The Strixhaven UA has had me bouncing back-and-forth between “general approval” and “questionable changes”…in part because while I legitimately love that different classes can now access fun subclasses; there is undoubtedly some compromises…a less “tailor-made” subclass that interacts with class features like “Metamagic”, “Wildshape” or “Bardic Inspiration”, for example…
…but not Wizards!
Mainly because for the most part; the best part of being a Wizard is simply having access to an enormity of spells, and Wizard subclass features are merely the icing of that cake.
Strixhaven subclasses for the Wizard, I feel, provide enormous boons…having access to every feature helps that…and after hungrily going over what sort of Wizard I would make with these new subclasses; I find that I have settled upon Quandrix & Silverquill as the top contenders.
My question, then…is which one?
Quandrix Wizards get some interesting tools…”Guiding Bolt” as a decent 1st Level spell…the ability to affect dice rolls as a minor buff / debuff…the HILARIOUS potential of the 6th Level teleportation feature…instilling penalties to Strength & Dexterity saves on those intimidating monsters, and lessening their damage…all culminating in an always-on resistance to all physical damage, and becoming a ghost (sort of).
It’s a subclass that has something interesting it can do at nearly every occasion. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Silverquill strikes me as the “power” subclass:
Proficiency in a social skill…that’s very on-theme.
“Silvery Barbs” is a real game-changer…provided the enemy is not immune to “Charm”: to force an enemy to re-roll a d20 roll, and if they fail, you allow an ally to re-roll a d20 roll.
It’s a weaponized “Lucky” feat! (almost).
It has a spell-slot tax after that, but still, that’s a spicy subclass feature!
”Inky Shroud” is peculiar in that it does not really fit the whole “eloquent” motif…it is a skill specific to the “Magic” universe…but it is still damn impressive; and possibly the best version of the “Darkness” spell…not only can you see through it; you can damage people with psychic damage.
I imagine people will have fun with how that psychic damage is applied…perhaps they see nightmares in the darkness…maybe the darkness lashes out like Jackie Estacado from the “Darkness” games…or perhaps they are bombarded by evil whispers or aggressive taunting.
The high levels of Silverquill get INSANE: you can substitute the damage of your spells with RADIANT or PSYCHIC damage…some of the least-resisted damage types.
Imagine a high-level radiant “Delayed Blast Fireball”…or a psychic “Lightning Bolt”…bodies left behind with no physical damage…or operating as a pseudo-cleric.
Not only that; but depending on the damage type you choose, you can either charm or fear the targets affected.
There’s something terribly funny about blasting an opponent, and suddenly they’re charmed by you.
The “Words of Power” is a concept I’ve always wanted for a Wizard class; and this feature sort of provides that: you can make the target VULNERABLE when they are subjected to your “Silvery Barbs”…or you can rebuke an enemy with radiant damage when they strike you or your allies…you take half that as psychic damage; but this is still a great support skill when you need it.
I honestly think both were a bit sucky. Quandrix was themeless, and I'm just not into Silverquill. I'd go with a less OP Witherbloom any day though! I love healing warlocks.
So Lorehold gives Wizard a class with Almost no uses for bonus action a massive versatile use for it. It basically doubles a wizards action economy. You can cast hold person then still attack. You gain access to an unlimited bonus action heal. You get a pet to protect you and a very good one. Etc. Plus it just keeps getting better as you level and gain abilities in the subclass.
Lorehold is far and away better. However silverquill is very good too. Witherbloom at 6th level with the potion feature is nasty as well. I think besides loreholds ancient Companion on wizard, witherbloom has the nastiest feature in the game at 6th level.
but no it’s not close lorehold wizard is wildly good as soon as you get the subclass
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The Strixhaven UA has had me bouncing back-and-forth between “general approval” and “questionable changes”…in part because while I legitimately love that different classes can now access fun subclasses; there is undoubtedly some compromises…a less “tailor-made” subclass that interacts with class features like “Metamagic”, “Wildshape” or “Bardic Inspiration”, for example…
…but not Wizards!
Mainly because for the most part; the best part of being a Wizard is simply having access to an enormity of spells, and Wizard subclass features are merely the icing of that cake.
Strixhaven subclasses for the Wizard, I feel, provide enormous boons…having access to every feature helps that…and after hungrily going over what sort of Wizard I would make with these new subclasses; I find that I have settled upon Quandrix & Silverquill as the top contenders.
My question, then…is which one?
Quandrix Wizards get some interesting tools…”Guiding Bolt” as a decent 1st Level spell…the ability to affect dice rolls as a minor buff / debuff…the HILARIOUS potential of the 6th Level teleportation feature…instilling penalties to Strength & Dexterity saves on those intimidating monsters, and lessening their damage…all culminating in an always-on resistance to all physical damage, and becoming a ghost (sort of).
It’s a subclass that has something interesting it can do at nearly every occasion. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Silverquill strikes me as the “power” subclass:
Proficiency in a social skill…that’s very on-theme.
“Silvery Barbs” is a real game-changer…provided the enemy is not immune to “Charm”: to force an enemy to re-roll a d20 roll, and if they fail, you allow an ally to re-roll a d20 roll.
It’s a weaponized “Lucky” feat! (almost).
It has a spell-slot tax after that, but still, that’s a spicy subclass feature!
”Inky Shroud” is peculiar in that it does not really fit the whole “eloquent” motif…it is a skill specific to the “Magic” universe…but it is still damn impressive; and possibly the best version of the “Darkness” spell…not only can you see through it; you can damage people with psychic damage.
I imagine people will have fun with how that psychic damage is applied…perhaps they see nightmares in the darkness…maybe the darkness lashes out like Jackie Estacado from the “Darkness” games…or perhaps they are bombarded by evil whispers or aggressive taunting.
The high levels of Silverquill get INSANE: you can substitute the damage of your spells with RADIANT or PSYCHIC damage…some of the least-resisted damage types.
Imagine a high-level radiant “Delayed Blast Fireball”…or a psychic “Lightning Bolt”…bodies left behind with no physical damage…or operating as a pseudo-cleric.
Not only that; but depending on the damage type you choose, you can either charm or fear the targets affected.
There’s something terribly funny about blasting an opponent, and suddenly they’re charmed by you.
The “Words of Power” is a concept I’ve always wanted for a Wizard class; and this feature sort of provides that: you can make the target VULNERABLE when they are subjected to your “Silvery Barbs”…or you can rebuke an enemy with radiant damage when they strike you or your allies…you take half that as psychic damage; but this is still a great support skill when you need it.
What say, all of you?
Quandrix Wizard, or Silverquill Wizard?
I honestly think both were a bit sucky. Quandrix was themeless, and I'm just not into Silverquill. I'd go with a less OP Witherbloom any day though! I love healing warlocks.
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So Lorehold gives Wizard a class with Almost no uses for bonus action a massive versatile use for it. It basically doubles a wizards action economy. You can cast hold person then still attack. You gain access to an unlimited bonus action heal. You get a pet to protect you and a very good one. Etc. Plus it just keeps getting better as you level and gain abilities in the subclass.
Lorehold is far and away better. However silverquill is very good too. Witherbloom at 6th level with the potion feature is nasty as well. I think besides loreholds ancient Companion on wizard, witherbloom has the nastiest feature in the game at 6th level.
but no it’s not close lorehold wizard is wildly good as soon as you get the subclass