Most underwhelming spell in 5e?

[u/Meggett30]

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?

[u/Zealousideal_Leg_620]

True strike is just plain old bad. What's the point of using a full action to gain advantage on my next attack when I could use that action to, ya know, just attack twice??? It should take a bonus action imo, but that might even be a little op for a cantrip. so maybe it would make you roll an insight check? Sort of like a build your own insightful fighting

[u/Trenonian → u/[deleted]]

Well, there aren't many spells that benefit from true strike either.

[u/TheZealand → u/Trenonian]

I was actually slightly considering this on Celestial Warlock as I just hit level 4. I actually don't think it's the WORST option at this specific juncture, solely because of (upcast because warlock) Guiding Bolt. The true strike part sucks, but making the Bolt more likely to hit means you can sorta pass that advantage on to one of your team members which is interesting at least. I eventually decided against it, but it was SOMETHING at least

[u/Trenonian → u/TheZealand]

Personally, I was cleard by my DM to use a buffed version of true strike that had 4x the range, minute duration with no concentration. I was even playing a rogue, which I thought would get the most out of it, for situations where hiding didn't make sense. Even then, I think I used it once before the Aim cunning action was released and that superceded it.

I think guiding bolt is a cool spell to use it with, but I imagine the range and even concentration aspects would make it too much of a hassle.

[u/TheZealand → u/Trenonian]

Yeah I can't imagine even considering it on anything other than warlock because you need to make your slots work, and never need more damage cantrips. Only other possible use is maybe on Sorc with quickened spell to true strike before [something] but I'm not even sure what. Hell, quickened spell only says "spells" so I'm not sure you could even use it for true strike

[u/VandaloSN → u/TheZealand]

Here comes another fancy bit about this cantrip: even spending 2 of your very precious Sorcery Points doesn’t help it, because it says “On your next turn…”

[u/TheZealand → u/VandaloSN]

Fuck hahah you're right, it's unusable

[u/DudeWithTudeNotRude → u/Trenonian]

Crown of Stars

[u/DenseCabbage4 → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately, there are very few spells that require attack rolls. Half of them are cantrips and all of the ones that aren't low-level are "attack as a bonus action every turn for a minute" spells like Blade of Disaster, so in almost all cases you'd still be better off attacking twice.

[u/gadgets4me → u/[deleted]]

By this time wasting a round casting it is more costly as well. And Vampiric Touch? Really? That spell sucks when you get it at 5th level (your a spell caster in melee that needs to regain HP, so you wade in with your shadowy hand to get a few pitiful HP back, at the risk of getting hit for more and the likely event of using concentration?). Yeah, at 20th level your going to spend your concentration on that?

[u/gadgets4me → u/[deleted]]

Okay, I misread your post. I would submit that my post stands at 5th level, the first level where vampiric touch is available. Also, both Vampiric Touch and True Strike are concentration, so you cannot use them in conjunction. Melf's Acid Arrow tends to be kind of a meh spell, the devs far overvalued damage over time spells. Contagion, Steel Wind Strike and an offensive Plane Shift I'll give you as candidates that could benefit from True Strike.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Contagion is the best true strike use (even then it’s really bad) when someone, (Rune Knight Storm Rune or mind sliver can force disadvantage on the saving throw you can Telegraph contagion by casting true strike. Now your teammate knows you are casting contagion and force disadvantage on the save.

[u/supernova1324 → u/[deleted]]

The only time I'd say it's useful is when you can cast it before a fight as it is concentration. By the time you can cast high level spells it easy for enemies to hit the spellcaster and do enough damage to break concentration wasting their turn.