I'd say whichever is convenient first - unless the character in question has explicit detailed information about the party that suggests a particular strategy.
For example, if you know that the party contains a spell caster that has severely debilitating spells at their disposal (not just "they are a wizard, so they might have it" but "that wizard is known to cast this spell") then it makes sense to hold your reaction despite that a shield spell might protect you from a few attacks so that you can counterspell, which will likely keep you in the fight longer.
Though if you know that the party has their own counterspell ability, then the better strategy is to do everything you can to prevent their spells ever being cast at you because trying to counterspell will just cause them to counterspell that, and both sides will burn through spell slots at a crazy rate.
Here's the really smart and experienced thing to do: never fight the whole party alone. Flee like a craven coward if you have to in order to make the fight happen on your terms.
I was in a similar situation recently. I’m playing a 6th level Warlock and I was in combat at night where the party split up and I was facing a decent sized group of low level fighters. I stayed in non magical shadows and I picked them off using Sacred Flame 🔥 one by one. They never knew which direction I was from them, let alone exactly where I was. I’d move forward into range, cast, and then move back so that I was more than 60’ away from them.
Need a bit more context here, I'd say. I mean, heck. The only spellcasters that get Shield by default are the sorcerer and wizard. Clerics, druids, bards and warlocks.... don't. Are we playing a Bladesinger Wizard, War Cleric or some other melee range type? If playing a bard, sorcerer or warlock, that's a pretty narrow list of spells we can choose from, so the choices matter. What's my defenses like? What are my active buffs? What level am I? High level caster can mean anything from level 8 or so to level 20. What's my spell slots like? Do I need those level 3+ slots to attack with?
What kind of opposed party we talking about? What's their group made up of? How many people?
What's the terrain and other surrounding concerns? White rooms are unrealistic - being able to snipe people from a distance makes all the difference. A Colosseum? Even that has context, because it limits AoEs and where you can move around to. Are there civilians around? Tactics matter.
There's too many variables in play. The only right answer here is "it depends."
You're a high-level spellcaster, a powerful, experienced, and smart one at that.
You're fighting a diverse party ranging from levels 8-11.
Do you use your reaction on Counterspell, Shield, or whichever is convenient first?
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D&D Beyond FoundersMore likely counterspell, as the spell is more likely to be vitally important to avoid.
Being smart, powerful and experienced, it's unlikely that I'll have placed myself somewhere such that I can be attacked by weapons.
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I'd say whichever is convenient first - unless the character in question has explicit detailed information about the party that suggests a particular strategy.
For example, if you know that the party contains a spell caster that has severely debilitating spells at their disposal (not just "they are a wizard, so they might have it" but "that wizard is known to cast this spell") then it makes sense to hold your reaction despite that a shield spell might protect you from a few attacks so that you can counterspell, which will likely keep you in the fight longer.
Though if you know that the party has their own counterspell ability, then the better strategy is to do everything you can to prevent their spells ever being cast at you because trying to counterspell will just cause them to counterspell that, and both sides will burn through spell slots at a crazy rate.
Here's the really smart and experienced thing to do: never fight the whole party alone. Flee like a craven coward if you have to in order to make the fight happen on your terms.
I was in a similar situation recently. I’m playing a 6th level Warlock and I was in combat at night where the party split up and I was facing a decent sized group of low level fighters. I stayed in non magical shadows and I picked them off using Sacred Flame 🔥 one by one. They never knew which direction I was from them, let alone exactly where I was. I’d move forward into range, cast, and then move back so that I was more than 60’ away from them.
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Need a bit more context here, I'd say. I mean, heck. The only spellcasters that get Shield by default are the sorcerer and wizard. Clerics, druids, bards and warlocks.... don't. Are we playing a Bladesinger Wizard, War Cleric or some other melee range type? If playing a bard, sorcerer or warlock, that's a pretty narrow list of spells we can choose from, so the choices matter. What's my defenses like? What are my active buffs? What level am I? High level caster can mean anything from level 8 or so to level 20. What's my spell slots like? Do I need those level 3+ slots to attack with?
What kind of opposed party we talking about? What's their group made up of? How many people?
What's the terrain and other surrounding concerns? White rooms are unrealistic - being able to snipe people from a distance makes all the difference. A Colosseum? Even that has context, because it limits AoEs and where you can move around to. Are there civilians around? Tactics matter.
There's too many variables in play. The only right answer here is "it depends."
Nuke them from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.
Roleplaying since Runequest.