I checked out your vid because i have a Div wizard that I have been playing for 2.5 years and is nearing lvl 20,,, ( 1 level of light cleric). The gnome feat FADE AWAY plus blink could quite possibly make your gnome wizard too good. You mentioned racial feats but neglected this one. Plus 1 to int and fade invisible IMMEDIATLY when you take damage 1/any rest plus a 50 percent chance to just not be there can really take your defense to the X factor level, not to mention you have other options and you dont have concentration on this invisibility. ABJURATION WIZARDS... deep gnome Svirfneblin Magic is a really powerful build to keep your abjuration barrier filled with buff hitpoints too... kinda sneaky too. But my biggest question was to the group... Is TOUGH a real game changer at high levels?
Great list. For abjuration wizards, also consider Eldritch Adept for mage armor at will (charge that ward for free) or if you are a deep gnome Svirfneblin Magic does the same thing with nondetection at will.
Before going all critical I just want to say I recently found this channel and I love it. But... 9:50 "Alert feat might be useful if you're getting surprised a lot..." That is not why Wizards (or casters in general) take Alert. It's that sweet +5 to iniative that draws us like flies to honey. It's nice to get those spells off before your friends get in the way or the enemy comes and hits you with a big ugly sword. It's so crucial (at least to controllers / debuffers ) that I often play Variant Human only because of it and I find humans quite boring.
Completely agree! This is something I realized about two months ago when I heard commentary from Bilbrons and Dragons about the value of going first. I'm so used to playing with people who are reactive spellcasters who sometimes sigh in relief when they can go later in the turn order, but there are many experienced players who can make quick work of encounters by going first. Great point!
I would lean a bit against Telepathic letting you perform verbal components. Bardic Inspiration is based on the target being able to hear you while with verbal components, “the words themselves aren't the source of the spell's power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion.” (PHB)
Before Artificer class and Celestial Warlock came out I played a Halfling Infernal Warlock the DM let me have a feat in place of the rest of the Halfling Luck and Subrace other then stat. I took the Healer Feat and made mine "Doctor Pepper" potion. Pep-Zee Greenbottle was a merchant in a kitted out wagon. His personality was a mix of Elmer Fude and The Nutty Professor. His Rod of the Pact Keeper was skin changed to look like a shot gun using Eldritch Blast as his bullets. I used skin change Spellcasters Pouch to an Alchemy Bandolier.
That sounds like a hoot! I love the name. Did you finish the character's campaign before Artificer came out? I'm wondering if you adapted the character part way through. I'm guessing it was a while ago if it predates XGtE.
I finished the Campaign before Sword Coast Guide came out LOL so UA Wizard school Artificer was out but that was about it and Celestial Warlock and Divine soul Sorcerer were not even out. He is my third 5E character. But I do use him a NPC in games everyone needs a potions dealer
@@FlutesLoot I was wondering your thoughts I have a RUclips channel I have never used. I have debated on doing character builds that Like Pep-Zee is based more on the Background and my inspiration for it more then the optimum rules. I already have 40 or more backgrounds and all are very playable character.. . . . Like Cassisian Bright Star the Teddy Bear Paladin based on a Teddy Ruspin and a Romanian high flying gladiator, he is not the Lawful Stupid Pally he feels if you cant hear him sneak it is your fault and id you are not strong enough to stay standing on his sheild bash you deserve to get prone stabbed. He is a 14 year old lost squire after all based on the Cassisian angles of Pathfinder... . Eartha Kitt a female naked halfling barbarian that was raised by white tigers based of the batman 66 cat woman and a friends feline Asinberger ticks this let her play into the ticks rather then fighting them or being embarrassed. The best part of that is she did not like short characters because she stands a little over 5 feet and she did not like barbarians because she though they had to be brutes and her first 3rd ed character was forced into by the DM and party. . Then for Mecha Hack I played Owen "Voodoo" Vi'Darr who is a mechanical engineering genus that could scavenge most anything. He quickly got the handle Voodoo because of his Creo accent and his work was almost like magic. His mech which was made from salvage scrap which was monstrous looking and would use Nano Tech to repair his mech off armor pieces of other mechs. Voodoo named it the Hunger Zombie after it raising from dead mechs and its ability to feed off other mechs. Owen was built because players in the party wondered if I was able to play in a game without magic I tend to play utility casters. He pulls that in even though it was not true magic.
Great list, meta magic adept is my favourite but it does just add utility to spells you already cast. Twinning spells like hideous laughter makes that concentration way more cost effective and also more viable to maintain. Its also only a first level spell so it only takes one sorcerery point.
This was an excellent video and paired with reading your article you have convinced me to take the telekinetic feat for the wizard I'm playing soon! I really like your video style and I went through and read a few different articles to help me prepare for playing a wizard for the first time. I'll be asking my DM if I can use some of your Improved Spells :D Thanks so much! Definitely subscribing to you!
@@FlutesLoot You shouldn't be so hard on yourself :) I was looking for a video on the best feats for wizards and you gave me that and more! I appreciate your service :D
I also like your videos, i also think its amazing that as far as i have noticed u comment to everyone at least once. I am not a person who likes/ subscribes, etc. but i have started using the like button on your videos due solely to you responding to everyone, i think its great!
One of my favorite feats is the Aberrant Dragon Mark. +1 Con is good for extra HP and concentration. A sorcerer cantrip and spell (short rest recharge) plus added damage or temp HP on the spell cast. Never mind the character fluff with a flaw or the optional rules of having a chance at a boon at level 10
Hi JCinLapel, is your comment "Still spell" a typo? I'm trying to figure out what you mean. An Arcane Focus could be useful for hiding a spell's casting if the DM rules it that way.
@@IraInvictus Ah yup, thank you, Jacob! Yes, Subtle Spell is great for avoiding detection when spellcasting, especially to avoid getting Counterspelled.
While that would be great, it would require you to multiclass five levels of Warlock to take the Undying Servitude Invocation from this feat. I believe it'd be better to level up more as a Wizard to gain/use higher-level spell slots for Animate Dead.
For some reason i always think of wizards as the nerdy book worms but they dont really get to many skill and they have a rare ability score in intelligence to be good at int. Skills so i like taking skills with feats...not very min/max probably bit it fits the themes in my head lol
Makes sense to me! If they're so smart, they could be good at a greater breadth of skills. I've toyed around with making Intelligence a more valuable stat by allowing it to grant more skill proficiencies, but I haven't found a system I love yet. The playtest material for D&D 5e (referred to D&D Next) gave bonus languages to characters based on their Intelligence modifier, btw.
That is a good idea i remember previous editions giving bonus languages (and more skill points) based on int...this edition seems a little harder to work out how you would do that with skills as it would make many more classes "feel" slightly more MAD...
@@grendlew1487 I even toyed around with the idea of giving a character an extra feat when they hit Intelligence 20, but I didn't end up using that for various reasons :P I think the key to making Intelligence a better stat would be to make the skills that use it more prevalent and impactful.
I let my players use arcana skill to see if they can determine which spell is being cast by another wizard (should they think to use it), however if the players want to play do this...it can be done to them...seems to give the arcana skill a little more use and helps them decide if they would like to counterspell or not. It puts a little more importance on at least 1 int skill...
At least for a little while! haha Similarly, the Dream spell could be used to teach someone with perfect recollection if the spell's description is to be believed! Pretty cool use for it!
It's an interesting one that has been mostly forgotten. Your timing is perfect because I just started drafting an article about using Bountiful Luck on a character and what kind of character could use it best!
Telepathic absolutely cannot be used to get around verbal components by neither RAW nor RAI. Telepathic only changes and gives you a new way for COMMUNICATION and in no way affects not payments, costs and mechanics of other parts of the DND books that are potentially drawbacks balanced counteract the great power that comes with the benefit you get. Removing all costs or downsides for this cheap is simply unintended. You are free to ask DM for lenience ofcourse. But getting free subtle spells on all spell casting is absolutely not intentional nor balanced :P Verbal component isn't you talking, whispering or making noises. It is you audibly chanting och incanting that normal people can hear is spell related. This is by RAW. You can audibly be heard by anyone in the viscinity that you are spell casting.
The best caster feats tend to be the same suspects across all classes. wizard is no different with one exception. here's my top 5 wizard feats: 1. magic initiate-sacred flame. this is the exception. wall of force + sacred flame is such an "i win" button that even on mediocre wisdom you want to gain access to sacred flame unless via magic initiate unless you've dipped into cleric. this is why clock sorcs do this too or dip into cleric/celestial lock. 2. fey/shadowtouched- round out an odd int and increase your spells. 3. resilient con- round an odd con and gain prof in the ever important con saves unless you dipped into a class with con save prof. 4. telekinetic- round an odd int and have something to do with your bonus action. useful on entry spells like web and black tentacles. 5. alert- going 1st is always good. flames of phelegethos i'd only take on a very specific wizard build, the abjurer who deals dmg via geting hit with fire shield and armor of agathys.
I always get such a headache when I constantly have to talk with my groups about whether a spell like Sacred Flame can go through a solidified Wall of Force :P but it is an instant win button since Sacred Flame ignores all cover. This is especially true against Strahd though Sacred Flame isn't always necessary in that scenario.
@@FlutesLoot You can point them towards what JC specifically said about it: "There are spells that create exceptions to this rule about needing a path clear of obstruction. One cantrip that I think many cleric players don't realize is breaking this rule is sacred flame. Sacred flame is one of the low level spells that, that has this text, 'the target gains no benefit from cover from this saving throw' ... that includes total cover... sacred flame can be cast on the other side of a wall of force" - Jeremy Crawford
Magic initiate is not a good feat. Never has been. It’s a trap feat, especially for wizards. I see it taken all the time and I have to bite my lip. Never take armor feats either. Use mage armor until you find elven chain, unless you’re multiclassing into artificer or eldritch knight. You shouldn’t be on the frontline with this character anyway. If you want to frontline with a straight wizard play a Bladesinger. Feats are your most valuable resource on any class and should be treated as such. With a wizard, focus on raising your intelligence score from 17 to 20 along the way. Here’s an example feat load-out for my deep gnome abjurer: svirfneblin magic, shadow touched (+1 Int), war caster, skill expert (arcana, perception, +1 Int), observant (+1 Int). Interesting that none of these feats showed up on the list. Notice how I front loaded the spell feats and back loaded the skill feats. Why war caster for a wizard: you can use a staff in one hand and a wand/rod/tome/grimoire in the other.
I really think this game is so easy that it's difficult to imagine a feat as a true trap anymore. That's just my opinion though. Even though I'd like to the game to feel more tactical, the reality has been that I can mostly muck around and still do fine. Your recommendations are great.
@@FlutesLoot It’s a collaborative storytelling experience. Adversarial DMs that TPK their group every other week tend not to last. In the end it’s about contributing a great character to the story. Take the feats that really show off your character and make them fun to play. You’ve given lots of great recommendations.
Bonus points to anyone who can find our filter that didn't export correctly or instances of me referring to feats as 'spells' ;)
I checked out your vid because i have a Div wizard that I have been playing for 2.5 years and is nearing lvl 20,,, ( 1 level of light cleric). The gnome feat FADE AWAY plus blink could quite possibly make your gnome wizard too good. You mentioned racial feats but neglected this one. Plus 1 to int and fade invisible IMMEDIATLY when you take damage 1/any rest plus a 50 percent chance to just not be there can really take your defense to the X factor level, not to mention you have other options and you dont have concentration on this invisibility. ABJURATION WIZARDS... deep gnome Svirfneblin Magic is a really powerful build to keep your abjuration barrier filled with buff hitpoints too... kinda sneaky too.
But my biggest question was to the group... Is TOUGH a real game changer at high levels?
Great list. For abjuration wizards, also consider Eldritch Adept for mage armor at will (charge that ward for free) or if you are a deep gnome Svirfneblin Magic does the same thing with nondetection at will.
Excellent suggestions! :) That way you won't have to wait until level 18 to use Spell Mastery and spam Mage Armor at will; you can do it much sooner.
Before going all critical I just want to say I recently found this channel and I love it. But...
9:50 "Alert feat might be useful if you're getting surprised a lot..." That is not why Wizards (or casters in general) take Alert. It's that sweet +5 to iniative that draws us like flies to honey. It's nice to get those spells off before your friends get in the way or the enemy comes and hits you with a big ugly sword. It's so crucial (at least to controllers / debuffers ) that I often play Variant Human only because of it and I find humans quite boring.
Completely agree! This is something I realized about two months ago when I heard commentary from Bilbrons and Dragons about the value of going first. I'm so used to playing with people who are reactive spellcasters who sometimes sigh in relief when they can go later in the turn order, but there are many experienced players who can make quick work of encounters by going first. Great point!
I would lean a bit against Telepathic letting you perform verbal components. Bardic Inspiration is based on the target being able to hear you while with verbal components, “the words themselves aren't the source of the spell's power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion.” (PHB)
Yep, it's up to the DM and players on that one. I wanted to point out what Tasha's seems to imply is acceptable.
Before Artificer class and Celestial Warlock came out I played a Halfling Infernal Warlock the DM let me have a feat in place of the rest of the Halfling Luck and Subrace other then stat. I took the Healer Feat and made mine "Doctor Pepper" potion. Pep-Zee Greenbottle was a merchant in a kitted out wagon. His personality was a mix of Elmer Fude and The Nutty Professor. His Rod of the Pact Keeper was skin changed to look like a shot gun using Eldritch Blast as his bullets. I used skin change Spellcasters Pouch to an Alchemy Bandolier.
That sounds like a hoot! I love the name. Did you finish the character's campaign before Artificer came out? I'm wondering if you adapted the character part way through. I'm guessing it was a while ago if it predates XGtE.
I finished the Campaign before Sword Coast Guide came out LOL so UA Wizard school Artificer was out but that was about it and Celestial Warlock and Divine soul Sorcerer were not even out. He is my third 5E character. But I do use him a NPC in games everyone needs a potions dealer
@@FlutesLoot I was wondering your thoughts I have a RUclips channel I have never used. I have debated on doing character builds that Like Pep-Zee is based more on the Background and my inspiration for it more then the optimum rules. I already have 40 or more backgrounds and all are very playable character.. . . . Like Cassisian Bright Star the Teddy Bear Paladin based on a Teddy Ruspin and a Romanian high flying gladiator, he is not the Lawful Stupid Pally he feels if you cant hear him sneak it is your fault and id you are not strong enough to stay standing on his sheild bash you deserve to get prone stabbed. He is a 14 year old lost squire after all based on the Cassisian angles of Pathfinder...
. Eartha Kitt a female naked halfling barbarian that was raised by white tigers based of the batman 66 cat woman and a friends feline Asinberger ticks this let her play into the ticks rather then fighting them or being embarrassed. The best part of that is she did not like short characters because she stands a little over 5 feet and she did not like barbarians because she though they had to be brutes and her first 3rd ed character was forced into by the DM and party. .
Then for Mecha Hack I played Owen "Voodoo" Vi'Darr who is a mechanical engineering genus that could scavenge most anything. He quickly got the handle Voodoo because of his Creo accent and his work was almost like magic. His mech which was made from salvage scrap which was monstrous looking and would use Nano Tech to repair his mech off armor pieces of other mechs. Voodoo named it the Hunger Zombie after it raising from dead mechs and its ability to feed off other mechs. Owen was built because players in the party wondered if I was able to play in a game without magic I tend to play utility casters. He pulls that in even though it was not true magic.
@@JCinLapel You clearly have a passion for these builds, so I say hit 'record' and try making some videos!
I love the Strixhaven Student feats. Getting a chance at taking a heal spell and be able to cast it more than once per long rest.
Great list, meta magic adept is my favourite but it does just add utility to spells you already cast.
Twinning spells like hideous laughter makes that concentration way more cost effective and also more viable to maintain. Its also only a first level spell so it only takes one sorcerery point.
This was an excellent video and paired with reading your article you have convinced me to take the telekinetic feat for the wizard I'm playing soon! I really like your video style and I went through and read a few different articles to help me prepare for playing a wizard for the first time. I'll be asking my DM if I can use some of your Improved Spells :D
Thanks so much! Definitely subscribing to you!
That means a lot, AmpleGames. Sometimes I doubt if I'm doing a good job with these videos, so I appreciate the support! :)
@@FlutesLoot You shouldn't be so hard on yourself :)
I was looking for a video on the best feats for wizards and you gave me that and more!
I appreciate your service :D
@@AmpleGames I'm so glad I could help!
I also like your videos, i also think its amazing that as far as i have noticed u comment to everyone at least once. I am not a person who likes/ subscribes, etc. but i have started using the like button on your videos due solely to you responding to everyone, i think its great!
If you can mix half feats, telekinetic and telepathic together are great. Telekinetic shove is also just better gust.
Telekinetic is one of my favorites for spellcasters!
One of my favorite feats is the Aberrant Dragon Mark. +1 Con is good for extra HP and concentration. A sorcerer cantrip and spell (short rest recharge) plus added damage or temp HP on the spell cast.
Never mind the character fluff with a flaw or the optional rules of having a chance at a boon at level 10
I admittedly always forget about that one since it's so setting-specific, but it is a good one!
Hell yeah
The Still spell and an Arcane focus will let you cast any spell without a component with a gold cost with out anyone knowing as well
Hi JCinLapel, is your comment "Still spell" a typo? I'm trying to figure out what you mean.
An Arcane Focus could be useful for hiding a spell's casting if the DM rules it that way.
@@FlutesLoot subtle spell
@@IraInvictus Ah yup, thank you, Jacob! Yes, Subtle Spell is great for avoiding detection when spellcasting, especially to avoid getting Counterspelled.
Hm, as a necromancer: Feat: _Eldritch Adept_ -> Eldritch Invocation: _Undying Servitude_ => An extra _Animate Dead_ per day, starting at 5th level.
While that would be great, it would require you to multiclass five levels of Warlock to take the Undying Servitude Invocation from this feat. I believe it'd be better to level up more as a Wizard to gain/use higher-level spell slots for Animate Dead.
For some reason i always think of wizards as the nerdy book worms but they dont really get to many skill and they have a rare ability score in intelligence to be good at int. Skills so i like taking skills with feats...not very min/max probably bit it fits the themes in my head lol
...of course the concentration feats feel like a high priority
Makes sense to me! If they're so smart, they could be good at a greater breadth of skills. I've toyed around with making Intelligence a more valuable stat by allowing it to grant more skill proficiencies, but I haven't found a system I love yet. The playtest material for D&D 5e (referred to D&D Next) gave bonus languages to characters based on their Intelligence modifier, btw.
That is a good idea i remember previous editions giving bonus languages (and more skill points) based on int...this edition seems a little harder to work out how you would do that with skills as it would make many more classes "feel" slightly more MAD...
@@grendlew1487 I even toyed around with the idea of giving a character an extra feat when they hit Intelligence 20, but I didn't end up using that for various reasons :P
I think the key to making Intelligence a better stat would be to make the skills that use it more prevalent and impactful.
I let my players use arcana skill to see if they can determine which spell is being cast by another wizard (should they think to use it), however if the players want to play do this...it can be done to them...seems to give the arcana skill a little more use and helps them decide if they would like to counterspell or not. It puts a little more importance on at least 1 int skill...
Solid suggestions
I'm glad you think so!
Get keen-mind, and photographily memorise your entire spellbook!
At least for a little while! haha
Similarly, the Dream spell could be used to teach someone with perfect recollection if the spell's description is to be believed! Pretty cool use for it!
Feytouched the shadow touch to telekinetic and telekinesis spell gives you a plus one in your charisma wisdom or intelligence not just intelligence
That's correct. I recommend Wizards choose Intelligence.
Oh my
Thanks. I forgot about bountiful luck
It's an interesting one that has been mostly forgotten. Your timing is perfect because I just started drafting an article about using Bountiful Luck on a character and what kind of character could use it best!
nice
Thanks
Telepathic absolutely cannot be used to get around verbal components by neither RAW nor RAI. Telepathic only changes and gives you a new way for COMMUNICATION and in no way affects not payments, costs and mechanics of other parts of the DND books that are potentially drawbacks balanced counteract the great power that comes with the benefit you get. Removing all costs or downsides for this cheap is simply unintended. You are free to ask DM for lenience ofcourse. But getting free subtle spells on all spell casting is absolutely not intentional nor balanced :P
Verbal component isn't you talking, whispering or making noises. It is you audibly chanting och incanting that normal people can hear is spell related. This is by RAW. You can audibly be heard by anyone in the viscinity that you are spell casting.
I agree
Fireball users may be triggered by this video. 😆
Fireball users are triggered by everything :P jk
The best caster feats tend to be the same suspects across all classes. wizard is no different with one exception. here's my top 5 wizard feats:
1. magic initiate-sacred flame. this is the exception. wall of force + sacred flame is such an "i win" button that even on mediocre wisdom you want to gain access to sacred flame unless via magic initiate unless you've dipped into cleric. this is why clock sorcs do this too or dip into cleric/celestial lock.
2. fey/shadowtouched- round out an odd int and increase your spells.
3. resilient con- round an odd con and gain prof in the ever important con saves unless you dipped into a class with con save prof.
4. telekinetic- round an odd int and have something to do with your bonus action. useful on entry spells like web and black tentacles.
5. alert- going 1st is always good.
flames of phelegethos i'd only take on a very specific wizard build, the abjurer who deals dmg via geting hit with fire shield and armor of agathys.
I always get such a headache when I constantly have to talk with my groups about whether a spell like Sacred Flame can go through a solidified Wall of Force :P but it is an instant win button since Sacred Flame ignores all cover. This is especially true against Strahd though Sacred Flame isn't always necessary in that scenario.
@@FlutesLoot You can point them towards what JC specifically said about it:
"There are spells that create exceptions to this rule about needing a path clear of obstruction. One cantrip that I think many cleric players don't realize is breaking this rule is sacred flame. Sacred flame is one of the low level spells that, that has this text, 'the target gains no benefit from cover from this saving throw' ... that includes total cover... sacred flame can be cast on the other side of a wall of force" - Jeremy Crawford
@@TheRobversion1 I will log that in my memory. I've long wondered what the intent behind the rules were here.
I'd like to say subtle spell is way under used
I agree; heaps of possibilities with it.
Magic initiate is not a good feat. Never has been. It’s a trap feat, especially for wizards. I see it taken all the time and I have to bite my lip.
Never take armor feats either. Use mage armor until you find elven chain, unless you’re multiclassing into artificer or eldritch knight. You shouldn’t be on the frontline with this character anyway. If you want to frontline with a straight wizard play a Bladesinger.
Feats are your most valuable resource on any class and should be treated as such. With a wizard, focus on raising your intelligence score from 17 to 20 along the way.
Here’s an example feat load-out for my deep gnome abjurer: svirfneblin magic, shadow touched (+1 Int), war caster, skill expert (arcana, perception, +1 Int), observant (+1 Int). Interesting that none of these feats showed up on the list. Notice how I front loaded the spell feats and back loaded the skill feats. Why war caster for a wizard: you can use a staff in one hand and a wand/rod/tome/grimoire in the other.
I really think this game is so easy that it's difficult to imagine a feat as a true trap anymore. That's just my opinion though. Even though I'd like to the game to feel more tactical, the reality has been that I can mostly muck around and still do fine. Your recommendations are great.
@@FlutesLoot It’s a collaborative storytelling experience. Adversarial DMs that TPK their group every other week tend not to last. In the end it’s about contributing a great character to the story. Take the feats that really show off your character and make them fun to play. You’ve given lots of great recommendations.
Great info. But your charisma is 6.
Watching it again, I don't disagree hahaha
I like to think I'm at a 7 or 8 in recent videos.
@@FlutesLoot at least you are brave enough to do it. I am also a 6 ch. But just avoid most contact..
INT based RUclipsr. Also, 6 CHA is still plenty sufficient to eldritch blast the haters, however, my man is at least at a 12
@@shirak8 I have a hard time talking to a camera. I'm much better when I talk to someone :P
lol thanks @@DungeonDad