Proper uses of Mage Hand?

[tchntm43]

My group is almost all new players, so for a while the wizard has been ignoring most of her spells because it's just too much to learn all at once. I'm also new to 5th Edition as a DM, relatively (we just finished our 2nd adventure, resulting in everyone going up to level 2), so it's been a learning process for me as well.

Anyway, I was taking another look at her spells, and she has the cantrip Mage Hand. I see that the hand cannot attack. But it can lift 10 lbs. Can it pick up a handful of dirt and throw it in someone's face? If so, seems like that would almost certainly cause disadvantage on that person's next attack roll. Am I reading it wrong? I mean usually there are better things to do, but if she runs out of spells slots and doesn't have a direct line of fire for Fire Bolt...

[Gadzooks]

Mage hand is a spell that doesn't really have a "proper" use for it. It's similar to minor illusion in that it's as powerful and as useful as your imagination and DM's allowance.

As for what you can actually to with it though, I'm not certain since I don't have the book with me, but I think that you could throw dirt at someone though that might break its, "you can not attack with it rule" You could also hold a torch with it and other smaller items like that. If you get creative you could have it hold a torch while someone shoots arrows with oil soaked rags on it through the torch to get flaming arrows. You might even be able to hold a shield for arrow defense in front of you.

[Man_Over_Game]

The Rogue's Mage Hand ability can, at later levels, cause advantage to strike the target. Considering this is a higher level feature and is specific to a subclass (and assuming Advantage and Disadvantage are equally as valuable), I'd say that trying to duplicate the Arcane Trickster's level 7 feature(or do something similar) has to result in your action being strictly worse than what the Arcane Trickster does.

Spoiler: Over-analytical mumblings

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Normally, I'd say that because the Rogue can move his Mage Hand as a Bonus Action where the Wizard has to use an Action, the Rogue already has a step up and can already do this better than the Wizard as a specialized build, but even so, the Rogue is not allowed to force Advantage to hit with Mage Hand until level 7. And any exception made for the Wizard also has to be made for the Rogue, and allowing a Rogue at level 3 to force Disadvantage as a Bonus Action when they, by default, learn how to force Advantage to hit at level 7, just doesn't make any sense. So if it doesn't make sense for the Rogue to do that, the Wizard cannot do it either. That is, unless we make a solution that accomplishes what the wizard wants, but is still explicitly worse than the Arcane Trickster's level 7 feature

My recommendation is requiring it to be a two-step process. Grabbing the dirt is one use of Mage Hand, and throwing it is the second.

Alternatively, I might say that throwing the dirt lets the target make a Dexterity Save, but that's just creating a bunch of random, silly rolls for Disadvantage, so I think the two-action requirement is a better possibility, especially since it can be "preloaded" (the wizard can grab a handful of dirt before a fight).

[NecessaryWeevil]

If you'd allow a normal person to give disadvantage by spending an action to throw dirt (with no attack roll required or saving throw allowed), then allowing a PC to do the same with Mage Hand seems within the spell's limitations.
(EDIT: ninjad twice in 30 seconds!)

[Pex]

It's useful to open or close unlocked things. You can grab an item you think might have a trap on it or around it. I have used it to slap a goblin guard upside the head to make him think the other goblin did it when he wasn't looking at him and start a fight between them.

[Digimike]

Think of the base wizard version of Mage Hand as a 10lb telekenisis that can perform simple actions like opening an unlocked door/chest, or picking up an object. It is useful for doing simple tasks out of harm's way.

The Arcane Trickster one can do more complex actions like disarming traps and picking someone's pocket. Bit those are class features independent from the normal spell.

[Unoriginal]

You can use Mage Hand to throw dirt at someone's face, but it'd just be the Help action.

[Pex]

You can use Mage Hand to throw dirt at someone's face, but it'd just be the Help action.

From a relatively safe distance away, which is the important thing for a squishy wizard wanting to help the melee party member without being in melee.

[LudicSavant]

Have the Mage Hand carry a rope and tie it around an object heavier than 5 pounds. You can now retrieve objects heavier than 5 pounds with Mage Hand.

[tchntm43]

My recommendation is requiring it to be a two-step process. Grabbing the dirt is one use of Mage Hand, and throwing it is the second.

This makes a lot of sense from a balancing point of view.

The other thing I considered after making the original post is that perhaps the hand wouldn't be able to move fast enough to "throw" anything. There is the question of why it can't attack, because if it has the ability to carry 10 lbs then it would seem it should have the ability to hold and move a sword. But it if can't move fast enough, then moving a sword isn't an attack, it's just carrying it. This would also be what prevents it from throwing a dagger, and if it can't throw a dagger, then it might not be able to throw anything.

I think it might be impossible to prevent Mage Hand from having any means of dealing damage if it can carry weight or push weight, even if you take away throwing. I mean, it could pick up a 5 lb stone and then float up above the target (as long as it stays within 30 ft of you) and then drop it. Or even less complicated (so you don't have to calculate via trigonometry how high it can go above an enemy), it could push a vase over on the edge of a windowsill 15 stories up, where an individual is on the street below. That should unquestionable cause damage.

[Ganymede]

Can it pick up a handful of dirt and throw it in someone's face? If so, seems like that would almost certainly cause disadvantage on that person's next attack roll. Am I reading it wrong?

I wouldn't allow this for two reasons.

For one, this seems out of line with the hand's allowed actions. It can't attack, nor is it given any ability to throw something. It can pour out the contents of a vial, so it could pour a handful of dirt on someone, but I am not sure that would have any appreciable effect in combat.

Additionally, you're basically asking for something similar to the high level Arcane Trickster power Versatile Trickster. I definitely wouldn't let you copy a high level class ability for free.

[KorvinStarmast]

Re: Proper uses of Mage Hand?

To rub the lotion on its skin so it won't get the hose again.

This is a reference to the movie Silence of the Lambs

[Dalebert]

If you're a multiclassed AT, it's good for donning or doffing a shield as a bonus action. You can also do this as a favor to your tank in some cases. It's good for using a healer's kit as a bonus action. ATs and thieves are a couple classes who can benefit the most from a feat that's generally weak. Even then, it's still kind of weak though. Unless your DM is lenient, the only part you can bonus action is the 1 point when you're at zero. Still it gets someone up for near zero resources.

When you're not an AT, mostly it's just utility out of combat. I can't think of anything it's good for in combat except in some extremely rare circumstances, like the switch to open the cage your friends are trapped in is across a mote. It's great for setting a grappling hook up high so you can climb, or to untie a rope so you can keep the rope after you've climbed down somewhere. I once used it in a tier one game to fly a cloak into a room full of goblins who were holding their action to shoot at the first person through the door, per our stealthy scout's observations.

[Blood of Gaea]

Have you ever wanted to touch something with your hand, but without risking your hand? Use it for that.

Have you ever wanted to touch something with your hand, but from a distance? Use it for that.

Have you ever wanted to hold something with a third hand you don't have? Use it for that.

Have you ever wanted minor telekinesis? Use it for that too.

[Porcupinata]

In my experience, the most common use of Mage Hand is to have it make obscene gestures at other party members.

That might just be my group, though...

[DeadMech]

You're a wizard. You know when you're nice and comfortable, sprawled out across a couch in your keep. Reading you favorite trashy romance novel hidden behind a tome of dark arcane secrets... or a tome of dark arcane secrets hidden behind a trashy romance novel, whatever way your tastes run. And your ranger pal comes in with fresh muffins and tea... I mean I could get up? But what am I? a barbarian?

Or you come across an ancient forgotten tomb in a haunted forest. Creeping inside you find a foul necromancer who wakes the dead and quite rudely tries to blow you up with a fireball when you politely ask him to stop. Well after you put that degenerate in his place you really should help put the spirits to rest and return the disturbed bones back to their grave. And I mean... they're pretty gross you don't really expect me to touch them myself? And while that necromancer was squatting in here he made quite a mess... and don't get me started on that bucket in the corner. Someone's gotta take that outside and I'm not seeing many volunteers.

[Porcupinata]

Well after you put that degenerate in his place you really should help put the spirits to rest and return the disturbed bones back to their grave. And I mean... they're pretty gross you don't really expect me to touch them myself? And while that necromancer was squatting in here he made quite a mess... and don't get me started on that bucket in the corner. Someone's gotta take that outside and I'm not seeing many volunteers.

I must admit that one of the characters I've wanted to play but not got chance is an obsessively dirt-phobic wizard. He'd be a conjuration specialist, of course, and would be constantly using Prestidigitation to keep himself clean. He wouldn't want to touch anything with his bare hands, either using Mage Hand or using Minor Conjuration to create temporary "disposable" gloves.

Of course, he'd also use Minor Conjuration to make himself a stool to sit on to avoid having to sit on the floor, or to make an umbrella to keep himself dry in rainy weather...

[SirGraystone]

My feeling on this is that the mage hand is not fast enough to throw stuff. Now dropping marbles or caltrop on the floor that it can do.

[dragoeniex]

Not proper use so much as "dubious" or "depending on DM," but I've always wanted to have a caster running away from a bandit/guard/angry librarian who uses mage hand to apply 10 lbs of force to the tip of their pursuer's shoe. Not to cause damage, of course! Just a firm little clap.

If the pursuer was chasing fast and sloppily enough to power faceplant, that's their problem. Though it might be sporting to give them a hand up.

[Max_Killjoy]

I'd be more worried about improper uses of Mage Hand.

[Mr.Spastic]

I think the intention is that it can't do anything that would be considered harmful to an enemy. Even if you could do something like throw dirt, it would take two uses you would use two turns just to possibly give somebody advantage. I say possibly because the enemy should get a dex save. All in all, using this in combat for anything but holding a torch wouldn't be that helpful.

If you want proper uses...

Triggering traps. If you get the feeling that something might be trapped, use mage hand and poke it. Nothing is more relieving than knowing you saved your real hand by casting a cantrip.

Picking up stuff without touching it. A lot of people overlook how helpful this can be. I was playing in a game where a party member had a cursed sword. After we got it off him I was able to safely move the sword with my mage hand with out getting cursed.

[Naanomi]

I'd be more worried about improper uses of Mage Hand.

Every teenage apprentice goes through that phase, it is perfectly normal

[Digimike]

I'd be more worried about improper uses of Mage Hand.

That spell is called "The Stranger."

[Son of A Lich!]

Don't... don't go in there, right now, honey...

Timothule just learned the Mage Hand Cantrip and had a sudden need to turn his familiar into an octopus... It's times like this I understand that Ignorance is bliss...

[Diceomancer]

I once used mage hand to push a rock that was up high on a wall (I think 15 feet) onto a weak demon and killed it. It was the most effective combat spell out of all the ones I used that encounter.

[ChampionWiggles]

Player: Alright, I cast Mage Hand

DM: OK, what do you have the mage hand do?

Spoiler: This

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[Dark Schneider]

You can hold a shield in front of you so you get +2 AC against missile attacks. You are not wearing it so against melee attack, unless from the same direction you hold the shield (the foe has no more movement), does not give you the half cover.

You can open locks or activate switches that you don't know if it has a trap.

Get items or manipulate objects without risk.

Apply some pressure (up to 10 pounds) on something to check if there is a trap.

And what is the limit for that "manipulate objects" feature of Mage Hand?

[Astofel]

My players once annoyingly used it to mess with one of the BBEG's lieutenants, who was trying to give an intimidating evil speech in a village. Pulling her hair and ears, covering her mouth with the hand, sticking its fingers in her mouth, etc. She couldn't effectively retaliate because she was only there to deliver a warning and didn't have the proper backup, so she just had to stand there and take it, which definitely lessened the desired effect on the villagers.