If you are looking for instantaneous damage, those are among the best. Scorching Ray has the best single-target damage potential (average 21), Shatter will do more overall damage if you can hit multiple enemies with it (average 13.5 each).
Another spell that you might want to look at is Dragon's Breath. It is cast as a bonus action, lasts for 10 rounds, and lets you use your action each round for the duration dealing 3d6 elemental damage (9.5 average) to enemies in a 15' cone. In a longer encounter, it might not do as much burst damage, but it can be very efficient damage for a 2nd level spell slot since you can repeat the move multiple times for the cost of a single spell slot.
If you are looking for instantaneous damage, those are among the best. Scorching Ray has the best single-target damage potential (average 21), Shatter will do more overall damage if you can hit multiple enemies with it (average 13.5 each).
Another spell that you might want to look at is Dragon's Breath. It is cast as a bonus action, lasts for 10 rounds, and lets you use your action each round for the duration dealing 3d6 elemental damage (9.5 average) to enemies in a 15' cone. In a longer encounter, it might not do as much burst damage, but it can be very efficient damage for a 2nd level spell slot since you can repeat the move multiple times for the cost of a single spell slot.
Another great thing about Dragon's Breath is that it can be applied to your familiar, meaning you can nearly double your damage output each turn as long as you keep your familiar out of enemy range. What's better than a fire-breathing hawk?
If you are looking for instantaneous damage, those are among the best. Scorching Ray has the best single-target damage potential (average 21), Shatter will do more overall damage if you can hit multiple enemies with it (average 13.5 each).
Another spell that you might want to look at is Dragon's Breath. It is cast as a bonus action, lasts for 10 rounds, and lets you use your action each round for the duration dealing 3d6 elemental damage (9.5 average) to enemies in a 15' cone. In a longer encounter, it might not do as much burst damage, but it can be very efficient damage for a 2nd level spell slot since you can repeat the move multiple times for the cost of a single spell slot.
Another great thing about Dragon's Breath is that it can be applied to your familiar, meaning you can nearly double your damage output each turn as long as you keep your familiar out of enemy range. What's better than a fire-breathing hawk?
I personally prefer the Owl over the Hawk because it has the flyby trait, which lets it avoid opportunity attacks when it leaves an enemies reach. Very nice for those flyby carpet bombings.
If you are looking for instantaneous damage, those are among the best. Scorching Ray has the best single-target damage potential (average 21), Shatter will do more overall damage if you can hit multiple enemies with it (average 13.5 each).
Another spell that you might want to look at is Dragon's Breath. It is cast as a bonus action, lasts for 10 rounds, and lets you use your action each round for the duration dealing 3d6 elemental damage (9.5 average) to enemies in a 15' cone. In a longer encounter, it might not do as much burst damage, but it can be very efficient damage for a 2nd level spell slot since you can repeat the move multiple times for the cost of a single spell slot.
Another great thing about Dragon's Breath is that it can be applied to your familiar, meaning you can nearly double your damage output each turn as long as you keep your familiar out of enemy range. What's better than a fire-breathing hawk?
I personally prefer the Owl over the Hawk because it has the flyby trait, which lets it avoid opportunity attacks when it leaves an enemies reach. Very nice for those flyby carpet bombings.
Good point, especially when using dragon's breath that is definitely more useful.
For dragons breath either works, the hawk flies 15ish feet above and fires straight down and you effectively have a 15 diameter circle. It never enters the reach of 90% of enemies so it does not need flyby.
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
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I'm just your everyday dungeon master. Ignore that jar full of souls. And those bones in the corner are just props, don't worry. I'm definitely NOT a lich. Definitely.
Yes, I like beholders. Yes, I curated an exquisite personality for commoner #2864. Yes, my catchphrase is "are you sure?"
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
Almost. It doesn't work because both dragon's breath and invisibility require concentration. But if you could get another spellcaster to help you out, or be a Chronurgist or 11th-lvl artificer, then you could do it with just yourself and your familiar or even a homunculus servant.
Personally I REALLY like Rime's Binding Ice for a second level evoker. It does the same amount of damage as Shatter, though a less desirable type, and it has the control effect of reducing targets speed to 0 on a failed save.
Agreed, Rime's Binding Ice is a pretty good 2nd level spell as well. Average damage, but with a pretty good debuff tacked on that enemies have to use an action to clear.
Rimes binding ice is such a slept on spell. So is Cloud of Daggers. It stays and can block doorways, hinder enemies, etc, and there is no save, just damage. It's not alot of damage but it's still guaranteed to do something.
Cloud of Daggers is so much fun to pair with Booming Blade. If they stay still, they take damage from the daggers, if they move, they take extra thunder damage. Love this combo so much.
Rimes binding ice is such a slept on spell. So is Cloud of Daggers. It stays and can block doorways, hinder enemies, etc, and there is no save, just damage. It's not alot of damage but it's still guaranteed to do something.
I think its just a spell that came late to the game in a supplement not everyone has. I'm not sure its even a question its the best 2nd level wis/sor area of effect attack spell in the game. It does damage and drops movement to 0 and you are only freed by blowing an action. Agos scorcher 3d8 30 foot line, fire damage dex save. Only the save is better its either neutral or worse in every other way. Shatter has range but its Area is only a 10 foot radius. At least its a rare resistance. Snowball swarm, spray of cards lol. Only dragons breath due to its duration is competition imo, but the area of effect is so small it ends up in play not as amazing as it looks on paper. Sure there are times shatter with its range is the better choice that action, overall though, not really.
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
Surely the invisio ends after it uses the dragons breath to attack (deal damage) ... or is that purely 2024 clarifications.
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
Surely the invisio ends after it uses the dragons breath to attack (deal damage) ... or is that purely 2024 clarifications.
Yes, invisibility ends as soon as it deals damage. If you want an invisible familiar, the best use is to just have it use the help action every round, since that will not break it's invisibility.
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
Surely the invisio ends after it uses the dragons breath to attack (deal damage) ... or is that purely 2024 clarifications.
Yes, invisibility ends as soon as it deals damage. If you want an invisible familiar, the best use is to just have it use the help action every round, since that will not break it's invisibility.
Actually, invisibility only says "The spells ends for a target that attacks or casts a spell." The familiar isn't. If you have it properly set up to split concentration of invisibility and dragon's breath between yourself and allies, the familiar can use its action to release a cone of damage. But it is neither casting the spell itself, nor making an attack, as it is a spell save.
Actually, invisibility only says "The spells ends for a target that attacks or casts a spell." The familiar isn't. If you have it properly set up to split concentration of invisibility and dragon's breath between yourself and allies, the familiar can use its action to release a cone of damage. But it is neither casting the spell itself, nor making an attack, as it is a spell save.
Fair call :o)
2024 wording closes the loophole, use it while you can :)
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Is it down to Shatter versus Scorching Ray.
I supposed Shatter if the target AC is too high
Am I missing something or is that it for the best damage?
If you are looking for instantaneous damage, those are among the best. Scorching Ray has the best single-target damage potential (average 21), Shatter will do more overall damage if you can hit multiple enemies with it (average 13.5 each).
Another spell that you might want to look at is Dragon's Breath. It is cast as a bonus action, lasts for 10 rounds, and lets you use your action each round for the duration dealing 3d6 elemental damage (9.5 average) to enemies in a 15' cone. In a longer encounter, it might not do as much burst damage, but it can be very efficient damage for a 2nd level spell slot since you can repeat the move multiple times for the cost of a single spell slot.
Another great thing about Dragon's Breath is that it can be applied to your familiar, meaning you can nearly double your damage output each turn as long as you keep your familiar out of enemy range. What's better than a fire-breathing hawk?
I personally prefer the Owl over the Hawk because it has the flyby trait, which lets it avoid opportunity attacks when it leaves an enemies reach. Very nice for those flyby carpet bombings.
Good point, especially when using dragon's breath that is definitely more useful.
For dragons breath either works, the hawk flies 15ish feet above and fires straight down and you effectively have a 15 diameter circle. It never enters the reach of 90% of enemies so it does not need flyby.
Oy, true again lol
This doesn't increase the damage, but you can cast invisibility in addition to dragons breath, and just have a flying, invisible familiar breathing poison every round. Fun!
I'm just your everyday dungeon master. Ignore that jar full of souls. And those bones in the corner are just props, don't worry. I'm definitely NOT a lich. Definitely.
Yes, I like beholders. Yes, I curated an exquisite personality for commoner #2864. Yes, my catchphrase is "are you sure?"
.-. .- -. -.. --- -- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . .-.-.-
Almost. It doesn't work because both dragon's breath and invisibility require concentration. But if you could get another spellcaster to help you out, or be a Chronurgist or 11th-lvl artificer, then you could do it with just yourself and your familiar or even a homunculus servant.
Personally I REALLY like Rime's Binding Ice for a second level evoker. It does the same amount of damage as Shatter, though a less desirable type, and it has the control effect of reducing targets speed to 0 on a failed save.
Agreed, Rime's Binding Ice is a pretty good 2nd level spell as well. Average damage, but with a pretty good debuff tacked on that enemies have to use an action to clear.
Rimes binding ice is such a slept on spell. So is Cloud of Daggers. It stays and can block doorways, hinder enemies, etc, and there is no save, just damage. It's not alot of damage but it's still guaranteed to do something.
Cloud of Daggers is so much fun to pair with Booming Blade. If they stay still, they take damage from the daggers, if they move, they take extra thunder damage. Love this combo so much.
I think its just a spell that came late to the game in a supplement not everyone has. I'm not sure its even a question its the best 2nd level wis/sor area of effect attack spell in the game. It does damage and drops movement to 0 and you are only freed by blowing an action. Agos scorcher 3d8 30 foot line, fire damage dex save. Only the save is better its either neutral or worse in every other way. Shatter has range but its Area is only a 10 foot radius. At least its a rare resistance. Snowball swarm, spray of cards lol. Only dragons breath due to its duration is competition imo, but the area of effect is so small it ends up in play not as amazing as it looks on paper. Sure there are times shatter with its range is the better choice that action, overall though, not really.
Surely the invisio ends after it uses the dragons breath to attack (deal damage) ... or is that purely 2024 clarifications.
Life's hard - get a helmet!
Yes, invisibility ends as soon as it deals damage. If you want an invisible familiar, the best use is to just have it use the help action every round, since that will not break it's invisibility.
Actually, invisibility only says "The spells ends for a target that attacks or casts a spell." The familiar isn't. If you have it properly set up to split concentration of invisibility and dragon's breath between yourself and allies, the familiar can use its action to release a cone of damage. But it is neither casting the spell itself, nor making an attack, as it is a spell save.
Fair call :o)
2024 wording closes the loophole, use it while you can :)
Life's hard - get a helmet!