When you choose to upcast Hunter’s Mark using a level 3 spell slot, the duration is 8 hours instead of 1. You don’t have to cast it at level 3 if you don’t want to use the higher level spell slot. It can be valuable to have Hunter’s Mark up for 8 hours, depending on how many encounters you anticipate in that time and whether you think you will be able to maintain concentration that long.
If you can slap it on your foe in a city(for instance) than use the bonus to track them to say their hideout. The 8 hours in great!. My party once killed a war party of orcs but we left the last one alive. Let it slip away as the battle was ending. I had switch Hunters Mark to it. Having advantage on all of my survival rolls allowed us to get to the lair, battle the big boss and take home the loot. Saver us days of searching or missing out all together.
Does Hunter's Mark just take up a valuable 3rd Level Spell slot? Is there any advantage to casting it at higher than 2nd level?
When you choose to upcast Hunter’s Mark using a level 3 spell slot, the duration is 8 hours instead of 1. You don’t have to cast it at level 3 if you don’t want to use the higher level spell slot. It can be valuable to have Hunter’s Mark up for 8 hours, depending on how many encounters you anticipate in that time and whether you think you will be able to maintain concentration that long.
If you can slap it on your foe in a city(for instance) than use the bonus to track them to say their hideout. The 8 hours in great!. My party once killed a war party of orcs but we left the last one alive. Let it slip away as the battle was ending. I had switch Hunters Mark to it. Having advantage on all of my survival rolls allowed us to get to the lair, battle the big boss and take home the loot. Saver us days of searching or missing out all together.