I think you're assuming a limitation that isn't there. While magic initiate doesn't say you can use spell slots (they added more precise wording in later feats like Shadow Touched and Fey touched) it does add the spell to you spell list and you can cast spells on your spell list from available and level appropriate spell slots. It does specify the spell casting ability score so that is a limitation.
The Magic Initiate feat doesn't change the list to which the spells belong; if you choose to learn cantrips and a spell from the Druid list, then they are still Druid spells, and therefore you cannot cast them using any spell slots you have unless you have levels as a Druid.
Artificer Initiate, Fey Touched etc. differ as they explicitly enable you to cast the spell using any spell slots you have with no restriction on class.
It's annoying as they could easily have changed the wording on Magic Initiate to match the language in Tasha's Cauldron, so that it would function the same as Artificer Initiate, Fey Touched etc., but they didn't, meaning Rules As Written you can only use slots to cast spells gained from Magic Initiate if it is for one of your classes (or a sub-class that gives you casting using a specific spell list, such as Arcane Trickster or Eldritch Knight).
To be clear, this is not how I would run it, I would allow Magic Initiate to function in the same way as it's silly that it doesn't, but I'm not every DM you might encounter, so it's worth knowing what the RAW situation is and why Magic Initiate doesn't solve the same problem.
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If you don't mind going from definitely infinite to possibly infinite, you could go wild magic sorcerer instead of wizard, giving you approximately a 0.202% chance of being able to cast again after each casting. This number improves with frequent use of Tides of Chaos (4.04%), with Controlled Chaos (0.40359196%), or with both (7.916784%). Spell slot efficiency can be further supplemented divination wizard's Expert Divination and/or dipping into warlock for pact slots, though going more into sorcerer may be worth it for the greater sorcery point recovery that can happen with wild magic, which, as implied by the numbers given, can be used to make more spell slots.
My numbers may be a little lower than the real ones, given that a roll of 1-2 on the wild magic table lasts for a minute, rather than just firing once.
Still, it's 100% possible and legal to get infinite healing by getting Cure Wounds while being a Witerbloom Student background Wizard
The issue there is still that the Witherbloom Student background is for a Strixhaven campaign, it's not intended for general use (as backgrounds that give free feats are always superior to ones that don't), so a DM is unlikely to allow it unless everyone takes one (or others get a free feat).
So it's only legal in the sense that it's possible, it's far from guaranteed. Artificer Initiate is the better option because it is intended for general use, and has to be taken as any other feat would be, and it doesn't have the same restrictions as Magic Initiate does (can't cast a spell using spell slots unless you're picking from your own spell list, i.e- Magic Initiate (Wizard) on a Wizard).
You'd be surprised how many DMs say you can use anything official (which includes Strixhaven, Spelljammer, and Glory of the Giants backgrounds which have feats). As long as everybody has that option, it's I'm fine with it. Thematically, spelljammer and Strixhaven touch various campaigns.
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The Magic Initiate feat doesn't change the list to which the spells belong; if you choose to learn cantrips and a spell from the Druid list, then they are still Druid spells, and therefore you cannot cast them using any spell slots you have unless you have levels as a Druid.
This is covered in the Sage Advice Compendium.
Artificer Initiate, Fey Touched etc. differ as they explicitly enable you to cast the spell using any spell slots you have with no restriction on class.
It's annoying as they could easily have changed the wording on Magic Initiate to match the language in Tasha's Cauldron, so that it would function the same as Artificer Initiate, Fey Touched etc., but they didn't, meaning Rules As Written you can only use slots to cast spells gained from Magic Initiate if it is for one of your classes (or a sub-class that gives you casting using a specific spell list, such as Arcane Trickster or Eldritch Knight).
To be clear, this is not how I would run it, I would allow Magic Initiate to function in the same way as it's silly that it doesn't, but I'm not every DM you might encounter, so it's worth knowing what the RAW situation is and why Magic Initiate doesn't solve the same problem.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Yet another instance of where sage advice goes against what I've actually experienced, including in organized play.
Hopefully a bunch of that stuff is corrected.
If you don't mind going from definitely infinite to possibly infinite, you could go wild magic sorcerer instead of wizard, giving you approximately a 0.202% chance of being able to cast again after each casting. This number improves with frequent use of Tides of Chaos (4.04%), with Controlled Chaos (0.40359196%), or with both (7.916784%). Spell slot efficiency can be further supplemented divination wizard's Expert Divination and/or dipping into warlock for pact slots, though going more into sorcerer may be worth it for the greater sorcery point recovery that can happen with wild magic, which, as implied by the numbers given, can be used to make more spell slots.
My numbers may be a little lower than the real ones, given that a roll of 1-2 on the wild magic table lasts for a minute, rather than just firing once.
You'd be surprised how many DMs say you can use anything official (which includes Strixhaven, Spelljammer, and Glory of the Giants backgrounds which have feats). As long as everybody has that option, it's I'm fine with it. Thematically, spelljammer and Strixhaven touch various campaigns.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E/RPG geek.