Dungeons & Dragons 10 Most Useful Utility Spells
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Dungeons & Dragons 10 Most Useful Utility Spells
There are always plenty of traps and surprises within a game of Dungeons & Dragons. The best way to handle them is with a good utility spell. Beyond the ramshackle door is a dark room forty feet wide and thirty feet long. Cobwebs hang lazily from the ten-foot ceiling, illuminated by the light cantrip cast by your party's . A tarnished and torn rug dominates the floor, overturned tables and broken chairs abound, and portraits obscured by dust cover the walls. Curiously enough, one of the portraits is covered by a large black leather cloak. At the other end of the room is a passageway that continues into darkness. If you have played , chances are you have heard many descriptions just like this one. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to know what to do other than simply walk blindly into the inevitable trap that lies before you. But believe it or not, in these moments a single utility spell can prove more useful than even a well placed fireball. We all love rolling a ton of dice for damage. But being prepared for your dungeon master's traps is an experience more priceless than gold. Here are ten spells that, when used correctly, will take the wind right out of your dungeon master's sails. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Light
Though it may not be very powerful magic, light is certainly the most accessible on this list. For the cost of a single cantrip, your party will never have to worry about walking into a place of darkness unprepared again. And if you're thinking a torch serves just as well, that may be true except for the fact it requires you to hold it. Furthermore, a torch won't work underwater. There are also some neat fringe cases with this spell. For example, if you encounter an invisible enemy it is possible to land a melee attack on him and cast light, effectively removing his invisibility. Protection from Evil and Good
Elementals, celestials, aberrations, fey, fiends, and undead are all extremely common creature types in D&D. This first level spell provides protection from all of them. It is a concentration , which makes it somewhat worse, but giving your enemies disadvantage on their attacks is a huge boon. It also prevents you from being charmed, frightened, or possessed by said creatures and can help clear such effects on allies who are already suffering from them. Lastly, it just feels good to have a specifically perfect tool for the job. With the specifications being as broad as they are, you'll be feeling great. Knock
You are probably thinking that this spell is pretty useless. After all, isn't picking locks the resident party rogue's job? In reality, not every party will be blessed with a talented lockpicker. And even if you are, he might be having bad luck. In times like these, Knock comes in handy. If you are like us, when you encounter a sealed door or chest you have just got to know what is inside. Knock makes finding out what lies behind door number one as easy as taking cooked rat from a goblin. Pass Without Trace
This premium sneak spell was popularized by Marisha Ray's character Keyleth from the widely viewed web series game . A second level spell slot may be a lot to ask, but the benefits your entire party gains are well worth the cost. You and all your friends gain a +10 bonus to Stealth checks for the next hour. And, as the namesake suggests, you leave no visible tracks or footprints. The only way to track you is through magical means. And that's an asset most enemies will find themselves without. Feather Fall
In Dungeons & Dragons, you are going to fall. And chances are, it is going to happen more than once. With this nifty trick up your sleeve, you and your party will no longer have to worry about an or off of a craggy wind shorn ledge. You can cast the spell as a reaction, so even if the fall has already taken place you will be ready to respond. Buyer beware: this spell will NOT protect you from the bubbling pit of lava that steams below. Rope Trick
Ever needed to make your whole party disappear in an instant? Rope trick allows you to avoid those pesky rotating sentries and more. You create an invisible extradimensional space that can hold as many as eight creatures. Once you are inside of it, the extradimensional space works as a window. Making it the perfect hiding spot for viewing an important town council meeting without anyone knowing you were ever there or laying in wait for your target to walk within striking range of your blade. Rope trick is like casting invisibility on your entire party. Which is a decidedly clutch maneuver. Tiny Hut
Maga The Bard by Marco Morales There are not many places to pitch your tent and slide off your boots when adventuring in the depths of the nine hells, an enchanted forest, an ancient catacomb, or whatever dastardly place in which your group finds itself. Tiny Hut provides your party with somewhere safe to rest. Everyone in your group can appreciate that. Even the edgy murderer among them whose parents were gutted when he was eleven. And he never appreciates much more than guts and glory, really. Why do you keep him around again? Detect Magic
The worlds of Dungeons & Dragons are teeming with magic. But in many cases, it can be quite difficult to discern where and how that magic is taking place. Detect magic allows you to know what you are dealing with. And as any mage worth his whiskers will tell you, knowledge is the greatest power. In particular, learning the school of magic in effect can be crucial information. For example, a door with evocation magic emanating from it likely holds a dangerous spell while a box coated in abjuration magic may be locked by magical means. Dispel Magic
Who needs to detect magic when you can simply wish it away? Dispel magic has so many implications that a party traveling without it may as well have forgotten their weapons at home. End dangerous enemy spellcaster effects on your friends, deactivate perilous traps, and purchase the peace of mind that whatever magic may come your way, you can deal with it. Anyone who has played a spellcasting class in Dungeons and Dragons can tell you how many pages of spells there are to choose from. Many of them are countered by this one spell. Arcane Eye
If Light is the most accessible utility spell, Arcane eye is the most game-breaking. Have you ever wanted to know the layout of a dungeon before stepping foot into it? Arcane eye gives you that opportunity without risking anything besides a fourth level spell slot. This spell is likely to spoil your dungeon master's mood, so be wary of using it too often. And can you really blame him for that reaction? He spent a good amount of his personal time preparing all kinds of presents for you. And here you come unwrapping them well before Christmas has arrived. You naughty player you.