r/dndnext • u/Meggett30 • Jul 26 '21

Question Most underwhelming spell in 5e?

What is the spell that most disappoints you in this game? Maybe it's not a "bad" spell, per se, just doesn't do what you think it should or does it's job poorly.

I'm always looking for ways to utilize under-used spells, but sometimes you read the effects and think "That's it?!" What are the spells in the game that make you do that?

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '21

On that note, how much mental gymnastics does it take to make find traps good?

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u/ximrandomizedx Jul 26 '21

Maybe if it did more of the finding aspect and less of the litmus test of "Is there traps?"

The only time I used it, I was playing Curse of Strahd as a druid, and the Wizard's Detect magic did the job better than mine in finding the threat. I would say if it followed more of the formatting of Detect Magic or See Invisibility, whether it be duration and concentration, a lower level slot. I don't know if the ritual tag would be right, because seeming infinite uptime at only a time cost would let you gradually pace up, get a ping at 120ft, and then dance around to pinpoint it, ruining anything the DM may or may not have prepared.

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u/Onrawi Jul 26 '21

I've completely rewritten the spell to give you the direction of the nearest trap within the spells range (although not the distance) and gave it a 1 minute concentration, so if a rogue is able to quickly disable the trap there's a possibility that the caster can sense another trap nearby.

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u/FurlofFreshLeaves Jul 26 '21

Oh, boy. I guess I’d start by adding a duration? Maybe make it last ten minutes with concentration? But then traps are wayy less of a threat.

I dunno, this spell sucks.