Quote from nullJaeger >>

 So it's a magic shortbow, but I don't see the purpose of picking up this spell over other attack cantrips or just casing a shortbow. I guess it's cheaper and more handy option, but it costs a whole cantrip.

I also figured it would do magic damage for resistance, like shillelagh but it's just magically propelled.

If I'm reading this correctly it says "throwing it OR hurling it with a sling". Does that make the sling optional? Saying both of those feels redundant and "throwing" is a mechanical thing already in the game.

I need a list of bonus action cantrip Artificer spells, for 1st and 2nd level too.

This is probably my favorite bad spell in the game.

It does not matter if you use your hand or a sling the description for the spell states you make a ranged spell attack by throwing it OR hurling it with a sling

You or someone else can make a ranged spell attack with one of the pebbles by throwing it or hurling it with a sling.  

Quote from UmiUndine >>

It makes a "ranged spell attack" so its magic damage. You can choose to throw it with a 60ft range or use a sling to make it go further but with less accuracy.(30/120)

One of the main benifits is its a ranged attack that you can give to another creature, but said creature throws it with your modifiers. You could give it to someone who couldnt usualy do any sort of ranged damage. A peasent throwing rocks vs a peasent throwing MAGIC rocks...

Or go warlock give the pebbles to his/her familiar and get them pelting your enemies from above with them. Its a bonus action to cast so it doesnt eat to much action economy either.

A fairly under rated spell in my opinion.

 My familiar is flying piranha, this could be hilarious

Wizards are proficient in slings so I’m pretty sure you could also add that bonus. Even if you only had a +1 mod as a wizard you still would be dealing 4-9 damage. 1d6 +1(mod) +2(proficiency)

I think the problem is people don’t see it scaling in higher levels but I’m not sure, I think the absolute highest you could do with this might be 1d6+11 but I’m not sure

No I don’t think so

I wonder if this should be a wizard cantrip so that transmuters can have an attack cantrip as a ranged spell attack. Also maybe only one stone per casting with a 1 action casting time and w 50 foot range and with damage = 1d6 + intelligence mod and increases to 2d6 + mod at 5th, 3d6 + mod at 11th and 4d6 + mod at 17th (aka normal progression). I don’t think this will be over powered and it will improve the transmuters feel imho.

I’ve done 17 damage in one hit on druids this is pretty good as you don’t get much better options

We are using it between two characters.  The warlock magics the pebbles and the sorcerer uses animate object.  Ten stones are animated, but three of them are magicked.  This adds an additional 3x1d6+modifier damage to the already potential 40 points damage.  The extra magic only lasts one action, then is gone, but I still get the original10x1d4 after that.  Some DMs may not allow the addition of the whole 1d6+ modifier. Also, some DMs may say that the pebble can ONLY be thrown by hand or using a sling, but ours says that is not meant as limiting, but as an example of possible ways to throw it.  Ask your DM.

That's how my DM interprets it.

An argument against scaling damage.

At level 1 this cantrip does 3d6+(1x3) damage (assuming at least a +1 Sc.A.M.) that has a chance to crit 3 times. That is a damage range of 6 at the low end and 39 at the very high end (3 crits)

Once your Sc.A.M. is at 5 (possible at level 4), this is 18 damage if you all roll ones (1+5 x 3 stones) and 51 on all crits and 6's. Comparing this to Firebolt*  (17th level) with a damage range of 4-40 (8-80 on crit). (*I used Fire Bolt as it is a good damaging cantrip without too many other features. I didn't use Eldritch Blast as it's a different beast which shares some aspects of both cantrips and can be boosted more by the Warlock class)

A better high-end for Fire Bolt but a more constant low-end for Magic Stone (which to be honest, I would rather have a reliable low-end than a risky high-end). We could also take into account Resistant, Immunity and Vulnerability, of which Magical Bludgeoning damage is one of the top types of damage

Here are also some other reasons why It should not be scalable (most are collected from this thread). 1) Multi-attack. Either yourself or offloading to another. 2) Feats and abilities. Crusher and Sneak Attack come to mind. 3) It's a semi-stealthy cantrip. With a one-minute duration, you can cast it turn 1 (Vocal component), move 350 ft (dashing 60ft for 9 turns)(1 turn to attack) 4) Range weapon versatility.  Not many cantrips allow for this. 

How I like to think of using Magic Stones is the same idea as using Javelins and not short bows. Shield in one hand, and throwing (slinging) stones in the other. Sure, you cannot use magic stones in melee but then again, If it comes to melee I am dropping three pebbles (which I don't care about) and drawing a long sword. Javelins, once you throw them, that's it. Lastly, for the weight of 1 Javelin (2ibs/ea), you can carry 320 pebbles (.1oz/ea) (for comparison's sake 20 sling bullets is 1.5ibs).

Who best uses this spell? Characters that can have a high Sc.A.M. and multi attacks. Artificers would be my first pick (it's on their spell list, 2 subclasses get M.A., and also works with Magic Tinkering by RAW). Druidic Warrior Rangers would be my second or any spell-casting class that cares to take a dip into a fighter (or visa versa).

Conclusion. This is one of those cantrips that need to be thought of "outside of the box" and not just "pew-pew roll big damage". By maximizing its versatility with a sling, feats and ability and multi-attack, this is a cantrip that can be used through many tiers of play.   

Quote from Zoenella >>

Can't use sneak attack though as it is still a melee spell attack no matter how you deliver. Sadly I thought this one as well.

 

The major negative is that unlike most cantrips it does not scale with level.

 

But if you are a halfling sitting by the side of a stream skipping rocks with flare who cares about the negatives  :)

 

 

 

Sneak attack doesn't actually require you to make a weapon attack. It's just "hit with an attack.. The attack must use a finesse or ranged weapon." 

Using a sling to throw magic stones is still using a ranged weapon, even if it is a spell attack.

its magic.. its a bonus action.. and you can pick up pebbles off the ground... 

It should also have:

This spell's damage changes to 2d6 when you reach 5th level,  3d6 when you reach 11th level, and 4d6 when you reach 17th level.

Could i make a gauntlet that has slots for the stones and use it as a 3d6 + spellcasting modifier X 3

WHY DOES NO ONE TALK ABOUT CATAPULT AND THIS SPELL. Like this spell is a bonus action, dealing at just level one 1d6+your spellcasting mod. That’s not too good but bare with me. Now think about the spell catapult. You can only get this combo as an artificer although but just think. The item thrown and the target both take 3d8 damage, and it can hold in total 1 to 5 pounds. You can throw the pebbles Imbued with literal MAGIC. And just the throw does 3d8 and the rock does 1d6+ your spellcasting mod. Use this.

I took one level of Artificer and 6 levels in Necromancer so far. I picked up Magic Stone at level one.  Now I will have three undead each throwing a magic stone for 1d6+4 (maybe +7 since they add my proficiency bonus to their damage!).  Plus "Summon Undead" wrecking havoc, not to mention my character throwing out cantrips every round, so he can keep making magic stones with his bonus action.  I'll be the king of DPR, with 6 attacks per round from myself and minions, with the potential to add additional undead to shoot arrows or attack with melee as I level.

No. Bonus action to make the pebbles magic. Action to throw/sling.

Quote from Iocane >>

 This is a very underrated cantrip, especially in the right hands. One thing that is regularly overlooked is that you can choose your delivery method. You can throw it and apply your spellcasting modifier, or you can use a sling and use your attack modifier.

Regardless of the delivery method, you're doing the same damage as a shortbow at 1d6 + your spellcasting modifier (likely at least +2).

Here's the big thing folks overlook though - since you can choose to use a sling for these, it opens up the potential to add sneak attack damage since you're using a weapon attack rather than a spell attack. Now you're looking at a ranged attack that does 2d6 + spellcasting mod. You're basically running with a maul that has a 30-foot reach, and it's magical damage so it works against constructs.

This is in my top 3 favorite cantrips.

 
No, the delivery method changes nothing. "You or someone else can make a ranged spell attack with one of the pebbles by throwing it or hurling it with a sling." meaning that wether with a sling or by hand it will be a ranged spell attack roll and it will use your modifiers. The only thing that changes is that any other effects the sling might have (like a +x sling) will apply. So technically it isn't a ranged weapon attack either way.