What is this guide?

This guide is meant as a deep dive into the DnD 5e Wizard. For a quick overview on the Sorcerer grade, see our breakdown of the DnD 5e Classes.

The color code beneath has been implemented to help you identify, at a glance, how skillful that selection volition be for your Sorcerer. This color-coding isn't a difficult and fast rule; there are plenty of sub-optimized options out at that place that will be viable for your party and will be fun to play.

  • Red isn't going to contribute to the effectiveness of your character build at all
  • Orange is an OK option
  • Green is a good option
  • Blue is a great choice, you should strongly consider this option for your character
  • Sky Bluish  is an amazing option. If you do not take this option your character would not be optimized

And then if yous're ready, take hold of your spellbook and bandage Fireball until all of your problems go away.

D&D 5e Magician Overview

Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known —Spell Slots per Spell Level—
1st 2nd 3rd quaternary 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st +2 Spellcasting, Arcane Recovery three 2 – – – – – – – –
2nd +2 Arcane Tradition 3 3 – – – – – – – –
tertiary +2 – 3 4 2 – – – – – – –
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 4 4 3 – – – – – – –
5th +three – 4 4 iii 2 – – – – – –
sixth +3 Arcane Tradition feature 4 4 3 3 – – – – – –
seventh +3 – iv 4 iii iii i – – – – –
8th +three Ability Score Improvement 4 4 iii 3 2 – – – – –
9th +four – 4 four iii 3 3 1 – – – –
10th +4 Arcane Tradition feature 5 4 iii three 3 2 – – – –
11th +4 – v 4 3 3 3 two 1 – – –
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 5 4 3 iii three 2 i – – –
13th +5 – 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 ane – –
14th +five Arcane Tradition feature 5 iv 3 3 3 2 ane 1 – –
15th +five – five iv 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 –
16th +5 Power Score Comeback 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 i one –
17th +6 – 5 4 3 iii 3 2 1 1 1 1
18th +6 Spell Mastery 5 4 3 3 3 3 1 1 one 1
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement five 4 3 three 3 3 two 1 1 1
20th +6 Signature Spell 5 four iii 3 3 3 two 2 one ane

Playstyle

Wizards are spellcasters that have studied the fundamental forces of magic itself in guild to weave information technology to their will.

Wizards are a class that relies on their INT to cast spells, outsmart opponents, and go themselves out of tricky situations. This reliance on INT volition become apparent to players as they realize that they have to use their brain to manage a massive spell list and be the political party member everyone relies on to always have a program (thank Gandalf for setting that unrealistic expectation).

Strengths

The Wizard class is the paradigm of a full pulley. They have an unparalleled spell list that they tin prepare spells from every day to ensure they are ever fix for whatever situations may arise.

The Sorcerer'due south strengths actually lie in their versatility. Falling from a edifice? Got a spell for that. Need to kill a clumped together group of bad guys? Got a spell for that. Need to infiltrate a tightly patrolled encampment? Got a spell for that.

Weaknesses

A Wizard'southward weaknesses are virtually what you would wait. They have very low AC and hit points and struggle with anything physical.

Before You First

Standard Races

Wizards rely on a high INT score to be at their maximum effectiveness. If y'all truly want to maximize your graphic symbol'south potential you need +two INT, but annihilation with an INT increase is worth considering.

Dragonborn : STR and CHA are useless for the Wizard, and Breath Weapon is overshadowed by spells.

Dwarf : No INT is tough and the Wizard won't be tanking any fourth dimension soon. Additional hit points are e'er helpful, especially with the meager d6 hit dice.

  • Hill : A bonus to WIS can occasionally assistance with Wisdom saves, only additional hitting points aren't useful.
  • Mountain : Medium Armor proficiency just isn't worth the poor stat distribution.

Elf : Elves get a DEX bonus which can somewhat assist the miserable Ac of a Sorcerer.

  • Drow Elf:Ignore CHA for Wizards.
  • Loftier Elf : Loftier Elves go an INT boost and a free cantrip of your choice, also as an extra language for your roleplaying needs. What's not to similar?
  • Wood Elf : Again, a WIS bonus doesn't assist much and the increased walking speed is easily fabricated irrelevant past spells.

Gnome : An Power Score increase of 2 in INT is going to make a Wizard much more effective, and advantage on saving throws against magic is cool. Forest and Rock Gnomes both feature situational utility so choose whichever y'all prefer.

One-half-Elf : Non being able to pick upward a +2 to INT is going to make the One-half-Elf a tough go for Wizards.

Half-Orc : Nix here is useful for a Sorcerer.

Halfling : The DEX bonus once more marginally helps with AC problems and the Lucky trait is e'er overnice to accept, though information technology won't be as constructive when y'all are forcing monsters to make saves.

  • Lightfoot : CHA is pointless for this class and spells solve your needs when it comes to stealth.
  • Stout : Let your beefy party members worry about CON.

Homo : Humans are always decent.

  • Vanilla : A middle of the road pick because they increase all their ability scores by ane.
  • Variant : Getting bonus INT plus a proficiency and a feat at first level is typically much better, feats aren't cracking for wizards which makes this choice a chip less highly-seasoned.

Tiefling:Tieflings go a boost to INT, a free cantrip, and free spells at higher levels.

Non-Standard Races

Aarakocra : The but beneficial thing here is flight.

Genasi:

  • Fire : Ideally the Wizard would like to see +ii INT. The Burn Genasi gets u.s.a. most of the mode there, plus increased survivability from the CON bonus and Fire Resistance, Darkvision, and a useful cantrip to boot.

Gith : Since both subraces come with INT, they are both reasonable choices for Wizards. Githyanki is interesting for the additional armor options, while Githzerai offer expert protection from conditions. The spells, while useful as a free cast, can all exist obtained past Wizards already.

Gnome:

  • Mark of Scribing : This bracket still receives the +2 INT from the Gnome base form, making it a good pick for a Wizard. The spells associated with the Mark of Scribing Gnome all have to do with language and communication in some regard, making some of them redundant. Yet, in the right campaign this subclass could exist quite useful, specially outside of combat.

Hobgoblin : Wizards don't naturally get admission to whatsoever armor, so the light armor proficiency from Martial Preparation volition do wonders for survivability. The light armor, combined with CON and Saving Face for saving throws and concentration checks creates a expert baseline for a sturdy Wizard build.

Human:

  • Mark of Making : Provides the all-time ability score increases among Human subraces but has overlap with the classes' spell list.
  • Mark of Passage : Peachy for mobility focused Wizards like Bladesingers, though they will need to focus on INT equally much as possible for hereafter ASIs.

Tiefling:

  • Bloodline of Mephistopheles : This subrace has a +1 to INT and the free spells are useful and allow you lot to select other spells on a level up.
  • Variant – Hellfire : Replaces Hellish Rebuke with Burning Hands and gets access to DEX instead of CHA.
  • Variant – Winged : Not simply do yous get INT and DEX to heave AC, the Winged Tiefling has a flying speed of 30 feet. Even if you don't demand DEX, having flight speed is adept plenty to be worth information technology.

Vedalken : +2 INT is perfect for a Wizard. Vedalken Dispassion helps when fighting other spellcasters, and Tireless Protection offers you the chance to go some skill or tool proficiencies you may not usually have access to.

Warforged : Almost Wizards stay out of gainsay range whenever they can, with the exception of Bladesinger Wizards. Take INT as the complimentary ASI choice and y'all have a feasible and more durable Sorcerer build.

Yuan-ti Pureblood : +ii INT would of course be ameliorate hither, but Magic Resistance is just then good that +ane will practice.

Ability Scores

Ability Score Increases (ASI) at 4th, 8th, twelfth, 16th, and 19th level.

Wizards demand INT and nothing else is critically important.

STR : STR is not useful to a Wizard unless they are going for a heavy armor build.

DEX : Wizards have a notoriously low AC and then a loftier DEX is the best way to avoid getting hit. Most wizards utilise Mage Armor to pump their Ac, which stacks with DEX. If y'all are going for a heavy armor build, DEX can exist mostly ignored.

CON : More than hit points and meliorate CON saves brand the Wizard less squishy.

INT : This is the most important stat for the Sorcerer, pump this equally loftier as you tin.

WIS : Can help with WIS saves and Perception.

CHA : Leave this to other classes.

Best Backgrounds for Wizards

Acolyte : Faith and Insight are already available to Wizards but you lot do go two languages, and gaining shelter in sure places of worship tin be handy.

(SCAG) Cloistered Scholar : Standard selection for Wizards. Yous get two INT skills, 2 languages, and amend admission to libraries for finding more spells.

Sage : Two INT skills and two languages.

Magician Grade Progression

1st Level

Hit Points : Wizards take a beggarly d6 striking dice. You lot can somewhat mitigate this by increasing CON since you merely need to worry well-nigh INT every bit your main stat.

Saves : People oft call INT one of the worst stats because INT saves don't happen very ofttimes.

Proficiencies : No armor proficiencies and the weapon choice is barely worth mentioning. But you weren't really hoping to swing a greatsword with your wizard, were you lot?

Skills:Unfortunately the magician only gets to choice 2 skills.

  • Arcana (INT) : You will probably exist the party member who is relied on for Arcana checks, and bang-up flavor too.
  • History (INT) : Can be overnice if yous savor lore and roleplaying, but you will make your DM work extra hard!
  • Insight (WIS) : Your WIS won't be high enough to make this worth it.
  • Investigation (INT) : This will be one of your become-to skills for exploration encounters.
  • Medicine (WIS) : Neat in a pinch, but low WIS tin can make this tricky.
  • Religion (INT) : Same equally History only sometimes more than useful if your campaign includes gods.

Spellcasting : If yous want to bandage spells you've come to the correct place. Wizards are the all-time at what they do. Wizards take a unique style of discovering and preparing spells via their spellbook. This book allows wizards to copy spells that they have found while adventuring, which allows wizards to know more spells than they get past merely leveling upwards. The downside of the spellbook is, if information technology is destroyed or lost, the wizards volition exist stuck with the spells they currently have prepared until they can discover their volume or create a replacement. Wizards as well get access to ritual casting which is a great way to stretch spell slots if you have time to perform the ritual. Wizards can employ an arcane focus as their spellcasting focus.

Arcane Recovery : One of the biggest challenges a Sorcerer faces is knowing when to use important spell slots. Cabalistic Recovery makes the spell slot system a scrap less punishing.

Optional Rule: Additional Wizard Spells : The expanded spell list offers new options for Wizards but doesn't feel like information technology diminishes any of the other classes. More options are usually a good thing and that is the instance here.

2d Level

At 2nd level Wizards get to choose their Arcane Tradition. These options all have their own merits and playstyle.

Bladesinging

The Bladesinger subclass provides everything you lot need to make an constructive melee/spellcasting hybrid graphic symbol. Not only is information technology loads of fun, information technology'southward too quite potent.

Check out our Bladesinger 5e Guide!

Chronurgy Magic Chronurgy Magic Wizards tin manipulate the catamenia of time and bend it to their will. The features this subclass gets access to are all useful and unique.

  • 2nd Level
    • Chronal Shift : Forcing a creature to reroll their attack, power bank check, or saving throw is incredibly stiff and is a slap-up use of a Magician'south reaction, especially since you already become this at 2nd level. What makes this extra absurd is that you can use it on allies or enemies and you get to use this ability subsequently seeing if the roll succeeds or fails.
    • Temporal Awareness : Your Sorcerer will probable max out their INT, meaning that you'll get a huge boost to your initiative roll. Taking your turn before your enemies in a fight is very valuable as you lot tin immediately use some crowd command to give your party an reward.
  • 6th Level
    • Momentary Stasis : The nice part of this ability is that it is basically a spell without burning a spell slot. The drawbacks are that many creatures have proficient CON saves and that it burns an entire action to use. If yous fail, you may have been amend off but casting a more reliable control or harm spell.
  • 10th Level
    • Arcane Abeyance : This is a very fun feature. If you know yous'll be fighting presently, there's really no downside to storing away a spell for afterwards. Yous could give the spell to your ally and then that they can buff themselves, or fifty-fifty to your familiar so you tin cast two spells in a unmarried round. In the worst case, you tin can just hold onto the spell and cast it yourself if you don't take somebody to give it to.
  • 14th Level
    • Convergent Future : Chronal Shift is good because information technology forces a reroll, merely this ability literally just lets you lot decide the outcome. It does cause you to proceeds ane level of exhaustion, but having a single level of exhaustion really isn't the finish of the world.

Graviturgy Magic Graviturgy Magic Wizards can dispense gravity and curve it to their will. Not as powerful as Chronurgy, Graviturgy is however quite flavorful with some interesting abilities.

  • 2nd Level
    • Adapt Density : The effects of this ability certainly don't justify using your concentration. Yous would be much improve off concentrating on a more powerful spell as the effects are quite situational.
  • 6th Level
    • Gravity Well : This adds onto the event of whatever spell that you country by moving the target v feet. It can be combined quite nicely with certain area of consequence spells, and can exist used to move a creature into or out of harm's way.
  • tenth Level
    • Violent Attraction : Increased fall harm is quite situational, but bolstering an ally'southward attack is a nice use of your reaction if you take no other use for it on a turn. If you accept a high INT modifier the damage will really add together up since you lot can utilize it many times throughout the day.
  • 14th Level
    • Event Horizon : Powerful, merely risky. Since enemies have to be within xxx feet of you lot, information technology'south best to use this if you have practiced Air conditioning, striking points, or at least a fail safety like Shield or Misty Footstep.

Lodge of Scribes An Guild of Scribes Magician excels at learning new spells and is at its all-time when it has a huge spellbook to pull from. If y'all want to play this bracket, make certain you have a program on how you volition go access to lots of gp and spells to copy.

  • 2nd Level
    • Wizardly Quill : The best function of this feature is that you can copy spells into your spellbook much faster, though information technology will still cost gp.
    • Awakened Spellbook : Great for office-playing and adds even more utility to spells. Being able to change damage types of your spells on the wing is great if yous know that a sure enemy is resistant to a specific harm type. Additionally, sometimes you lot desire to pull off your ritual spells without waiting or burning a spell slot, and this lets you do just that once per solar day.
  • 6th Level
    • Manifest Mind : This is a good scouting tool and can be used to maintain oversight of an area. Interestingly, you can cast spells from the location of the Manifest Mind instead of your own, and so it'due south a great way to gear up an ambush or philharmonic if y'all're creative.
  • 10th Level
    • Master Scrivener : Sadly the spell scroll created with this characteristic cannot be given to anyone, making it substantially a bonus spell slot. Not that that'due south a bad thing, it's only way less powerful than information technology could be.
  • 14th Level
    • 1 with the Discussion : Advantage on all Arcana checks is perfect for a Magician. Using the secondary outcome, mitigating damage by temporarily sacrificing the ability to use certain spells, is actually not proficient unless you have built your grapheme to have advantage of this. The best way to go nigh this is to collect vast amounts of gp throughout your adventures and utilize it to copy new spells into your spellbook. The least useful spells can be "burnt" with this power to avoid damage and you volition hopefully nevertheless have your good spells to use as normal.

School of Abjuration

The School of Abjuration is a powerful and easy-to-utilize Wizard bracket that focuses on the defensive aspect of spellcasting.

  • 2nd Level
    • Cabalistic Ward : Bonus hitting points of twice your Wizard level + INT modifier is no joke, peculiarly early in a campaign.
  • 6th Level
    • Projected Ward : Helping blot damage for others improves the usefulness of the ward.
  • 10th Level
    • Improved Abjuration : Better ability checks for Counterspell and Dispel Magic is actually useful.
  • 14th Level
    • Spell Resistance : Advantage on saving throws against spells and resistance confronting magic is only amazing in the late game.

School of Conjuration

The Schoolhouse of Agreeableness is all near summoning creatures and objects.

  • second Level
    • Minor Conjuration : You lot ameliorate promise your DM allows shenanigans with this one, equally information technology is merely as skillful as they allow information technology to be.
  • 6th Level
    • Benign Transposition : Any grade of teleportation is good, though Misty Stride is far meliorate since it is a Bonus Action.
  • 10th Level
    • Focused Conjuration : No more pesky enemies breaking your conjuration concentration is huge, but ideally y'all wouldn't get hit in the first place utilizing the Magician's extensive defensive spells.
  • 14th Level
    • Durable Summons : Not exciting merely helps your summons exist tankier afterward in a campaign by giving them 30 temporary hit points. At high levels this may allow your summon live for an extra turn.

School of Divination

Wizards from the School of Divination can reveal things from the past, present, and future. While this may not audio particularly powerful when it comes to combat, the School of Diviniation is easily one of the best subclasses.

  • second Level
    • Portent : Portent is merely busted. Saving rolls for the ideal moment tin can change outcomes drastically, and you can fifty-fifty replace your enemy's die roll. Use information technology and abuse information technology.
  • 6th Level
    • Expert Divination : Casting more spells per day is always welcome. With Expert Divination, y'all tin cast more divination spells, learning more than about your situation, while also regaining spell slots.
  • 10th Level
    • The 3rd Eye : At that place's a lot packed into this i feature. If your race doesn't accept Darkvision, this is a slap-up way to get information technology. You as well won't need a spell like Meet Invisibility. Besides that, The Third Eye is pretty situational.
  • 14th Level
    • Greater Portent : Portent is already then practiced, so why non make information technology better? At this point, Portent is 1 of the most powerful abilities in D&D 5e.

School of Enchantment

Every bit the proper name implies, Wizards in the Schoolhouse of Enchantment tin can enchant people and monsters to obey their commands.

  • 2nd Level
    • Hypnotic Gaze: This feature can get you out of a sticky state of affairs when you lot are far too shut for comfort to an enemy that wants to blast your confront in. Ideally, you would use this equally a last resort since it but has a range of 5 feet, or to take the strongest enemy out of the fight for a round.
  • 6th Level
    • Instinctive Charm : Redirect enemy attacks, but they need to be near another enemy and do a saving throw.
  • 10th Level
    • Split Enchantment : Enchanting two creatures for the price of 1 literally doubles the effectiveness of single target enchantment spells.
  • 14th Level
    • Modify Memories : This is only expert if you like casting charm spells and is therefore very situational.

Schoolhouse of Evocation

Schoolhouse of Evocation Wizards like to nail their enemies with large flashy elemental spells. If want a straightforward damage-dealing mage, this is the one for you.

  • 2nd Level
    • Sculpt Spells : If y'all similar casting big spells like Fireball, something the School of Evocation is known for, this makes sure your allies won't get singed.
  • sixth Level
    • Potent Cantrip : Potent Cantrip improves cantrips that require saving throws since they volition always at least exercise half harm. It's a squeamish alleviation prize since those saving throw cantrips oft have secondary effects, though they won't trigger on a failed relieve.
  • 10th Level
    • Empowered Evocation : Adding your INT modifier to damage rolls of evocation spells makes them that much more devastating. This is especially good to power upwards cantrips or spells like Magic Missile where the damage would be added to each missile.
  • 14th Level
    • Overchannel : Another bang-up way to better your low-level spells that would exist outshone in high-level fights. Spotter your hitting points though.

School of Illusion

The Schoolhouse of Illusion focuses on deception through illusion magic. This subclass requires the virtually inventiveness to be effective, as well equally a DM that sometimes lets you go away with silly ideas.

  • 2nd Level
    • Improved Small-scale Illusion : If you're artistic y'all'll get more than utility out of your small illusions by combining sound and epitome.
  • sixth Level
    • Malleable Illusions : Again, you're gonna have to be creative to get the most out of this ability.
  • 10th Level
    • Illusory Cocky : "Go out of jail gratis card" once per short rest if you're facing downward an assault.
  • 14th Level
    • Illusory Reality : Turn your dreams into reality. The sky'due south the limit hither.

Schoolhouse of Necromancy

The School of Necromancy is all well-nigh commanding undead creatures but doesn't offering as well much across that.

  • 2d Level
    • Grim Harvest : Yeah you can regain some hitting points, simply it doesn't work with cantrips and you have to bargain the killing blow on an enemy. Yous become more hit points back if the spell is from the School of Necromancy, but these aren't typically amid the all-time impairment dealers.
  • 6th Level
    • Undead Thralls : You become Animate Dead for free and your undead will be stronger. Perfect for a necromancer.
  • 10th Level
    • Inured to Undeath : This power could either salvage you lot multiple times in a campaign, or not come fifty-fifty once. Hit point reduction can exist a party killer so at least information technology's some insurance against that.
  • 14th level
    • Command Undead : Very useful if your enemies are undead, but you will have a harder time if they are intelligent.

Schoolhouse of Transmutation

School of Transmutation Wizards tin transform materials at volition, manipulating matter into whatever they see fit. Unfortunately this school is relatively weak compared to other Wizard subclasses and doesn't do much to differentiate itself from a regular Wizard.

  • 2nd Level
    • Minor Abracadabra : Changing a substance into some other substance for 10 minutes is non a riveting prospect.
  • 6th Level
    • Transmuter'due south Stone : The ability to give yourself or a political party member a variety of different buffs is the best ability in a Transmutation Magician's armory.
  • 10th Level
    • Shapechanger : You get polymorph for complimentary and can employ it without expending a spell slot, but it can simply be cast on yourself and the animal must be a beast whose challenge rating is 1 or lower. This is a huge penalty to the spell and makes it virtually useless in most situations.
  • 14th Level
    • Chief Transmuter : Become instant value from your Transmuter's Rock, but it can't exist reformed until afterwards a long balance. This is risky and is pretty situational.

State of war Magic

War Magic Wizards are great at keeping themselves in the fight and holding upwardly powerful concentration spells as long as possible.

  • 2nd Level
    • Cabalistic Deflection : Shield provides a better bonus to AC, just +4 to a saving throw, if you fail, can make all the departure in the world. Not being able to cast leveled spells for a turn isn't the worst drawback, but make sure you accept some good damage cantrips to autumn back on.
    • Tactical Wit : Your Wizard will likely max out their INT, meaning that yous'll get a huge boost to your initiative curlicue. Taking your turn earlier your enemies in a fight is very valuable as you can immediately use some crowd control to give your party an advantage.
  • sixth Level
    • Ability Surge : The idea behind this characteristic is really neat, though in do it falls flat. You only gain power surge if you take Dispel Magic or Counterspell and use them successfully. This means you need to be in an surface area with lots of magic or fighting spell casters for this to even come up online. The actress impairment from expending a power surge is very depression because the specific circumstances required to go one.
  • 10th Level
    • Durable Magic : Some of the best spells crave concentration, and well-nigh higher-level Wizards want to constantly be concentrating on a spell when in combat. Durable Magic makes concentration spells and so much meliorate by drastically lowering the chance you will interruption your concentration.
  • 14th Level
    • Deflecting Shroud : This may be lackluster for a final subclass feature, but it improves Arcane Deflection at no extra cost to you lot. The harm isn't much, but at least force harm is rarely resisted.

tertiary Level

Optional Rule: Cantrip Formulas : It's great that Wizards can finally replace their cantrips. Sometimes y'all pick a cantrip because it sounds cool only to discover yous don't need it at all. This completely negates that and is a perfect improver to the class.

18th Level

Spell Mastery : Spell Mastery makes the Wizard really shine. Unlimited casts of useful utility spells tin can help you through whatever situation.

20th Level

Signature Spells : This is like an enhanced Spell Mastery, allowing y'all to gear up two actress spells each day.

Best Wizard Feats

Many feats aren't suited to the Wizard Class, but we will go over the ones that you may consider.

  • Alert : Existence up higher in the initiative order tin be very valuable for a wizard every bit it allows them to drib a big spell before the enemy has a hazard to react.
  • Elemental Skilful : The bonus harm is negligible only if almost of your impairment comes from i chemical element then go for it.
  • Fey Touched : A small boost to INT and a gratis cast of Misty Step once per long rest, this feat is probably better suited to a class that doesn't get Misty Pace.
  • Keen Mind : A small bonus to INT isn't enough to make upwards for the other useless parts of this feat.
  • Lucky : Lucky is a feat that is useful to whatsoever character simply is slightly less powerful on spellcasters because they won't exist making as many set on rolls. It is certainly a proficient resource to take for defensive purposes though.
  • Metamagic Skillful : The Sorcerer is an extremely powerful class partially due to the flexibility Metamagic provides. Combined with the extensive spell listing available to Wizards this feat opens the door to some potent combos.
  • Observant : A +1 to INT and +5 bonuses to passive Perception and Investigation make this a expert feat for Wizards.
  • Resilient : A Magician might consider using Resilient to gain proficiency in CON saving throws.
  • Spell Sniper : Increased range and ignoring comprehend on spell attacks is fantastic.
  • Telekinetic : Some bonus INT, an actress/enhanced cantrip, and a really good use of your Bonus Action. Shoving a creature can save an ally or motility an enemy into danger.
  • State of war Caster : Advantage on CON saves and casting spells as opportunity attacks are both benign components of this feat.

Best Sorcerer Spells

Wizards accept access to a lot of spells. Therefore, nosotros call up information technology would be the most benign to only talk almost our favorite spells at each level, and which ones to avoid. But remember that this doesn't mean the ones we don't mention are necessarily bad or don't have a purpose. For your particular entrada, your mileage may vary.

For a full list of Wizard spells click here.

Cantrips

  • Booming Blade: A powerful option for a Bladesinger , avert it otherwise.
  • Fire Commodities : Pick this if y'all need a impairment-dealing cantrip.
  • Frostbite : Frostbite has a very interesting secondary upshot (giving disadvantage on target's next attack). The problem is that it requires a CON save which many monsters are very skillful at. The Schoolhouse of Evocation's Potent Cantrip feature could make this a fleck more than highly-seasoned.
  • Light-green-Flame Bract : A powerful option for a Bladesinger , avert it otherwise.
  • Mage Manus : Being able to do things at a altitude is useful. Set off traps safely, or open up doors while you hang back.
  • Bulletin : Oftentimes pointless due to unavoidable metagaming, unless the situation specifically calls for it.
  • Mind Sliver : Many creatures are weak at INT saves and psychic harm is rarely resisted. Plus, the 1d4 subtraction from their next saving throw is pure gravy.
  • Minor Illusion : This cantrip can be the most flexible tool available to a Wizard if used creatively.
  • Poison Spray : CON saving throws are ordinarily the hardest to go to stick and poison is a very mutual resistance/immunity. Plus, the range sucks.
  • Prestidigitation : Similar Small-scale Illusion, there is a lot of utility here if you lot use it creatively.
  • Shocking Grasp : Reward against metal armor and preventing reactions for a turn bundles damage and utility. If you lot have whatever armored enemy upwardly in your business organization and demand to get out of dodge, this is a solid selection.
  • Toll the Dead : Proficient damage, rarely resisted harm type, and solid range.
  • True Strike : Wasting a whole turn just to proceeds advantage on a single creature the side by side turn is non what you want to be doing.

1st Level Spells

  • Absorb Elements : A nifty mode to mitigate elemental damage that scales well.
  • Burning Easily : 1 of the better AoE impairment spells you lot can get at 1st-level just there are ameliorate direct damage spells and better mass consequence spells. This is a filler spell that can exist great if you catch a group of enemies close together.
  • Cause Fear : At depression levels, this spell is a neat way to inflict the frightened condition on a strong enemy.
  • Imitation Life : Wizards often struggle with taking hits, then some temporary hit points could keep you in the fight.
  • Find Familiar : Familiars can do everything except actually set on. They tin provide help actions in gainsay, steal things, spotter for your party, and fifty-fifty be used to deliver bear upon spells on your behalf. Some DMs may not be amused.
  • Hideous Laughter : This spell is a great way to take a brute out of the fight for multiple turns, as long equally information technology has INT of at least 5.
  • Illusory Script : Not sure what they were thinking with this 1. Information technology does basically nothing.
  • Spring : A very poor mobility spell. Hold off until you lot go Fly, Spider Climb, or Misty Step.
  • Mage Armor : Tin solve some of the Sorcerer's depression AC issues early on in a entrada, especially if you take some DEX.
  • Magic Missile : Your standard first-level damage dealer. This spell always hits which is nice. Very useful if you need to make an enemy caster drop concentration.
  • Protection From Evil and Good : Protective spell against many brute types you face up in D&D 5e.
  • Shield : Boosting your AC past 5 for an entire round can brand the difference between casting a spell or making death saving throws on your next turn. This spell is an extremely effective fashion to bargain with the Wizard's measly AC.
  • Sleep : Sleep is a spell that sometimes feels overpowered at the get-go of a campaign. With a good curlicue you can basically stop an encounter in ane turn.

2nd Level Spells

  • Acid Arrow : Just apply Magic Missile instead.
  • Auspice : Augury is a lot of fun for both players and DMs and provides some guidance in more open-ended campaigns.
  • Continual Flame : This is basically a cantrip, just costs y'all a spell slot.
  • Darkvision : Essential if you or party members don't have natural Darkvision.
  • Dragon'southward Breath : Give's an ally something like the Dragonborn's Jiff Weapon. It doesn't say anything near non being able to use it on your familiar, a fire-animate owl sounds pretty cool.
  • (EEPC) Earthbind : Skilful when facing annoying flying creatures, otherwise won't do much.
  • Flaming Sphere : Non the all-time damage, merely AoE and the ability to movement the sphere every bit a bonus activity are useful if upwards against a horde of weak enemies.
  • Invisibility : Incredible for scouting, infiltrating, or escaping.
  • Levitate : Tin be used to get upward high, or completely remove a melee attacker from combat. Levitate can be good at whatever level.
  • Proffer : Never underestimate the ability of suggesting a course of action to an NPC. Yeah, Mr. Scary Guard, why don't yous give us the keys to your king'due south treasure vault?
  • Misty Step : Who doesn't want to teleport? And you can do so equally a bonus action while avoiding opportunity attacks. This spell can save your butt since you won't have many striking points as a Magician.
  • Knock : Great spell if you don't have a Rogue around and works improve than Thieves' Tools anyway since it works automatically.
  • Scorching Ray : Decent damage dealer at this level, and y'all can choose upward to 3 targets. The worst part nearly this spell is that, if yous are attacking from a hidden position, only the commencement spear gets reward on the ranged spell attack. The best office about this spell is your increased power to crit.
  • Tasha'due south Mind Whip : INT saves are rare, and this spell gets some very useful bonuses if it connects. Preventing a reaction is perfect for avoiding opportunity attacks and moving out of harm's way.

3rd Level Spells

  • Animate Expressionless : More than options for your bonus activeness and some other body between you and the baddies.
  • Bestow Curse : If y'all can become within touch range, the effect that causes the enemy to brand a WIS salve or waste product their turn is extremely powerful.
  • Counterspell: E'er get Counterspell. Even if you don't want to pick information technology upward as before long as it is available to you, come dorsum and get it at a afterward level. It tin can literally save lives when facing a powerful spell caster.
  • Dispel Magic : Extremely useful to accept in every political party.
  • Enemies Abound : Enemies abound only works in fights with more one enemy, if your allies are willing to ignore that enemy, and if the enemy isn't immune to existence frightened. Actually only useful for causing a stir from a hidden position.
  • Fireball : Fireball is the beginning spell that comes to mind when thinking virtually a 5e Magician. Huge AoE and astonishing damage for 3rd level.
  • Fly : More useful than Levitate in many situations, merely concentration could make this end badly.
  • Hypnotic Design : Swell crowd control that can completely win a battle on its own.
  • Haste : Lovely vitrify for not-caster party members, just brand sure you don't immediately accept your concentration broken and waste matter a third level spell and the buffed party members' side by side turn.
  • Intellect Fortress : This can brand certain fights a lot less scary when used against the correct enemies, namely those that use psychic attacks and crave a lot of mental saving throws.
  • Summon Undead : The all-time options at this level among the summon spells from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
  • Tiny Hut : This spell is both meliorate than information technology looks at starting time glance and worse than information technology looks on a second glance. Being able to long residual uninterrupted or use information technology as embrace anywhere you want is really useful. However, if you lot corruption information technology your DM will make yous pay, like setting up an ambush but outside the dome. Even still, this spell is a fan favorite.
  • Tiny Retainer : In a way similar to Find Familiar, the servant can be used to scout or to stand guard for you.
  • Vampiric Touch on : If you're close enough to an enemy to desire to exercise this modest corporeality of impairment, y'all're in big problem.

4th Level Spells

  • Cabalistic Eye : How could we write a Wizard guide and not mention our namesake? Luckily, it'due south a smashing scouting tool and can be moved every bit an action, making it worthy of this list.
  • Banishment : Get rid of creatures from another plane, or take out a large threat for most of the gainsay. They have to perform a saving throw, but CHA is often not a loftier stat for those enemies.
  • Charm Monster : This spell tin aid y'all avert combat altogether, peculiarly if you cast information technology before initiative is rolled and so that they don't get advantage on the saving throw.
  • Dimension Door: Teleport, with a friend, over a much longer distance than Misty Step. Unfortunately, it'southward a full activity to cast.
  • Black Tentacles : The potential for impairment over fourth dimension and restraining the target makes this spell pretty great. They have to fire their activeness to effort to leave the restraints as well.
  • True-blue Hound : Merely get Alarm if yous want an ability like this, the harm doesn't justify the fourth level spell slot. So aye, that'south gonna be a no from me dawg.
  • Greater Invisibility : Existence able to attack or cast spells while invisible is a huge upgrade from regular invisibility. Give it to a melee party member and sentinel them get reward on every attack and disadvantage on attacks against them, bonus points if it's a Paladin.
  • Hallucinatory Terrain : Nice if you want to roleplay Minecraft, I guess?
  • Ice Storm : You already have Fireball, and Water ice Storm is weaker. The terrain control doesn't make the weaker harm worth it.
  • Polymorph : Buff an ally or plough an enemy into a rat while you obliterate his friends!
  • Secret Chest : Hide stuff in the ethereal plane. Very, VERY situational.
  • Sickening Radiance : This spell does a lot. Radiant impairment, prevents invisibility, and gives levels of exhaustion which can be devastating when they start to stack. The only drawback is that it besides hits your party members, so be careful.
  • Stone Shape : Can exist used to deal damage if you get artistic, or circumvent annoying parts of caves and dungeons since they are usually fabricated of stone.
  • Summon Aberration : These summons are powerful, and i even has a wing speed.
  • Summon Construct : These summons are cracking when you need something to assistance tank damage for yous.
  • Wall of Fire : Plenty of damage and allows you to divide up the battlefield to your advantage.

fifth Level Spells

  • Animate Objects : Plow your trash into treasure. Transport an army of pebbles at your opponents for 1d4 + iv damage with +eight attacks.
  • Cloudkill : Not great in an open field merely if you can get the drop on an enemy or incorporate a group of enemies within the spell it can be very effective because it deals damage turn afterward plough, as long as the caster keeps concentration. It tin can besides be effective to block off a vantage point used by ranged enemies.
  • Creation : Allows you to make a rope, or a rock. Yep.
  • Far Step : It is technically better than Misty Footstep, but well-nigh of the fourth dimension you tin can merely use Misty Step and save yourself a precious 5th level spell slot.
  • Seeming : Disguise your whole party. Bang-up when trying to go somewhere you aren't meant to be.
  • Skill Empowerment : This spell is very flexible since you lot tin can give any creature Expertise in any skill. Information technology is quite expensive at fifth level and it works best when the brute needs to utilise the same skill multiple times.
  • Telekinesis : Pretty versatile, allowing you to move a animate being or object. Knock those pesky enemies of yours off a cliff, or access items that you wouldn't exist able to or aren't safe up close.
  • Telepathic Bond : Allows your party to communicate when they ordinarily wouldn't exist able to.
  • Wall of Forcefulness : You're just making a wall. So what? You can split upwards opposing forces, hide behind an bulletproof wall, or make a dome over your political party. It is immune to Dispel Magic but tin exist disintegrated.
  • Wall of Light : This is one of the weaker walls since the harm is much lower and blinding creatures requires a CON save, which many creatures are skillful at.

6th Level Spells

  • Circle of Decease : Fireball blazon effect, only at 6th level, and a CON save to boot. Boo!
  • Contingency : This is an interesting one. Instead of casting a spell, you can save that spell to be automatically cast when sure criteria have been met, lasting upward to 10 days.
  • Disintegrate : Live out your power fantasy as Thanos. The damage can be great, but a successful save negates ALL damage. Still, people love this spell and then information technology needed to exist addressed.
  • Mass Suggestion : Improve than regular Proffer in many ways. No saving throws, target upwardly to twelve creatures, and a elapsing of 24 hours.
  • Mental Prison : 5d10 psychic damage no matter if they save is pretty powerful. The secondary effect can be cheesed past the DM past somehow moving the target out of the illusion, but that shouldn't be the case because they can't see or hear and are restrained.
  • Globe of Invulnerability : Block all spells fifth level and lower in a 10-foot radius around your Wizard. This spell tin go really helpful as you offset to face more enemies casting spells.
  • Motility Earth : Nonetheless trying to live out that Minecraft fantasy? Go for it.
  • Scatter : It has uses, but none that are particularly worth a 6th-level spell.
  • Sunbeam : Not a bad spell for those grindy fights. Blinding opponents, repositioning the beam on each turn, disadvantage for undead make this a solid pick.
  • Tasha's Otherworldly Guise : Bonus action to gain +2 to AC, harm immunities, and flight make this a solid defensive spell. Fifty-fifty though the spell grants the ability to make attacks with INT and allows you to attack twice, yous volition rarely utilize these features as a wizard unless you're a Bladesinger.
  • True Seeing : Gain the abilities of truesight, spotting hugger-mugger doors, and seeing into the ethereal plane, all without concentration. This will be effective at some bespeak but a sixth level spell is steep.

7th Level Spells

  • Crown of Stars : Good harm, doesn't crave concentration, and a great apply of your bonus action. It helps to set information technology up before combat as information technology lasts an hour.
  • Etherealness : This spell allows you to wing or move through solid objects, while not beingness affected or able to affect creatures non on the Ethereal Plane. Yous tin can only target yourself but there is no concentration. Pretty heart of the road all effectually.
  • Finger of Death : It's a CON relieve, but they still accept half damage on a success. If you want some single target damage, it'due south not a bad pick.
  • Forcecage : Capture a creature with no saving throw for up to 1 60 minutes. They can endeavour to escape with magic, but a CHA saving throw can go far tricky. Y'all can as well use this to motion a creature past placing the creature only partially within the area.
  • Prismatic Spray : Only 10d6 damage on a failed relieve, and the damage blazon is random. This spell just isn't reliable plenty to exist worth information technology.
  • Project Paradigm : Tin be used to distract enemies or equally a pretty bad scouting tool. You lot or your party members should take ameliorate ways to do this by at present.
  • Contrary Gravity : Super cool and effective. The just way a beast can avoid the effect is past succeeding on a DEX saving throw, just even then they only grab onto a stock-still object to avoid falling up. Besides flight creatures, most volition have a tough time escaping this.
  • Sequester : There merely aren't many practical uses for this spell outside of a plot device.
  • Simulacrum : This spell is neat. Make a re-create of yourself to get extra Counterspells, or make a re-create of a captured monster.
  • Teleport : Instantly ship yourself and up to eight willing creatures. Of form there is a take a chance of a mishap, but a full party teleport is nothing to scoff at.
  • Whirlwind : The damage isn't worth the 7th level spell slot and Reverse Gravity is better for lifting creatures off the basis.

8th Level Spells

  • Antimagic Field : You want to be able to cast spells as a Wizard, and this spell prevents that. Maybe in that location is some powerful magic around you that you want to stop, but you're better off tackling that problem with a spell of your own and taking another 8th level spell instead.
  • Contempt/Sympathy : Attract or repel creatures that you choose. Force melee creatures away from you or ranged creatures towards your melee allies. Information technology besides lasts for 10 days, which is very long.
  • Clone : Voldemort, basically. If you die, your soul is transferred to the clone, every bit long as the vessel it is in is undisturbed. You don't get your equipment dorsum unless you are able to retrieve it, however.
  • Control Weather : This is one of those spells that could take massive repercussions exterior of combat. Its effect is extremely powerful though its uses may not be.
  • Boss Monster : A whole hr is a lot of time to get up to no good if you manage to charm a strong creature. It'due south great in gainsay only if the creature takes damage, it gets to take another shot at the WIS saving throw.
  • Illusory Dragon : This spell tin can absolutely decimate a large battle, sending enemies running and doing a fair amount of area of effect harm.
  • Maddening Darkness : Magical darkness is ever useful for strategic purposes in combat since nothing tin can see through it. Some other bonus here is that the darkness can do quite a bit of psychic harm when a animal starts its turn within information technology.
  • Maze : Banish a creature with no saving throw for up to ten minutes. Maze is actually strong because to return, it must pass a DC 20 INT check as an action. The only caveat is that information technology is a concentration spell.
  • Mind Bare : A total 24 hours of immunity to psychic damage, reading thoughts, divination spells, and existence charmed. Mind Blank is surprisingly effective during high-level encounters as a defensive spell.
  • Power Word Stun: You lot can auto stun a creature that has less than 150hp, merely they get to make a save at the terminate of each of their turns.

9th Level Spells

  • Foresight : The buff that does everything you could ask for. Lasts for eight hours (no concentration!), the target tin't be surprised, has advantage on rolls, and other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls confronting the target.
  • Mass Polymorph : Take up to 10 creatures out of the fight or plough your unabridged party into T-rexes.
  • Meteor Swarm : Nuke your enemies with this one unproblematic trick! 20d6 burn damage and 20d6 bludgeoning harm, or half on a successful DEX save.
  • Prismatic Wall : Some other dandy wall, this time with no concentration. Information technology is virtually indestructible, and your allies tin laissez passer through unharmed.
  • Psychic Scream : INT saves are skillful, but the harm is pretty average. The best part of this spell is the chance to inflict the stunned condition and explode the heads of any fauna killed by it for some morbid hilarity.
  • Power Word Kill : Very mechanically interesting spell. Substantially, you tin motorcar kill a creature if they accept less than 100hp. Now, as a role player we do not know how much HP a monster has, but an Investigation or Insight check might let some clues equally to whether or not they're close. Still Meteor Swarm can do, on average, 140 damage (seventy on a salve), and can hit multiple creatures and then this might not exist that worth it.
  • Time Stop : You tin can't target other creatures during your 1d4 + 1 extra turns, merely information technology'southward a neat opportunity to motility into position and vitrify yourself.
  • True Polymorph : If you manage to concentrate successfully for an hour, the effect tin can be permanent. The added flexibility of turning a creature into an object, or vice-versa, is really powerful.
  • Weird : Compared to the other ninth level spells, Weird merely stinks. Basically Fear with some damage.
  • Wish : Wish is the best spell in DnD 5e, hands down. Its regular use allows you to duplicate whatsoever other spell at 8th level or lower. Even so, information technology can likewise be used to regain all hit points for your whole party, change the outcome of a curlicue, or gain immunity to a spell. Some DMs may let you to wish for basically anything, only at the hazard of something going terribly incorrect. This can make for some really cool deus ex machina moments.

All-time Multiclass Options for Wizards

Multiclassing is always an opportunity price, y'all have to determine if taking a level of another grade is worth what you volition lose from the original class. Many factors come into this decision, with the main factor existence how long your campaign volition run and, ultimately, what level you will be playing until. With Sorcerers and other full casters, you lot desire to avoid taking more three multiclass levels, or else you won't exist able to get access to 9th-level spells.

Some other thing to accept into consideration is the boosted form' chief ability scores. Ideally, you lot want to use the Magician's high INT to synergize with the additional class, just at that place is only one other course that uses INT to this extent (the Artificer). That said, multiclassing will work with classes that use a different primary ability score and can assist smooth over some of the Wizard's weaknesses.

Be warned though, Wizards are possibly the best single form build on their own. Dipping into another class delays or locks you out of very powerful spells at higher levels.

Artificer : This is the obvious choice since Artificers are likewise INT-based casters. Artificers open y'all up to medium armor and shields, giving a pregnant heave to Air-conditioning. Take at least ii levels of Artificer to get access to Infuse Detail, or 3 if you want to proceeds an Artificer Specialist, of which Artillerist or Battle Smith would make the almost sense. Taking more Artificer levels is not advised as it will filibuster gaining higher level Wizard spells too much. However, every bit a total pulley, multiclassing into Artificer volition non slow downward your spell slot progression.

Cleric : A classic option is to take one level of Cleric to become access to medium/heavy armor, shields, and a whole host of new spells including powerful healing options.

Fighter : Taking one Fighter level gets yous admission to a massive amount of weapons and armor, as well as shields. The Defence Fighting Style can also assistance stack Air conditioning fifty-fifty college, making yous much more than durable and making information technology easier to maintain concentration. A second level of Fighter gives yous Action Surge, assuasive you to potentially cast two spells in a plow, creating the opportunity for some powerful combos.

Hope you liked the guide! If you have whatever questions or feel similar we missed something for the 5e Wizard, become ahead and mail service a comment below. If you like our content subscribe to Arcane Center!

Roland Drews

Roland Drews is a content creator and editor at Arcane Heart. When he isn't watching basketball game or noodling on his guitar, you can observe Roland reading, writing, or playing D&D. He currently lives in Bonn, Federal republic of germany with his girlfriend Jess.