While avoiding damage is the obvious temptation for a wizard, personally I'm more inclined to want ways to avoid suffering conditions (charmed especially), so Dispel Magic is tempting as a counter to that, the trick is the trigger, something like "Triggered if I am rendered incapable of acting normally under my own free will by a spell, or if I tap my left elbow three times"? Intention being that it should trigger if any spell renders you unable to act, either by compelling you to do something, restraining you etc., might need some tweaking.

It not working on effects that aren't spells is the main drawback of that option, but the only things worse than being taken out of the fight are being actively turned against the group, or being in the fight but still unable to do anything.

While a Wizard should normally be able to Counterspell, this can work as a backup (if your Counterpsell is Counterpselled), or in cases where you're out of range to counterspell the caster (whereas you're always in range to dispel magic on yourself).

I tend to fall into using for Dispel Magic like Haravikk suggests.

The trigger can be tricky, but since Dispel Magic only works on spells anyway I tend to use "If I am under the effect of a spell I did not cast upon myself, for longer than 3 seconds". This is usually decent enough but then I'm usually the main spellcaster and rarely the subject of other spells from teammates and that could become more tricky. Even specifying something about "willingness" is difficult as some beneficial spells like Bless completely disregard willingness at time of being cast and if you didn't know beforehand to be "willing" for it, then it technically happened without you being willing and the Dispel would happen before you realise it (probably).

Tricky.  

Yeah the wording is the trickiest part; I went from the angle of trying to word it such that the spell must be rendering me somehow unable to act, that way it should exclude debuffs, under the assumption that I can just deal with anything else on my own turn either by casting normally, or using the added "tap three times" option (which I would argue as a free action or bonus action at most).

Contingency, as with other trigger spells like Glyph of Warding and Symbol, doesn't really place any restrictions on what the condition can be, but I've usually worked out with my DM's to keep it somewhat simple; i.e- one "or" is usually okay, but a long list of possible circumstances and stipulations is not.

I don't think "or" statements work with Contingency. The spell specifies "a certain circumstance occurs." This implies the trigger is both singular and specific.

"And" statements work fine.

Quote from Ishen >>

I don't think "or" statements work with Contingency. The spell specifies "a certain circumstance occurs." This implies the trigger is both singular and specific.

I've usually taken "or" statements to be fine because of the example included in the spell description:

For example, a contingency cast with water breathing might stipulate that water breathing comes into effect when you are engulfed in water or a similar liquid

This is essentially like saying "cast water breathing if I'm engulfed in water, or engulfed in tar, or engulfed in wine" and so-on. Granted you could argue that "engulfed" is the circumstances and the liquid is just detail, or that it's just a very weird example in general (as why trigger for "similar liquid" if water breathing doesn't allow you to breathe it?).

Contingency, Glyph of Warding and Symbol are all a bit vague about what constitutes a "circumstance"/trigger/whatever so I'd usually just leave it up to the DM to decide if you're asking for too much; while I mentioned the wording I should have added that my groups actually tend not to give specific wordings for things in this way, usually we just describe our intent and the DM will decided if we should give it in concrete wording or not, but generally we assume the character fills in the wording for us (and knows better how to phrase things to avoid common pitfalls with these types of spells, as they're magically trained and we the players aren't).

Contingency: if i am unwillingly affected by magical silence, trigger dispel magic.

 If I am ever about to be attacked by any force I am not aware of (surprise) trigger misty step.

 If I am sleeping and someone approaches with malicious intent trigger… web should be allowed, it affects you and the area around you. Alarm should work, it telepathically warns you, what level is stoneskin… 

Quote from Burgen_Badluk >>

  I am planning on casting "False Life" upcast to 5th level.  The trigger being either 25%, 50%, or 75% hp loss--I haven't decided which yet.  Suddenly pop back 24+1d4 Hp.....

 I'm curious on the logic behind upcasting.

Contingency says you choose a Spell, so you pick False Life. It then says you Cast both Spells, expending the necessary Slot. It doesn't say you can choose what Slot is used for it. So why would you be able to pick 5th Level Slots?

5e has been extremely particular in stating that a Spell or Ability only does precisely what it says and nothing else. It also has been extremely particular in that assumptions and implications should never be made, as things do only what they say they do.

So where does the idea that one can upcast the Contingency Spell come from? Contingency seems pretty clear that you only chose the Spell, not the Slot it uses. Otherwise, every Contingency Spell should use a 5th Level Slot to give it a higher DC and better survivability against Counterspell/Dispel Magic.

Quote from james_e_iii >>

Quote from Burgen_Badluk >>

  I am planning on casting "False Life" upcast to 5th level.  The trigger being either 25%, 50%, or 75% hp loss--I haven't decided which yet.  Suddenly pop back 24+1d4 Hp.....

 I'm curious on the logic behind upcasting.

Contingency says you choose a Spell, so you pick False Life. It then says you Cast both Spells, expending the necessary Slot. It doesn't say you can choose what Slot is used for it. So why would you be able to pick 5th Level Slots?

5e has been extremely particular in stating that a Spell or Ability only does precisely what it says and nothing else. It also has been extremely particular in that assumptions and implications should never be made, as things do only what they say they do.

So where does the idea that one can upcast the Contingency Spell come from? Contingency seems pretty clear that you only chose the Spell, not the Slot it uses. Otherwise, every Contingency Spell should use a 5th Level Slot to give it a higher DC and better survivability against Counterspell/Dispel Magic.

 
Because general spellcasting rules remain in play which states you can use any spell slot you have to cast any spell you know/have prepared and the spell becomes the level of the slot you used. When features want to limit you to only the base level of the spell it specifically states "at base level", which Contingency doesn't. 

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Quote from OrpheusBlackwind >>

In my opinion, far in away the best use of contingency is for revivify. The condition being 59 seconds after your death, this makes it so that whatever killed you is probably not looking over your body and is a near surefire way to avoid at tpk. 

 
It's good but the need for multiclassing to make this happen and you can't do it before 16th level (as it requires 11 levels of Wizard and 5 levels in Cleric/Paladin/Artificer/Druid). By that point as a pure Wizard you could instead be casting something like Clone. If you were pure Cleric you could instead cast Death Ward.

If you're interested in using Contingency to escape death you could see if the DM will let you be a Mark of Healing Halfling. You can then take Close Wounds as a Wizard spell (Wizard Healing!) and so have a 5th level Cure Wounds ready to pop if you ever hit 0 HP.  

There are a couple possibilities to combine Contingency and Revivify but you might need to build toward it. For a wizard, a single level dip in a class with revivify on their list could allow a Wizard to use a scroll or magic item like a ring of spell storing to cast it. Likewise the opposite would be possible. A cleric or bard with a level dip in wizard could use a scroll to cast contingency. Potentially even a rogue thief could use magic device to cast the combo. Arcane clerics and artificers could also all potentially pull it off. 

Lots of options although it may be debatable if it's worth it. Personally, a ring of spell storing is your friend if you are a wizard wanting to exploit contingency. 

I usually play bladesinger Wizards and I like a 5th level false life.  Have it come on if you have less than 20hps or something like that.

Quote from OhHolyPretender >>

My situation is bladesinger specific BUT.

[Trigger]
After casting Tenser's Transformation
[Spell]
Mirror Image / Blink (your choice really)

My boss fight combo is planned as follows

• Turn 1:  [action]Potion of haste / [bonus]bladesong / [free]draw flame tongue rapier
• Turn 2:  [action]Cast Tenser's Transformation (and get contingency) [bonus]say rapier command word. [haste action]attack once for 1d8+2d6+2d12+4 [free action] draw dagger
• Turn 3 onwards.  [action]attack for 3x 1d8+2d6+2d12+4. [bonus] dagger 1d4+2d12. 

Benefits

• Combined with Elven Accuracy feat, that's a good number of crit chances.
• solid single target damage. 30  - 172 (before crits)
• Good survivability.  (+50temp hp.  +2ac from haste, +damage mitigation from blink or mirror image, high con save due to bladesong and gaining proficiencey)
• Still have a use for spell slots (they can still be sacrificed using Song of Defense)

I've only used this combo once, but went form 'almost out of the fight in turn one' to 'solo the boss'

 

 I completetly stopped using Tensors Transformation on bladesingers.  I tried it early on but in my experience is is a very bad spell to use in melee, really bad as in worse than nothing.

Mirror image rarely lasts more than a round at high levels and withouth being able to case shield, absorb elements or silvery barbs you are going to take a lot of damage against the kind of foes you should be facing at 12+ level.

I’d like to poise, Steel wind, strike as a possible spell for contingency, asking for any rationale as to why it would not be used. Though the spell does damage to other creatures the spell itself targets the caster, allowing him to make the attack. my rationale is based on previous threads that acknowledge Thunderstep as a viable option which does damage to creatures and also allows another creature to be brought along. Would love to discuss thanks.

Quote from Bizmith >>

I’d like to poise, Steel wind, strike as a possible spell for contingency, asking for any rationale as to why it would not be used. Though the spell does damage to other creatures the spell itself targets the caster, allowing him to make the attack. my rationale is based on previous threads that acknowledge Thunderstep as a viable option which does damage to creatures and also allows another creature to be brought along. Would love to discuss thanks.

Steel Wind Strike may target only you, but it affects others. 

Contingency states the contingent spell can only have an effect on you. So, yes you can certainly store SWS as a contingent spell : but since it is blocked from affecting anyone but you, it would be completely useless to do so.

If I have cure wounds through artificer initiate (use INT so better than magic initiatie), magic initiate, strixhaven initiate (or background), I do cure wounds. I've tried greater invisibility a couple of times, but it always wound up being a monster with blindsight or another way or seeing through the illusion. 

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Quote from Bizmith >>

I’d like to poise, Steel wind, strike as a possible spell for contingency, asking for any rationale as to why it would not be used. Though the spell does damage to other creatures the spell itself targets the caster, allowing him to make the attack. my rationale is based on previous threads that acknowledge Thunderstep as a viable option which does damage to creatures and also allows another creature to be brought along. Would love to discuss thanks.

 

Steel Wind Strike may target only you, but it affects others. 

Contingency states the contingent spell can only have an effect on you. So, yes you can certainly store SWS as a contingent spell : but since it is blocked from affecting anyone but you, it would be completely useless to do so.

For clarification, how do you resolve this for spells like thunder step or pulse wave. For thunderstep are we not allowed to take another willing creature with? Or does the damage emitted from you become negated?  Furthermore I’d still argue that this spell simply gives you an ability to attack multiple enemies and falls within the guidelines. Another example is Haste, giving you the option use multiple actions as you see fit. 

As a side note, I sometimes feel as if this game needs a rebalancing. I understand the difficulty in having working mechanics but when into cool mechanics like this spell, and having such a limited scope. It’s a 6th level spell, it should have the capacity to do powerful things that are granted through its purposeful use. Would it be terribly unbalanced if you could preprep prayer of healing so that if I find us at a near party wipe it heals us? 

Quote from Bizmith >>

For clarification, how do you resolve this for spells like thunder step or pulse wave. For thunderstep are we not allowed to take another willing creature with? Or does the damage emitted from you become negated?  Furthermore I’d still argue that this spell simply gives you an ability to attack multiple enemies and falls within the guidelines. Another example is Haste, giving you the option use multiple actions as you see fit. 

As a side note, I sometimes feel as if this game needs a rebalancing. I understand the difficulty in having working mechanics but when into cool mechanics like this spell, and having such a limited scope. It’s a 6th level spell, it should have the capacity to do powerful things that are granted through its purposeful use. Would it be terribly unbalanced if you could preprep prayer of healing so that if I find us at a near party wipe it heals us? 

It's the same way. Thunderstep would teleport you but you would not bring anyone and not damage anyone. Yes, the SWS lets you attack multiple targets but that is still the spell's effect having an effect (an attack) against others.

The problem you seem to be having is you want to use Contingency as just an extra spell to store without having to have it prepped. This is not the purpose of the spell. The spell is there to provide you a specific benefit to yourself only in an emergency situation. It is worded this way to let you have an extra prep for something that can only affect you and you alone. This is a deliberate design choice so you cannot have extra fireballs or other shenanigans. This was designed with magic items in mind - many magic items also providing extra free casts of many spells. There's also the Ring of Spell Storing, Pearl of Power and more. You also need to remember Wizards will eventually get a 1st level and 2nd level spell they can cast at will and 2x 3rd level spells they can cast without slots every short rest. 

The wizard only spell is balanced around the wizard features and magic items and feats.

The spell is already fantastic.

For example you can use 5th Level False Life for an emergency 1d4+24 temporary hit points. Or you can store Protection From Evil and Good just in case you might come across these other creatures. An emergency Air Bubble can protect you from drowning, space, poisonous clouds, etc. An emergency Disguise Self or Alter Self for when you need to get away. Borrowed Knowledge can be useful - ya never know when you might need extra skill proficiency. An emergency Invisibility can be useful for all sorts of situations. See Invisibility may be good in case you suspect invisible things - might avoid wasting a spell slot. Blink, Dispel Magic, Haste, and the list goes on. There's a lot of incredibly useful spells to provide protection or utility when you need it. 

One last thing: you just need to be able to cast the spell. So you can even store spells cast from magic items or features. You can even store cantrips - so maybe you took Magic Initiate feat and got access to Spare the Dying - a great use of autostabilising yourself or maybe the 1st level spell is a Cure Wounds to get you back up if you ever drop to 0 hit points.

You could also be a Mark of Healing Halfling and could then store Cure Wounds, Lesser Restoration, or Greater Restoration. Or maybe you're a Witherbloom Student and stored Revivify or Death Ward.

The spell needs the restriction it has. That makes it fantastic for a 6th level spell. Your version would make it overpowered and potentially quite broken - at any level.

Fly and Counterspell are always good options

Quote from ivabattleborn >>

Fly and Counterspell are always good options

 
I assume you mean Dispel Magic, since Counterspell is not a valid option for Contingency.

Well FUUUUUUUUUDGEEEEEEEEEE you

Quote from ivabattleborn >>

Well FUUUUUUUUUDGEEEEEEEEEE you

 
No thank you. I have too much sugar already.