Least used spells?

[MarkVIIIMarc]

Just reading through the list, have any of you all ever cast or seen Sequester cast in game? With that niche use and the high material cost it seems like something a NPC cast on a McGuffin you need to find

How about some other spells? What never gets used?

[JakOfAllTirades]

Illusory Script.

[vexedart]

Detect traps should be pretty high up in the least used category.

[LudicSavant]

Mordenkainen's Sword is shown up pretty thoroughly by Crown of Stars.

[BloodSnake'sCha]

True strick.

[Bosh]

True strick.

Thought about using it with the Magic Initiate feat. Finger guns when staring someone down and then advantage when combat starts.

Ended up with a different build, so yeah...

[ZorroGames]

Joined a non-AL group 🤯 in Dungeon of the Mad Mage at level 7 where the fireball cast several weeks ago was the first time. Very heavy RP group that is driving our 15 year old Paladin MurderHobo crazy. Seems we are splitting the group of 10 (8 regulars) playing 2 hour sessions 🙄 into two groups after the New Year.

Dit: least used spells depend on play style.

[Imbalance]

Not that I have a lot of experience under my belt, but given the alphabetical listing in most sources I'm quite sure many in the back half seldom see a casting, especially the high level spells. Has anyone ever used Weird?

[Teaguethebean]

Not that I have a lot of experience under my belt, but given the alphabetical listing in most sources I'm quite sure many in the back half seldom see a casting, especially the high level spells. Has anyone ever used Weird?

Well I would say that is because weird is a garbage spell.
I have never seen someone use melf's acid arrow, it is just so much worse than scorching ray or magic missile that nobody bothers.

[malachi]

Well I would say that is because weird is a garbage spell.
I have never seen someone use melf's acid arrow, it is just so much worse than scorching ray or magic missile that nobody bothers.

An NPC used it once, and it happened to take one PC to 0, then gave an automatic failed death save the following round. It had a niche that caused some tension, but it doesn't seem like a great PC choice.

It's not even better than the spells you mentioned for triggering concentration checks, because it only deals damage twice, while SR / MM hit 3+ times.

[Teaguethebean]

An NPC used it once, and it happened to take one PC to 0, then gave an automatic failed death save the following round. It had a niche that caused some tension, but it doesn't seem like a great PC choice.

I totally agree. A lot of players don't know all the spells in the book so I give my npc strange and very different spells as it helps keep players intrested. Just last weak I was running a game for some new players and they started fighting a toned down hell hound. (They are level 2) and the level 1 druid npc cast Faerie fire completely turning the tide and now the bard is pumped to Level up and learn it.

[Guy Lombard-O]

Alter Self. Witchbolt. Secret Chest. Detect Poison and Disease. Calm Emotions.

Not all horrible spells, but I've never seen anyone use them.

[JumboWheat01]

Since supposedly most campaigns only go up to level 8 to 10, I'd say any Sixth level spell and up are the least used.

On a personal experience note, split up into a few groups:

Damage - Inflict Wounds. Probably because of its short range and no-damage on a save thing.
Support - Protection from Good and Evil. No idea why this was never used all that much, though it's probably the Concentration limit.
Utility - Purify Food and Drink. Has just never been a problem in any campaign I've played.

[ZorroGames]

Alter Self. Witchbolt. Secret Chest. Detect Poison and Disease. Calm Emotions.

Not all horrible spells, but I've never seen anyone use them.

If our Wizard Mc uses it less than twice a game I would be surprised.

[Guy Lombard-O]

If our Wizard Mc uses it less than twice a game I would be surprised.

Which one?

[ZorroGames]

Which one?

Alter Self. And never for combat, just social interactions with creatures in Dungeon of the Mad Mage, just arrived at Skullport, first dungeon crawl that has been flat for me.

[Sigreid]

Well I would say that is because weird is a garbage spell.
I have never seen someone use melf's acid arrow, it is just so much worse than scorching ray or magic missile that nobody bothers.

If you don't have firebolt or something like that it's a decent prepare when you know you are going to fight trolls.

[Teaguethebean]

If you don't have firebolt or something like that it's a decent prepare when you know you are going to fight trolls.

But no because Scorching ray is just better.

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Alter Self. Witchbolt. Secret Chest. Detect Poison and Disease. Calm Emotions.

Not all horrible spells, but I've never seen anyone use them.

I have a bard built around clam emotions, used it most of the time.

Detect poison and disease is very useful as drow detection and for disease carrying enemies detection (very campaign dependent).

[Theodoxus]

Not that I have a lot of experience under my belt, but given the alphabetical listing in most sources I'm quite sure many in the back half seldom see a casting, especially the high level spells. Has anyone ever used Weird?

It's right up there with Imprisonment. It's a decent plot devise, but no 17+ party I've ever seen would waste the time and expense on using it when killing the target will be 9/10 easier to do.

[NNescio]

I have a bard built around clam emotions, used it most of the time.

Detect poison and disease is very useful as drow detection and for disease carrying enemies detection (very campaign dependent).

Also doubles as the "booze-detecting spell".

(If the DM chooses to rule alcohol counts as poison. Which most do, in my experience. But that's just my personal view.)

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Also doubles as the "booze-detecting spell".

(If the DM chooses to rule alcohol counts as poison. Which most do, in my experience. But that's just my personal view.)

Now I fell bad that my alcoholic paladin did never prepare it(he didn't care about poison and disease).

He left the party after we found an ancient dwarven ale storage.

[FirstBornSon]

Skywrite, although it is cool proposal.

[BloodSnake'sCha]

Skywrite, although it is cool proposal.

Really useful to deliver massages to the masses.
Or for naval games.

[Sigreid]

But no because Scorching ray is just better.

If you have it.

[Kurt Kurageous]

Tenser's Floating Disk.

So few games use encumbrance in a meaningful way.

[Undyne]

Just reading through the list, have any of you all ever cast or seen Sequester cast in game? With that niche use and the high material cost it seems like something a NPC cast on a McGuffin you need to find

How about some other spells? What never gets used?

Skywrite. I like using it personally as a worldbuilder, sort of a way for a town to communicate in mass, but players almost never use it.

[Sigreid]

Tenser's Floating Disk.

So few games use encumbrance in a meaningful way.

Use it fairly frequently myself.

[KorvinStarmast]

Tenser's Floating Disk.

So few games use encumbrance in a meaningful way.

My brother's wizard used it a lot in our first campaign.

[Guy Lombard-O]

Alter Self. And never for combat, just social interactions with creatures in Dungeon of the Mad Mage, just arrived at Skullport, first dungeon crawl that has been flat for me.

Hmmm. Wouldn't Disguise Self work just as well for that? Better, actually. Being non-concentration means that you can do both DS and Enhance Ability - Cha at the same time.

The concentration is probably the reason I don't see it getting much use. If you want to breath water, Water Breathing is only 1 level higher, a ritual, non-concentration, lasts longer, and effects the whole party.

If you want a magical melee attack, Magic Weapon is the same level and lets you do at least as much (average) damage (when combined with your regular weapon attack). Same level, same duration.

Alter Self isn't a bad spell. It's just that there are other spells that can do everything it does, but are all better at that thing. I guess it's got good flexibility, though.

I have a bard built around clam emotions, used it most of the time.

Yeah, it's a decent spell. I just don't see it get used. Glad you get mileage out of it!

Detect poison and disease is very useful as drow detection and for disease carrying enemies detection (very campaign dependent).

Never thought of that (or seen it done) - Nice!

Now I fell bad that my alcoholic paladin did never prepare it(he didn't care about poison and disease).

He left the party after we found an ancient dwarven ale storage.

I've actually had my paladin use Lay on Hands to cure hangovers. Damn drunken wizard!