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Third level in Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons is, in many ways, the new first level. Nearly everyone has to make another choice that impacts their character for the rest of the campaign. Many classes must choose their subclasses, but most spellcasting classes open up second level spell slots for players to use. Players have a much better idea of how they want to play the game at this point, so choosing second spells that fit specific play styles becomes a bit easier. For those spellcasters looking for a bit of help, or for those games starting at third level, here are some options you should consider.
Invisibility
A lot of time and space in the Player’s Handbook is devoted to the art of combat. A lot of time at the table is devoted to avoid combats or setting up ambushes. This spell is perfect to cast on anyone looking to scout ahead or get themselves into a position that might get a surprise round out of an attack. It also expands with higher spell slots, allowing a spellcaster to cover more people the more they grow in power.
Knock
Adventurer is a polite term, in many cases, for burglar. They break into places they aren’t supposed to be, defeat trap encouraged to keep people out and go home carrying treasure that wasn’t theirs to begin with. Having a spell that defeats any lock makes perfect sense even before factoring in things protected by arcane locks. Knock only temporarily defeats an arcane lock, but it only takes one breach to let adventurers clean out the place.
Levitate
The key to the utility of Levitate is its weight limit. 500 pounds is a lot to move, even slowly, and a clever spellcaster can use that to smash stone bricks into ancient doors or rogues past a trapped floor to hit the safety level on the other side. This spell also has some great combat applications too; an opponent that fails a Constitution save can be safely put up to 20 feet in the air. It’s removed as a melee threat or turned into some big fat target practice for the ranged combat specialists in the group.
Misty Step
This short range teleport spell offers excellent mobility. 30 feet is enough for a spellcaster to get out of trouble in combat or, perhaps, to get into trouble if need be. It allows bypassing of locked gates and windows unprotected by any sort of arcane countermeasures too. It even pairs well if someone in the party has this as an innate spell; two adventurers inside a fence are usually better than one.
Suggestion
It’s always useful to have friends outside the party and suggestion helps you to always have people willing to help you out no matter where you go. Charm person makes someone friendly to the caster, but this spell gets someone to do their bidding. The target won’t do anything harmful, but this spell can be quite useful to the fans of the ol’ Jedi mind trick. Not only that, it can be set up with triggers for very specific orders to be carried out.
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Images Credits: Wizards of the Coast
Rob Wieland is an author, game designer and professional nerd. He writes about kaiju, Jedi, gangsters, elves and is a writer for the Star Trek Adventures RPG line. His blog is here, where he is currently reviewing classic Star Wars RPG adventures. His Twitter is here. His meat body can be found in scenic Milwaukee, WI.