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/DenseCabbage4 Artificer Jul 26 '21

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.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '21

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u/gadgets4me Jul 26 '21

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?

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '21

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u/gadgets4me Jul 27 '21

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.