Druids and Clerics get access to their whole spell list. Wizards have to learn them in exchange for significant time, cost, and effort.
Bards always have their spells prepared. Wizards prepare a subset (although a wizard might be able to prepare more spells than in bard's entire repertoire).
Warlocks get all their spells back at a short rest. Wizards only get a fraction through Arcane Recovery.
Sorcerers get to customize their spell effects.
I also feel like the other spellcasting classes get more interesting class features like Wild Shape, Channel Divinity, Bardic Inspiration, and Eldritch Invocations.
What's so great about wizards? Is their spell list much more powerful and extensive than other classes'?
In terms of role playing, I guess all the classes are strong. Clerics and warlocks get a powerful NPC who is predisposed to be their ally. Druids can call upon the very beasts and plants of the land. Bards know how to win friends and influence people. Wizards get access to libraries full of lore.
Last time I counted (which was pre-Tasha's, but I don't believe the ratios have shifted much) the wizard spell list was sitting at 256 spells, while the second largest spell list was sorcerer at 164 (which are all in the wizard spell list except for like...2), and it's all downhill from there. So yes, wizards have by far the biggest selection of spells, a lot of utility/exploration spells that sorcerers don't get access to, and they can cast any ritual spell they've added to their spellbook even if they don't have it prepared. They're also second only to clerics in terms of number of subclasses (and even then, they're almost equal), with some real standouts like Bladesinging, War Caster and School of Divination.
The Fighter and Wizard can have a reputation of being “basic” or “standard.” While these classes lack specialized features that set them apart, they make up for it in customizability and raw power.
Last time I counted (which was pre-Tasha's, but I don't believe the ratios have shifted much) the wizard spell list was sitting at 256 spells, while the second largest spell list was sorcerer at 164 (which are all in the wizard spell list except for like...2), and it's all downhill from there. So yes, wizards have by far the biggest selection of spells, a lot of utility/exploration spells that sorcerers don't get access to, and they can cast any ritual spell they've added to their spellbook even if they don't have it prepared. They're also second only to clerics in terms of number of subclasses (and even then, they're almost equal), with some real standouts like Bladesinging, War Caster and School of Divination.
Love the Portent feature for crucial rolls, and Expert Divination would seem to give you effectively infinite low-level Divination spell slots, since you can recast a 5th level spell as a 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st. So you can use Divination like Clairvoyance and Scrying multiple times a day without worry about running out of high-level spell slots. Very good for role playing a character who's very interested in lore.
Druids and Clerics get access to their whole spell list. Wizards have to learn them in exchange for significant time, cost, and effort.
After a few levels it's not really that much of a cost.
Bards always have their spells prepared. Wizards prepare a subset (although a wizard might be able to prepare more spells than in bard's entire repertoire).
As you say, Wizards will probably have more spells prepared. Also, since they can ritual cast spells that aren't prepared, they also effectively have a bunch more "free" spells. Which is something they have that clerics and druids don't, as well.
Warlocks get all their spells back at a short rest. Wizards only get a fraction through Arcane Recovery.
Yes, but warlocks only ever get a fraction of the number of spell slots that wizards have which means that they might end up in the old "do I really want to waste a 5th levels spell slot for something a 1st level slot could do?"
Sorcerers get to customize their spell effects.
Some of the wizard subclasses get similar things, like Evocation's Sculpt Spells. But yes, Sorcerers' metamagic and customized spell effects is something they have that wizards don't. Which is cool for Sorcerers. :)
I also feel like the other spellcasting classes get more interesting class features like Wild Shape, Channel Divinity, Bardic Inspiration, and Eldritch Invocations.
54MU31 said it really well. Wizards and fighters might be considered "Standard" but they make up for it in customizability and raw power. No two wizards, even of the same subclass, race and background, have to be the same. Them being quite SAD opens up all sorts of fun possibilities. Do you want to be sword slinging elven war wizard? Go for it? Do you want to be a warforged Avjuration wizard with 3 levels of Armourer Artificer With a maxed out Con and Intelligence, wearing a full plate armour? Go for it. B)
What's so great about wizards? Is their spell list much more powerful and extensive than other classes'?
That, and that they are one of the classics, I guess. I have a few concepts for wizard characters that I would like to try out.
In terms of role playing, I guess all the classes are strong. Clerics and warlocks get a powerful NPC who is predisposed to be their ally. Druids can call upon the very beasts and plants of the land. Bards know how to win friends and influence people. Wizards get access to libraries full of lore.
I agree. 5E has done a really good job (even the poor Beastmaster post-Tasha's) of making all the classes at least about equally good. So that's the great thing, you don't have to worry too much about powergaming when coming up with a concept.
Yeah, Wizards almost allow you to build your own customized subclass through your spell list. The DM has some input in terms of the spells they make available for you to copy. But if your DM is not forthcoming with spell books and scrolls, you are at a disadvantage compared to clerics and druids, who learn a half dozen or so spells per level, compared to your two.
Yeah, Wizards almost allow you to build your own customized subclass through your spell list. The DM has some input in terms of the spells they make available for you to copy. But if your DM is not forthcoming with spell books and scrolls, you are at a disadvantage compared to clerics and druids, who learn a half dozen or so spells per level, compared to your two.
That's a fault of the DM and not a fault of the wizard class, though.
If you count the number of spells like maze which exist for exactly one class, you’ll find that the wizard contains quite a few, and always the most powerful. Sure, a bard could take a few, but the wizard could by default add more to their spell books than a bard could select.
Druids get some unique spells, but none as powerful as wizards. Clerics are strong at what they do, but focus quite heavily on buffing and healing niches. In fact, each of the other casters fills 1 or 2 of the casting niches.
Combine the largest number available spells, a large number prepared, the fact that they are the most powerful spells, unprepared ritual casting, strength in every area of casting except direct healing, and strong casting boosts from subclasses and you get the strongest overall caster. With Tasha’s, Bards and sorcerers (and to a lesser extent, druids) have shored up some of the places that they lack, but still haven’t caught up to the wizard.
Druids and Clerics get access to their whole spell list. Wizards have to learn them in exchange for significant time, cost, and effort.
Bards always have their spells prepared. Wizards prepare a subset (although a wizard might be able to prepare more spells than in bard's entire repertoire).
Warlocks get all their spells back at a short rest. Wizards only get a fraction through Arcane Recovery.
Sorcerers get to customize their spell effects.
I also feel like the other spellcasting classes get more interesting class features like Wild Shape, Channel Divinity, Bardic Inspiration, and Eldritch Invocations.
What's so great about wizards? Is their spell list much more powerful and extensive than other classes'?
In terms of role playing, I guess all the classes are strong. Clerics and warlocks get a powerful NPC who is predisposed to be their ally. Druids can call upon the very beasts and plants of the land. Bards know how to win friends and influence people. Wizards get access to libraries full of lore.
Last time I counted (which was pre-Tasha's, but I don't believe the ratios have shifted much) the wizard spell list was sitting at 256 spells, while the second largest spell list was sorcerer at 164 (which are all in the wizard spell list except for like...2), and it's all downhill from there. So yes, wizards have by far the biggest selection of spells, a lot of utility/exploration spells that sorcerers don't get access to, and they can cast any ritual spell they've added to their spellbook even if they don't have it prepared. They're also second only to clerics in terms of number of subclasses (and even then, they're almost equal), with some real standouts like Bladesinging, War Caster and School of Divination.
The stuff wizards get that others don't is too big to summarize here but feel free to browse this spreadsheet I made a couple of years ago.
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The Fighter and Wizard can have a reputation of being “basic” or “standard.” While these classes lack specialized features that set them apart, they make up for it in customizability and raw power.
I think I'm inspired to play a Divination wizard in my next game.
Love the Portent feature for crucial rolls, and Expert Divination would seem to give you effectively infinite low-level Divination spell slots, since you can recast a 5th level spell as a 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st. So you can use Divination like Clairvoyance and Scrying multiple times a day without worry about running out of high-level spell slots. Very good for role playing a character who's very interested in lore.
After a few levels it's not really that much of a cost.
As you say, Wizards will probably have more spells prepared. Also, since they can ritual cast spells that aren't prepared, they also effectively have a bunch more "free" spells. Which is something they have that clerics and druids don't, as well.
Yes, but warlocks only ever get a fraction of the number of spell slots that wizards have which means that they might end up in the old "do I really want to waste a 5th levels spell slot for something a 1st level slot could do?"
Some of the wizard subclasses get similar things, like Evocation's Sculpt Spells. But yes, Sorcerers' metamagic and customized spell effects is something they have that wizards don't. Which is cool for Sorcerers. :)
54MU31 said it really well. Wizards and fighters might be considered "Standard" but they make up for it in customizability and raw power. No two wizards, even of the same subclass, race and background, have to be the same. Them being quite SAD opens up all sorts of fun possibilities. Do you want to be sword slinging elven war wizard? Go for it? Do you want to be a warforged Avjuration wizard with 3 levels of Armourer Artificer With a maxed out Con and Intelligence, wearing a full plate armour? Go for it. B)
That, and that they are one of the classics, I guess. I have a few concepts for wizard characters that I would like to try out.
I agree. 5E has done a really good job (even the poor Beastmaster post-Tasha's) of making all the classes at least about equally good. So that's the great thing, you don't have to worry too much about powergaming when coming up with a concept.
Yeah, Wizards almost allow you to build your own customized subclass through your spell list. The DM has some input in terms of the spells they make available for you to copy. But if your DM is not forthcoming with spell books and scrolls, you are at a disadvantage compared to clerics and druids, who learn a half dozen or so spells per level, compared to your two.
That's a fault of the DM and not a fault of the wizard class, though.
It's not even that much of a disadvantage since you've still got a much larger spell list to draw from.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
If you count the number of spells like maze which exist for exactly one class, you’ll find that the wizard contains quite a few, and always the most powerful. Sure, a bard could take a few, but the wizard could by default add more to their spell books than a bard could select.
Druids get some unique spells, but none as powerful as wizards. Clerics are strong at what they do, but focus quite heavily on buffing and healing niches. In fact, each of the other casters fills 1 or 2 of the casting niches.
Combine the largest number available spells, a large number prepared, the fact that they are the most powerful spells, unprepared ritual casting, strength in every area of casting except direct healing, and strong casting boosts from subclasses and you get the strongest overall caster. With Tasha’s, Bards and sorcerers (and to a lesser extent, druids) have shored up some of the places that they lack, but still haven’t caught up to the wizard.