena type conflict....Wizard spell selection could just do it. Walk in with Invulnerability on....blast Feeblemind. Does the Sorcerer even know the level of the spell he is attempting to counterspell?
Bladesinger with Blackstaff. Wins initiative due to being higher Dexterity dependent, using the Blackstaff to drain magic. Sorcerer doesn’t stand a chance.
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Uh, this is in general, not in a specific setting.
Subclass Evaluations So Far:
Sorcerer
Warlock
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Most likely sorcerer. Aside from subtle counterspell, you also have access to multiclass options like paladin or warlock. That being said, I'd say a wizard could maybe win if they had more time to prepare.
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Class Guides: Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Bard General Guides: PvP
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)