The level 18 and 20 features, while nerfed, benefit from the change to rules for casting multiple spells in a turn. Since they don’t take a spell slot, you can use another spell like misty step in the same turn. This compensates a bit for not being able to take misty step directly.
Also misty step and shield were optimally the best choices, and as Chris says, making a choice so much better then the others makes it have fewer options, or no option at all… but I am curious on which spells will Chris choose.
@@dudubassmonsterI rate enhance ability with advantage on wis skills by default. Great perception. And you can change it to any other stat and be decent on cha checks in a pinch
So now all the videos are out, I can finally reveal my thumbnail tier list. The product of literally minutes of exhaustive research, I've combed through all the class video thumbnails, and I'll be giving a mark out of 5 to each one, judging on appropriacy, detail and panache. Before we begin, I should let you know I'm pushing to hit 10 likes, so if you haven't already, hit that heart button. Let's get started… Warlocks: Cackling joy, crackling fire and cute little purple horn suits the tagline and the juicy new warlock to a T. A cracking start. 5/5 Sorcerer: I'm not in love with the wild magic sorcerer but Chris clearly is. I rolled the dice to get the score: Plantpot/5. Sorry, Chris. Barbarian: Raging and teleporting at the same time is a tricky concept to get across, but this is a solid attempt. 3.5/5 Fighter: Sun's out, guns out... But a bit close to the Barbarian so in this comparison I'm afraid the Barbarian comes out top. 3/5. Bard: The class canonically most likely to blow its own trumpet blows its own trumpet! 3.5/5 Monk: Given how much the monk has been improved, I was hoping for a comedy kung-fu pose. Just can't get behind the monk as a mobile cheese delivery platform for emanating spell casters. 2.5/5 Druid: Undoubtedly the koala will be the brown bear of the 2024 moon druid. I'd give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Hey, wait. I'm doing these scores, so I can. 6/5. Ranger: so this is probably incomprehensible if you haven't been following The Great Hunter's Mark Debate. If you have, it's anywhere between a 5 and a minus 1000, so let's call it 3.5/5 (requires concentration), just to annoy people. Cleric: I was going to dismiss this but then I thought about it. The pose is kind of obvious and a little bit boring but actually quite effective - much like the cleric. So for accuracy, 3/5 Paladin: What is this weapon wreathed in divine power? Why is Chris eyeing it so sceptically? Is it good? Is it bad? Gonna have to watch the video to find out! 4/5. Rogue: We all know where Chris stands on the martial/caster divide (about 40' back from the actual line, readying Hypnotic Pattern) but really. This is just cruel. Funny though, which is why it's not 1. 2/5. Wizard: Here we are on the other side of the divide in all its smug glory. And hypnotic pattern notwithstanding, into every wizard's life there comes a time when all you can do... is say it with fireball. 4/5 So that's my complete class Thumbnail rankings. Some absolute bangers in there, and even the rogue isn't that far behind. Overall, it's a pretty strong list, but you might want to talk to your group before you allow the koala at your table. Before I finish, I'd just like to reverse the normal order and thank the creator who made this possible - I'm sorry if I spell it wrong. Here goes: Thanks, Creeyaiess! So that's it. Now I'm gonna sit back, relax, and have some fun! Rating Chris's thumbnails is for everyone!
One relatively significant indirect buff to the abjurer, or at least abjurer builds, that I haven't heard mentioned: All healing spells are now of abjuration school, and they are better and easier to get hold of than ever with magic initiate being an origin feat. Just grabbing healing word or cure wounds from druid or cleric at level one will benefit abjurers significantly.
Ideal build for lvl 1 Cleric dip with Goliath and stats like 8/8/16/16/16/8 (or similar) with full plate, shield (so AC 20) and lot of Abjuration spells. Speed will still be 25 (35-10) and since Goliaths have feature doubling their carrying capacity, you will also be able to carry all of this equipment!
HELLO! 🤯 A support Abjurer who shields their allies and heals them from afar using the touch spell via familiar ability? Everytime he does, the Ward recharges? I need to write this down!
I wish they kept Modify Spell and Create Spell (a better balanced version of it). It would be a good change for wizard players, allowing for a different feel to the wizard considering nothing else changed in the main class
Especially as a capstone! Once you're lv17, you basically have little reason to stick to wizard and that has always been the case, but now, it's kinda worse. Tbf, if you dip warlock, especially as an abjurer, free mirror image + armor of agathys in one round is a terrific combination. I will suggest to my table to move the last two features both at lv18 and have a homebrew version of modify spell at 20, I think
@@ElManReborn616 what do you mean about mirror image and armor of agathys in 1 round? About modify and create, I’ll homebrew them to be wizard features as in the playtest, but make the adjustments Chris suggested at the time he reviewed them.
@@lukesandadordoceu4835 spell mastery allows you to cast a action lv 1 and lv2 spells at will, without expending a spell slot; the bonus action casting restriction is gone, now you can cast whatever you like, except 1 slot/turn. Wizards don't have many spells to take advantage of this, except for jump and maybe magic weapon (and even maybe-er dragon's breath on your familiar but I find it cheesy), but setting up mirror image + upcast armor of agathys (which is abjuration and recharges the ward) can be a decent opener. Also they've given wish to clerics, create/modify spell is perfect at 20! What level is a wizard supposed to be to make his own spells like Bigby, Mordenkainen and so on anyway?!
@@ElManReborn616 oh, I see. Honestly, I’d rather get to 20 wizard for the epic boon and full spell slots that you get, instead of dipping warlock at this point. Maybe other dips would be decent, but not worth losing an epic boon in my opinion
On Illusory Reality: use the Seeming spell to give your opponent chain mail armor and make the armor real. Having only 16 AC because you're wearing armor isn't a condition. Neither are the penalties associated with wearing armor you're not proficient in.
Just to be devils advocate, it would only make one suit of armour real for the penalties. Not all of them. But a good idea regardless! Especially if they're a caster not proficient in it as it negates all spellcasting.
The rules for AC are in chapter 1 and are very oddly worded. Technically, they could still use their previous AC, unless that AC feature is negated by wearing armor (monk or barbarian).
@@carsonrush3352 But specific overides general, and generally you can pick which armour calculation, but specificly when wearing non-proficient armour you can not spellcast.
The free summons are better than we think. Since they are a free casting, you can throw out a bonus action spell on the same turn. It makes for some excellent action economy.
Saving my favorite class for last! Great job on getting all of these videos out before the release of the PHB. I'm sure you have been working around the clock. Your info is always the most helpful. I appreciate your hard work.
Spell Breaker will be a great feature against magical traps, glyphs and similar things. You can just keep trying to dispell magical effects, protections and traps in dungeons and similar things
That's a great point. You'll never need to upcast Dispel Magic when outside of battle. Eventually your 3rd level slot will successfully dispel even a 9th level spell given enough turns. Very strong for a single 3rd level spell slot. And in-battle as a Bonus Action is really nice too.
I like the new Memorize Spell feature alot. Really encourages me as a wizard to grab up some situationally useful spells to have in my spellbook that i previously wouldnt make an effort of grabbing/scribing. Between that and the ritual spells wizards really do feel like the embodiment of the caster possessing 'a tool for every problem'.
Yes, the rules text explicitly say it is inactivated once your rest begins (and that it starts to work once the rest is done), so it's hard to imagine they did not intentionally want the ability to not work during rests.
@@user-wm3hu7lo1g they can have it active if they don’t use the feature until they start the rest. But if they activate it before beginning a rest, they can’t have it during it
Saved the best, but least changed, for last! Thanks for the hard work pushing these videos out like this. I knew they'd be available by release, but you even managed to get them out to your patrons before DnDBeyond early release. 👍🏻
The way I read Signature Spells, it allows a wizard to bypass the one spell slot per turn restriction on spellcasting, allowing them to Counterspell on their own turn like in 2014. Treantmonk: I cast Wish. Dave: I Counterspell. Treantmonk: Signature Spells - Counterspell your Counterspell because there's no spell slot consumed. Wish is cast. Profit. :D
Absolutely. As a wizard burning a level 2 spell slot to turn a crit into a miss is huge not only because of the low HP, but to avoid losing concentration on a spell.
One BIG issue with Illusion 6: You don’t ignore the material component. If you are a level 6 Illusionist and didn’t spend 500 gp on components, you have no subclass feature. Doesn’t matter that you can cast without spending a slot
@@nikcantsnipe sure, but no other feature works like this. Every other feature that gives you a summon spell lets you ignore the component. See: Draconic Sorc capstone and Fey Wanderer 11
Chris! Thanks so much for your expert analysis. You’ve given your subscribers such a good baseline of understanding for the new PHB. Can’t wait to see the Treantmonk treatment on the new PHB a la builds, quirks, etc. Enjoy the rest of the week off
Would love to see you remake your tier list for the subclasses in the new phb, for the people who aren't using any old stuff and are just looking for what is the best and worst in the current 5e24 sandbox
I hope he holds off and does some analysis for a while first. He should cook before giving us something as "permanent" as a big new tier list. Really, I wouldn't be upset if he waits for the Forgotten Realms setting books which have been announced for the latter half of 2025.
Thanks for all the work! Already looking forward to build videos! But… you really should update your written GOD Wizard guide because that is what got you (and most of us) here.
Wizard is definitely still powerful- but I'm a little afraid they're going to feel less 'distinct' from other casters. They don't get as many expanded spells as the Sorcerer, so a Sorcerer has much more at their disposal at once. even if Wizards still have the option to switch on a rest, I typically find people don't often deviate from the few 'best spells' they have at their fingertips unless they've really been clued in on upcoming events. Many of those 'best spells' at early levels being ones shared by both classes even. But, however- I hear you all say about how the Wizard has many unique spells that Sorcerer does not have. This is true for a bit when Wizards pick up their gamechangers, but many of the famous powerful Wizard spells come at extremely high level. What happens at high level in the new version now? Bards get the entire Wizard spell list. and the Cleric. and the Druid. Now the Bard actually has the best spell list in the game. I feel like Wizard's are gonna often feel like they're playing a worse version of another class at many points in their game- but I'm open to being wrong here. Like if there's something I'm missing or overlooking in my view. Side note: I think they screwed up the Illusionist bad by making them play like a Conjurer now. It's a complete misunderstanding of the fantasy of being an illusionist by making one of their big new features mechanically a Conjurer feature.
Yeah, unfortunately, their "expanded spells" (besides the ones they get from their specialty school) are highly dependent on the DM. If spellbooks and scrolls aren't showing up in treasure hoards or aren't available to purchase in town... wizards are going to feel that pinch. They thrive with options.
Eh, I think the fact that Wizards can use _all_ the ritual spells in their spellbook without having to prepare them is... _really_ good. In a way, they have the largest expanded spell list for this reason. But unlike most lists of spells, it amounts to an entire list of unlockable class features which largely expend no resources. And being able to permanently learn new spells between level-ups is something no other class can do. It's fantastic. Although I will grant that more DMs should be awarding found spellbooks and scrolls more regularly. Collecting spells has always been one of my favorite aspects of wizards.
Isnt the logical choice then to play a bard, which gets all the wizard spells, but can also take cleric and druid spells... and has better skill proficiencies, AC, HP and bardic inspiration as icing on the cake?
Old [school] savant features are meant to help safeguard your [school] spells with an extra book kept somewhere safe. Books can be quite fragile! Now, you lose your feature if/when you lose your book. If it were up to me, I'd have it so that you can prepare an extra number of [school] spells, where that number equals half your wizard level, rounded up.
Most campaigns probably NEVER put your spell book at risk. At all, for any reason. This is probably the reason why people doesn't rate such a safeguard highly.
Also Enduring Spellbook is a common magic item that costs a mere ~50gp. Sadly you used to be able to take pact of the tome and use it as your spellbook. You'd summon an exact copy of the book for an hours ritual prayer. New invocation implies its a new book and the old one vanishes, and the contents are pre-specified. Yet another reason PotT is a very, very bad invocation now.
The low level changes for Evoker are relatively minor but i think add up well. Potent cantrip half damage is great at lower levels where chip damage is meaningful, and will scale ok. Savant is great for Evoker given how many evocation spells you want, allowing you to choose other options with the base class features. And Sculpt spell comes online in time for important usage.
Finally finished watching all the videos I had stockpiled over the last 7 months from you, and boy how enjoyable it was! While the biggest factor making me watch them is your amazing insight and information, your sense of humor is definitely my favourite Ribbon Feature It's good to be back!
I think the biggest buff to wizards slipped under the radar: They can still take Arcane Initiate (Cleric/Druid) to get access to Cure Wounds. But they can now: - Cast it with intelligence for 2d8+int healing - Cast it with their spell slots - Upcast it for an additional 2d8 per level. That means with minimal investment we can make wizards who are almost as good at healing as clerics and druids.
Yup. Now, the alternative POV is, while improved, do you ever really want to use cure wounds over a Wizard spell? Sure, it can save an ally.. but so can more potent, utility Wizard spells I think it's an intriguing option, and adds more build choices, but it's not as powerful as it may seem.
To be fair, I've been happy using Wither and Bloom. You get to heal an ally, while doing a tiny bit of damage in an AOE. If you look at it as a damage spell it's not great, but as a healing spell? Its not bad! And triggers bloodwell vials for Sorcerers!
@@NotYourAverageNothing I think he was mixing it up in his head with warlock agonizing blast invocation. That's Warlock cantrips only. I personally wouldnt ever dip. Why delay my spellcasting progression by 3 levels? It also delays my extra attacks and lifedrinking, and so on and so forth if I'm blade pacted which will be an aditional downgrade.
I was thinking the other direction and considering a warlock dip for a wizard. Even with 1 level (or some other means of getting base EB), it would still be half damage per roll... but 2 levels, and you could add cha in there, too. I'm not sure if there is really optimization to be had here, but it seems fun to try and find out. ^.^
@@nikolmorith800 Seems valid enough to me. Blasting them back into your evocation spells and if we want go to subclasses fiend has plenty of temp hp renewal potential (gaining temp hp with each kill and evocation seems to go wel together to me) or celestial could provide some self healing options (if we can find a spare space for an invocation taking gift of the ever-living one, now means a fifth lvl cure wounds heals you for 85 hp). In the end the best we can hope is to get to play in a gestalt campaign and than things a lot more interesting, including in term of the theme for the character.
For the level 18 feature I think two particularly potent options are "suggestion" for level 2 and "disguise self" for level one. Both are actions and don't consume components so the are basically cantrips at that point.
Longstrider and False Life mgiht be some decent candidates too. Or maybe the new Sleep or sipmly Grease if you have gruelingly long adventuring days. And for an Illusionist, Silent image could be good. For level 2, maybe Enhance Ability, Invisibility, Mirror Image, or abusing Locate Object to triangulate things at long distances, could be interesting. Or Tasha's Mind Whip or Web if you have gruelingly long adventuring days.
@@Moley1Moleo those are some decent ones too. I specifically went for ones I'd like to cast as much as possible during a day. I don't think I'd take ones like grease only because of other options available by level 18. But one of the best parts is you can change them if you don't like how one is working. Locating objects is low key great. Finding rare ingredients, gemstone deposits or anything else could create a whole industry.
@@Moley1Moleo _Jump_ would be better than _Longstrider._ The former increases your movement effectively by 20ft, and the latter has a longer duration. So you can spam cast _Jump_ outside of combat, and when you _really_ need a boost to movement speed, cast _Longstrider_ on top for a total of +30ft to your base movement each round.
Isn't the logical L2 spell Misty Step? Its a bonus action one so casting it with no spell slot means you can still cast a leveled action spell, and negates attacks of oppertunity unlike Jump or Longstrider? For L1... Shield or Spiny Shield? Though I'd give serious thought to Cause fear. You could fey step away and then stop them moving closer with the fear condition. All when out of spell slots. You can also upcast it with a spell slot since it's awlays prepared to affect up to 8 additional targets.
@@bozieu Actually something that came up. In our spelljammer campaign we did Tomb of Annihilation and had an option to steal a god seed. For his divine epic boon, our cleric picked spell resistance. Its litterally in 2 years play been usable once. Twice if you count him telling the party storm sorcerer to shoot him with an AOE spell just to have his feat be used. Its AMAZING vs liches, dragons and players who have spellcasting, but if you fight undead, or aberations, or demons or monsters and beasts... Never seems to count. I picked wings to be like a Deva... I was given Hover without asking. I feel like I won.
Warlock has been indirectly buffed by every class getting some resource back on a short rest, incentivizing actually taking a short rest even when you're not a Warlock.
What an amazing journey this was, Chris! So happy you decided to make all these videos separately - looking forward to more analyses, math work, and builds in the coming weeks!
Great video as always ! I have to disagree with you about the diviner Level 6 feature : With the base class level 5 feature, you could actually get a couple more uses out of Expert Diviner. Prepare a high level (5-6) divination spell, use it right before your short rest, switch it during the rest for another spell with a lower level spell slot, and repeat the process on each short rest. I've played a diviner wizard for quite a while, and my biggest deal was always that I had to chose between preparing a lot of divination spells to take advantage of that feature, or select the usual suspects of the wizard list for the day. Now I just could do both throughout the day with a bit more ease. That's not a game breaking deal, but I think that synergy 's worth noticing when considering the diviner wizard.
The sight restriction on sculpt spells makes sense; you are creating pockets of safety within your AoE so you need to be able to know precisely where someone is to keep them safe.
Another thing worthy of note on the topic of wizard spell selection is that spell scrolls might be much easier to come by. PHB's section on adventuring gear now include cantrip and lv1 scrolls (costing 50gp for the latter). So hopefully you can convince your dm that bigger shops will have at least a small selection of scrolls to buy and learn from. Scribing scrolls yourself is also described, with costs that are roughly 1/3 as they were in XGtE from lv2-5. If you could convince a party member to scribe one for you to learn from, esp if it's one they don't intend to keep prepared for long, that'll work too.
I'm currently playing a multiclass of artillerist artificer and evocation wizard and while I can blast I'm primarily battlefield control with currently faerie fire and rime's binding ice at my current level being able to give my allies advantage on attacks and be able to bind any enemy who fails their save in ice without hitting my allies, I also have Thunderwave of course so I can push enemies away from damaged allies
One thing to keep in mind re the Diviner's 6th level feature: Mind Spike. So you can do a Mind Spike cascade by: - Casting a 1st Level Spell (any) - Cast Mind Spike with a 2nd level slot (regain the 1st level slot) - Cast Mind Spike with a 3rd level slot (regain the 2nd level slot) - Cast Mind Spike with a 4th level slot (regain the 3rd level slot) - Cast Mind Spike with a 5th level slot (regain the 4th level slot) - Cast Mind Spike with a 6th level slot (regain the 5th level slot) And after all that, you're just out one 6th level slot. Maybe Mind Spike isn't the best spell in the game, but it is a little crazy the amount of leveled spells you can be casting in a day using this.
This is the one I've been most eager to see. This Saturday I did a thorough selection of the spells I would pick both on the Wizard (accounting for subclasses etc) and Sorcerer up to spells level 5 (usually where campaings finish for me), and I couldn't see any real difference on the spells I really wanted and all that I got, for the Sorcerer could get them all except wall of force (although the Clockwork can). Let's see if i'm convinced that the Sorcerer wasn't too much buffed and the wizard got behind. By the way: I think that the wizard would be perfect if they had made the Order of Scribes the base class: get their books for free on a short rest if they lose it; basically free new spells (ink is infinite - this could give a discount only to wizards to scribe scrolls. Any class can do it, but wizards should do it better); a bit of flexibility choosing the damage type as long as you have other spell of the same level (Fireball could only become lightning and necrotic, while sorcerers, for a cost, could change to whatever type); more rituals (no reason why tongues, darkvision, knock, remove curse or glyph of warding are not rituals). Let's watch the video now!
There is a change to arcane recovery it used to be once per day not once per long rest, which is quite relevant in hardcore games where you cant get the benefits of a longrest outdoors
Applying resistances before the Arcane Ward takes damage enables the rather OP Baldur's Gate 3 combo: casting Warding Bond on a creature with a high Arcane Ward. If the damage doesn't go through the ward, the warding creature also won't take any damage. Now, it is more OP in BG3 because Arcane Ward works differently there and lasts a lot longer. But I think it might still be quite good here, at least and mid to higher levels.
Failed dispel magic not using a slot is situational, but really powerful in right circumstances. Given enough time, you are guaranteed to dispel what you decide to dispel, it's only a matter of time. I had a session where a sorceress used all her slots to dispel a magic storm that was about to sink their ship. She finally succeeded on her last slot, and then the villain just gloated and recast the spell. Had she been a 2024 abjurer, the situation would've been much less dire. Still bad, because the ship kept taking damage every round that she failed, but not as hopeless. (Luckily the paladin of the group managed to discover that the villain was channeling their magic through her cursed headband of intellect and destroyed it).
Im am DMing a campaign currently with a illusionist wizard. Had a magic Item for him, that let him cast silent image at will without concentration, because I felt it war a necessary buff for the subclass when comparing power to the other subclasses. He recently replaced that item for story reasons. I now immediately let him use the new rules for bonus action minor illusion to offset that :D It only feels right for an illusionist, to ave some unfair advantage illusion-wise. Though the no concentration thing is gone... which may have been a little overpowered in the first place but was mainly for hiding the item, which was some dark artifact and would gain unwanted attention and hostilaty.
So I guess I didn't realize I could have been watching the patreon videos here on youtube by clicking through them on patreon, i feel silly, I could have commented through youtube and not patreon so much earlier, I also just got the new book today, I appreciate all that this 32 days of patreon has done for me, you earned your keep. Oh well.
It makes sense that the Arcane Ward loophole has been closed, but it seems a bit unfair that any abjuration spells cast without spell slots but in good faith no longer work. You’d think that the signature spells etc of a high level abjurer should still count. I might use DM discretion here…
Another hole, if your counter spell/dispel magic fails, you don't expend a slot which means you don't recharge your arcane ward either. There nothing like getting punished by the "benefit" of using a subclass feature.
I would like to point out that they may have removed free bond replensihment, and mastered abjuration spells now will not work, but they did however gain the ability to double reinforce the ward each turn. You can cast an abjuration spell as an action, then EXPEND a spell slot as a bonus action to replenish. This expending feature isnt a spellcast magic action, so it not subject to the 1 leveled spell limitation. Also reactions can replensish, so shield and spiny shield still add an aditional amount to the ward. Spiny Shield is particularly a good pick due to it also providing 2d4 damage mitigation on top vs melee strikes, and reflecting it as piercing damage. Vs ranged its still granting +2 ac and dex saves from half cover, so not totally useless vs ranged.
@@Silverythoughts It's a third-party spell published by Hitpoint Press in their Humblewood Campaign Setting. That's not an official WotC publication, so many DMs would consider it a homebrew spell (that requires their explicit approval) unless they're running an actual Humblewood campaign.
I dunno about that level 6 ability - it's pretty good for the wizard that wants to prepare. Cast mislead to infiltrate, dimension door to blink away, hypnotic pattern on a group of folks that are still able to assault you, misty step to get away, and shield when you got attacked once. Then later you regroup with the party, you cast true seeing so you can then cast scrying, then arcane eye, then sending, then mind spike all for free.
Instead of Summon Beast/Fey, I wish the Illusionist got a unique spell called Summon Phantasm. An illusion spell that conjures a Medium-sized phantasmal creature with the following forms: Beast, Doppleganger, or Nightmare Beast is the Attack form, treated as a Beast creature with Multiattack and bonus HP. Doppleganger is the Utility form, treated as a Humanoid creature with the Disguise Self spell ability and able to swap places with the caster when the Caster is hit. Nightmare is the Controller form, it's treated as a Monstrosity with a Fear effect and hard to hit. The Summon Beast/Fey options are just undershelming compared to previous 6th level feature options that made creatures.
I'd just point out that you can reflavour a spell descriptively however you want. Just use the statblock of the fey or beast but describe it not as a Owl/Spriggan, its a ghost!
Changing the Wizard’s prepared spells from a formula to a chart is a buff for multi class characters who are grabbing Wizard for non-save spells and are not prioritizing Intelligence as a stat to be raised to 20. I almost never get to do high level play, but if I do get a chance I foresee a fair number of (Class)16/Wizard4 builds in my future, using Epic Boon feats at CL19 and 20 to make up for not getting either class’ capstone.
They may have closed the Armor of Shadows exploit on the Arcane Ward (which I always thought was cheesy anyway), but they gave a potentially sizable buff to it with Warding Bond. Warding Bond gives you resistance to all damage, which would be applied to the damage before the ward takes it, effectively doubling the size of the ward. And, since the ward takes the damage, not you, the caster of Warding Bond doesn't actually take half of the damage until the ward reaches 0.
That's always been the case. Also you're misreading warding bond. "Each time the target takes damage, the caster takes the same amount of damage". Doesnt matter if the bond blocks it, you took 20 damage to the ward, the bonder takes 20 damage.
That is incorrect on both accounts. The 2014 Arcane Ward does not gain the benefits of resistances. This is clearly addressed in the Sage Compendium. Search “Arcane Ward” to find the entry. It also states the Ward is not an extension of the Wizard; it is a magical effect with its own hit points similar to a Familiar or Conjured creature. The 2024 Arcane Ward ability states that if the Wizard would take damage, the Ward takes it INSTEAD. This means you do not take damage, so the caster is Warding Bond would not take that damage, either.
wow this is a big bump to the abjurer's strengh, since in a party that has a cleric or paladdin he makes a no concentration 1 hour duration 2 level spell be +1 to ac and saving throws + resistance to all damage. At 2nd lvl thats an S+ spell for a class starved for defense.
Here's a couple of ideas for Spell Mastery (they're not new, actually, but Shield and Misty Step totally overshadowed them): At level 2, Enhance Ability could mean advantage on initiative checks for one character in the party (probably your wizard, if we're honest). Also, even though skills are probably rather irrelevant in many (if not most) high level games, it might also have some utility value once in a while 😉 And at level 1, at-will Longstrider becomes a party-wide speed increase.
@@juliendrainville7131 WITH I feel like the list is Bard, Warlock (if only because necessary to really see it break open), Wizard, Druid, specifically assuming Blade Singer is allowed at table, else I think Druid might be stronger- neither EASILY gets many iterative attacks, and then 5th place is whichever class is strongest otherwise- for my money, Paladin
@@4roryvt Interesting. Sounds about right too! But I'd put Sorcerer above Wizard for Crowd Control and AoE now. Although, Conjure Minor Elementals keeps the Bladesinger in contention of the top spot still, if we consider subclasses.
@@4roryvt I believe its comes down to no spells sustain vs. have spells burst vs. vs. Mid combat support vs. out of combat support. For sustained constant damage Warlock > Sorcerer > Bard > Wizard. For damage while you have spells Sorcerer > Bard > Wizard > Warlock. Mid combat support Bard > Sorcerer > Wizard > Warlock. OOC support Bard > Wizard > Sorc > Warlock. Listed only arcane casters. My reasons? Warlocks hands down do the most damage with cantrips, and also high damage in melee and range with blade pact, and eldritch smite. Sorcerer spells have higher DCs, saved with disadvantage, longer range, longer duration, ~20% bonus damage, all spell attacks are with advantage, and are immune to countermagics with subtle casting. Bards have all the control spells Wizards do, but can take those on the bard, druid and cleric lists too. Add to this Bardic inspiration in combat. Finally out of combat, Wizards can nap more often as there's no risk so they have their full spellbooks as options rather than just their 4-25 prepared spells since out of danger they can swap spells. You can also swap 2 per day (one per short, one per long rest) in a pinch. While they have far fewer spells prepared than a sorcerer, and less options than the bard, the emergency knock, or emergency waterbreathing might make a difference. The Bard outperforms them though due to a wider selection of utility spells, plus 4x more expertise than a wizard combined with jack of all trades allowing them to solve extra things with skills rather than magic.
Polymorph + Armor of Agathys + AbjurWiz is insane. Well, more just the Poly & AoA. But since you don't need to concentrate on Polymorph to keep the temp HP and you can bolster your temp HP in a number of ways this can be abused insanely. The errata compendium is going to be longer than the original book when it comes out.
Get this man to 100k! 200 New subscribers since yesterday, yay! Remember he brings you EVERY DAY a digestible info dump of the new PHB even before its released. Imagine what this man will publish as soon as the NDA lifts! And then let's hope for DMG and MM! GO CLICK THAT BUTTON!
Another thing about the abjurer's ward in 2014 was that if you had an abjuration spell that had a casting time longer than 1 action you could begin casting it activating the ward stop casting it and it wouldn't expend the slot because you didn't finish the spell, this was also a problem with diviner's recycled slot ability
Level 3: Arcane Ward, “alternatively, as a bonus action, you can expend a spell slot and the ward regains a number of hit points equal to twice the level of the spell slot expended.” 2024 PHB pg 236, “on a turn, you can expend only one spell slot to cast a spell” So it doesn’t lock you out because the bonus action expends a spell slot but not to cast a spell. That seems like a high cost. A level two spell slot would only recover 4 hp to the ward and then an additional spell slot is necessary for a spell as an action. Just seems like a lot for one turn and not a big recovery for the ward.
Nice video as always! I was wondering: are you going to do something special to celebrate 100000 subscribers? I just saw your one shots with d&d deep dive and the Dungeon Dudes and it would be so cool if you played another one. Regardless, you deserve to reach your goal and more, this is one of my favourite youtube channels, congratulations!
now with all the classes discussed there's some interesting "tiers" that show up based on your rating system. using the rating system as a scaling for each class (averaging the 4 subclasses, then if tie dropping lowest, then if tie again ordering by highest score): Tier 1: (3.875) Sorc, Monk, Barb, Cleric, Ranger (full tie on Monk/Barb/Cleric) *Tier ?: (3.83) Druid* (fine print on this one due to Moon Druid rating withheld) Tier 2: (3.75) Bard Tier 3: (3.625) Warlock, Fighter, Wizard (full tie on Fighter/Wizard) Tier 4: (3.5) Paladin, Rogue (full tie Paladin/Rogue) Would be interesting to see if this ordering matches your initial thoughts of each class overall. Thanks for the deep dive!
He has previously said that he still believes the Wizard is better than the Sorcerer even after the 2024 changes, so clearly his subclass rankings cannot be applied across classes (since Wizards fall so low in your composite analysis).
7:52 Honestly, this is a welcome nerf. You're already spending your first level spell slots for shield, resist elements and quick uses of identify or detect magic anyway.
Arcane Ward + Barbarian + Armor of Agathys/fire shield = Profit. Then ask your Bard/cleric friend (or Cartomancer+Bard/cleric 1 if you lack said friend) to cast power word fortify for the ultimate "stop hitting yourself" build!
The biggest annoyance for me with the illusionist 6th level feature is that it doesn't let you ignore the expensive material components of those summon spells, so if you actually want to get any use out of your 6th level class feature, you have to pay a hefty gold tax.
The change to reading from spellbooks makes identity actually worth learning. Otherwise, you'd be missing out big time if you ever get your hand on a spellbook other than your own.
The only situation I can think of for why he Diviner's "Third Eye"feature being a Bonus Action instead of an Action would matter is if you are interrupted during a Long Rest (see the entry in the Rules Glossary on page 370-371 for these rules), and you have been resting for at least one hour (thus getting a Short Rest), then you could use your Bonus Action to set it up one the first round of the fight.
To me it's simpler. You select darkvision 120ft for the adventuring day, and then you get into a fight and one of your enemies becomes invisible. Now you have to spend an action and a spell slot to See Invisibility (or find some other strategy) to counter. But if you wait to select Third Eye's option only when it's necessary, you can start that fight with all the options available, the enemy becomes invisible, and now you can cast See Invisibility as a bonus action without expending a spell slot and still have your action free to do basically whatever you want.
Blinded is a condition, no illusion you cast with illusory reality can cause the blinded condition Ie you need to poke sky light holes in the top of the adamantine box which let light through
I will point out a change for wizard's arcane recovery from the 2014 rules. In 2014 it was once per day, now it's once per long rest. Won't make a difference for most tables, but for those of us who use gritty realism it definitely hurts.
18:19 - Sometimes with dispel Magic, I'd want to cast it on things to experiment with if it would help, but that would risk wasting it. With Spellbreaker, depending on how you read "fails to stop a spell", maybe you can spam it on various targets just to test if they have any magic on them.
As an illusionist main, I will miss the Malleable Illusions feature. I know the buffs will make up for it, but it was a nice mechanic for extending the utility of your illusions.
Wait, am I reading this correctly? The abjurer's ward regains hit points when you "cast an Abjuration spell with a spell slot" and Spell Breaker makes it so that "When you cast either spell with a spell slot, that slot isn't expended if it fails to stop a spell." So... you could Dispel Magic that mundane rock over there. Since the Dispel Magic spell doesn't stop a spell, you don't expend the spell slot, but you did cast the Dispel Magic spell "with a spell slot". So, the Abjurer has a baked-in infinite recharge mechanic for their ward? Probably just a lack of critical reading on behalf of the design team. Almost certainly not intended. But, nevertheless it's there.
I already sent feedback during pt but if we did not choose any skill of the wizard for example because we multiclass in wizard, we have 'scholar' which cannot apply :) fantastic.
I'm sad that malleable illusion is gone. It was really fun together with mirage arcane. I used to carry a small stone with mirage arcane cast on it and used malleable illusion to increase the affected area up to 1 square mile after putting the stone to the ground. Though, I had a pretty lenient dm
At lvl 18 I'd just take longstrider and mirror image Permanent 10 extra feet of movement for the entire party and a good defensive buff that is now permanent too Also, as another guy said it benefits from the new spellcasting rules when it comes to not spending a spell slot So all in all it's still pretty good
While I like the new Illusionist, I strongly dislike the Illusionist's Phantasmal Creatures feature. Because it is thematically inappropriate. Conjuring things is the Conjurer's schtick. I'd propose something like this, instead: Expert Illusionist. You have Major Image spell always prepared and can cast it without expending a spell slot. Once you cast this spell in this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest. Additionally, when you cast Major Image, you can choose to do so without concentration, but the spell's duration is reduced to 1 minute. Here you go. Thematically appropriate, not overly powerful but useful. Synergises with Improved Illusions.
The level 18 and 20 features, while nerfed, benefit from the change to rules for casting multiple spells in a turn. Since they don’t take a spell slot, you can use another spell like misty step in the same turn. This compensates a bit for not being able to take misty step directly.
Great point!
Also misty step and shield were optimally the best choices, and as Chris says, making a choice so much better then the others makes it have fewer options, or no option at all…
but I am curious on which spells will Chris choose.
Meh... it's lvl 18 and 20 features. They are very weak abilities for that lvl. At least give us a good capstone at lvl 20 ffs.
@@dudubassmonsterI rate enhance ability with advantage on wis skills by default. Great perception. And you can change it to any other stat and be decent on cha checks in a pinch
Lands Druids get a very similar feature at level 6.
So now all the videos are out, I can finally reveal my thumbnail tier list. The product of literally minutes of exhaustive research, I've combed through all the class video thumbnails, and I'll be giving a mark out of 5 to each one, judging on appropriacy, detail and panache. Before we begin, I should let you know I'm pushing to hit 10 likes, so if you haven't already, hit that heart button. Let's get started…
Warlocks: Cackling joy, crackling fire and cute little purple horn suits the tagline and the juicy new warlock to a T. A cracking start. 5/5
Sorcerer: I'm not in love with the wild magic sorcerer but Chris clearly is. I rolled the dice to get the score: Plantpot/5. Sorry, Chris.
Barbarian: Raging and teleporting at the same time is a tricky concept to get across, but this is a solid attempt. 3.5/5
Fighter: Sun's out, guns out... But a bit close to the Barbarian so in this comparison I'm afraid the Barbarian comes out top. 3/5.
Bard: The class canonically most likely to blow its own trumpet blows its own trumpet! 3.5/5
Monk: Given how much the monk has been improved, I was hoping for a comedy kung-fu pose. Just can't get behind the monk as a mobile cheese delivery platform for emanating spell casters. 2.5/5
Druid: Undoubtedly the koala will be the brown bear of the 2024 moon druid. I'd give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Hey, wait. I'm doing these scores, so I can. 6/5.
Ranger: so this is probably incomprehensible if you haven't been following The Great Hunter's Mark Debate. If you have, it's anywhere between a 5 and a minus 1000, so let's call it 3.5/5 (requires concentration), just to annoy people.
Cleric: I was going to dismiss this but then I thought about it. The pose is kind of obvious and a little bit boring but actually quite effective - much like the cleric. So for accuracy, 3/5
Paladin: What is this weapon wreathed in divine power? Why is Chris eyeing it so sceptically? Is it good? Is it bad? Gonna have to watch the video to find out! 4/5.
Rogue: We all know where Chris stands on the martial/caster divide (about 40' back from the actual line, readying Hypnotic Pattern) but really. This is just cruel. Funny though, which is why it's not 1. 2/5.
Wizard: Here we are on the other side of the divide in all its smug glory. And hypnotic pattern notwithstanding, into every wizard's life there comes a time when all you can do... is say it with fireball. 4/5
So that's my complete class Thumbnail rankings. Some absolute bangers in there, and even the rogue isn't that far behind. Overall, it's a pretty strong list, but you might want to talk to your group before you allow the koala at your table. Before I finish, I'd just like to reverse the normal order and thank the creator who made this possible - I'm sorry if I spell it wrong. Here goes:
Thanks, Creeyaiess!
So that's it. Now I'm gonna sit back, relax, and have some fun! Rating Chris's thumbnails is for everyone!
Yep. I read the whole thing in Chris's voice
this is Magic! (and mundane! heh)
I really liked the look of Stars Druid myself. Its gorgeous!
HAHA this was so good. bravo!
Legendary comment
One relatively significant indirect buff to the abjurer, or at least abjurer builds, that I haven't heard mentioned: All healing spells are now of abjuration school, and they are better and easier to get hold of than ever with magic initiate being an origin feat. Just grabbing healing word or cure wounds from druid or cleric at level one will benefit abjurers significantly.
And upcasting so well is nice too!
Be an acolyte wizard. You are a religious scholar.
Dang I never noticed that, good eye.
Ideal build for lvl 1 Cleric dip with Goliath and stats like 8/8/16/16/16/8 (or similar) with full plate, shield (so AC 20) and lot of Abjuration spells.
Speed will still be 25 (35-10) and since Goliaths have feature doubling their carrying capacity, you will also be able to carry all of this equipment!
HELLO! 🤯
A support Abjurer who shields their allies and heals them from afar using the touch spell via familiar ability? Everytime he does, the Ward recharges? I need to write this down!
I wish they kept Modify Spell and Create Spell (a better balanced version of it). It would be a good change for wizard players, allowing for a different feel to the wizard considering nothing else changed in the main class
Absolutely. It was too strong in the playtest, but I was so excited about spellcrafting being the wizard's unique thing.
Especially as a capstone! Once you're lv17, you basically have little reason to stick to wizard and that has always been the case, but now, it's kinda worse.
Tbf, if you dip warlock, especially as an abjurer, free mirror image + armor of agathys in one round is a terrific combination.
I will suggest to my table to move the last two features both at lv18 and have a homebrew version of modify spell at 20, I think
@@ElManReborn616 what do you mean about mirror image and armor of agathys in 1 round?
About modify and create, I’ll homebrew them to be wizard features as in the playtest, but make the adjustments Chris suggested at the time he reviewed them.
@@lukesandadordoceu4835 spell mastery allows you to cast a action lv 1 and lv2 spells at will, without expending a spell slot; the bonus action casting restriction is gone, now you can cast whatever you like, except 1 slot/turn.
Wizards don't have many spells to take advantage of this, except for jump and maybe magic weapon (and even maybe-er dragon's breath on your familiar but I find it cheesy), but setting up mirror image + upcast armor of agathys (which is abjuration and recharges the ward) can be a decent opener.
Also they've given wish to clerics, create/modify spell is perfect at 20! What level is a wizard supposed to be to make his own spells like Bigby, Mordenkainen and so on anyway?!
@@ElManReborn616 oh, I see. Honestly, I’d rather get to 20 wizard for the epic boon and full spell slots that you get, instead of dipping warlock at this point. Maybe other dips would be decent, but not worth losing an epic boon in my opinion
Just taking this moment to compliment the t shirt. Top tier choice!
Yeah, it's a personal fave!
Where can I buy and different colors? Says me who are a devoted Sorcerer fan😂
I bought that shirt at a con way back in the 90's. I smile every time I see you wear it.
@@TreantmonksTemplewhere can a fella get one?
On Illusory Reality: use the Seeming spell to give your opponent chain mail armor and make the armor real. Having only 16 AC because you're wearing armor isn't a condition. Neither are the penalties associated with wearing armor you're not proficient in.
Same thing for barbarians 😂
Just to be devils advocate, it would only make one suit of armour real for the penalties. Not all of them. But a good idea regardless! Especially if they're a caster not proficient in it as it negates all spellcasting.
The rules for AC are in chapter 1 and are very oddly worded. Technically, they could still use their previous AC, unless that AC feature is negated by wearing armor (monk or barbarian).
@@carsonrush3352 But specific overides general, and generally you can pick which armour calculation, but specificly when wearing non-proficient armour you can not spellcast.
The free summons are better than we think. Since they are a free casting, you can throw out a bonus action spell on the same turn. It makes for some excellent action economy.
Saving my favorite class for last! Great job on getting all of these videos out before the release of the PHB. I'm sure you have been working around the clock. Your info is always the most helpful. I appreciate your hard work.
Yeah, thanx
Spell Breaker will be a great feature against magical traps, glyphs and similar things. You can just keep trying to dispell magical effects, protections and traps in dungeons and similar things
That's a great point. You'll never need to upcast Dispel Magic when outside of battle. Eventually your 3rd level slot will successfully dispel even a 9th level spell given enough turns. Very strong for a single 3rd level spell slot. And in-battle as a Bonus Action is really nice too.
Abjurer is now the anti-Wizard Wizard subclass. Pretty cool
@@jaysonburke6839 dispel magic as a signiture spell is pretty good cause it doesn't interfere with your action
That "being in a box with no openings isn't a condition" note is so real
I like the new Memorize Spell feature alot. Really encourages me as a wizard to grab up some situationally useful spells to have in my spellbook that i previously wouldnt make an effort of grabbing/scribing.
Between that and the ritual spells wizards really do feel like the embodiment of the caster possessing 'a tool for every problem'.
I love this :D
Weird thing about the Third Eye: during short or long rests, the wizard’s probably not going to have the feature active
Diviners always have 120 ft Darkvision or See Invisibility, except when taking their watch during a Long Rest 😂
Yes, the rules text explicitly say it is inactivated once your rest begins (and that it starts to work once the rest is done), so it's hard to imagine they did not intentionally want the ability to not work during rests.
@@SortKaffe Yes, exactly. The rules are written so Third Eye does NOT apply during rests.
@@user-wm3hu7lo1g they can have it active if they don’t use the feature until they start the rest. But if they activate it before beginning a rest, they can’t have it during it
Just take last quarter (if long rest) and activate the feature ONLY during rests. Et voilà.
Saved the best, but least changed, for last!
Thanks for the hard work pushing these videos out like this. I knew they'd be available by release, but you even managed to get them out to your patrons before DnDBeyond early release. 👍🏻
The way I read Signature Spells, it allows a wizard to bypass the one spell slot per turn restriction on spellcasting, allowing them to Counterspell on their own turn like in 2014.
Treantmonk: I cast Wish.
Dave: I Counterspell.
Treantmonk: Signature Spells - Counterspell your Counterspell because there's no spell slot consumed.
Wish is cast.
Profit. :D
Counterspell os a reaction, cant be Signature Spell
@@hygorhaas6646 actually that's Spell Mastery, Signature Spells has no restriction to the casting time :D
Illusory Self also used to be required to use before the attacker rolled, so it’s gotten better in that sense as well.
Absolutely. As a wizard burning a level 2 spell slot to turn a crit into a miss is huge not only because of the low HP, but to avoid losing concentration on a spell.
There's a powerful spell that was added to the wizard list that they didn't get before and wasn't mentioned: Circle of Power.
One BIG issue with Illusion 6: You don’t ignore the material component. If you are a level 6 Illusionist and didn’t spend 500 gp on components, you have no subclass feature. Doesn’t matter that you can cast without spending a slot
Yeah, you better plan ahead and get those material components as soon as you can get them :D
Yeah but you're a wizard. You'll definitely prep and plan ahead.
In every dnd campaign ever we've totally ignored material components
@@nikcantsnipe sure, but no other feature works like this. Every other feature that gives you a summon spell lets you ignore the component. See: Draconic Sorc capstone and Fey Wanderer 11
@@sauromatae9728 Same, and even if I haven't done before, with this one I would for sure
Chris! Thanks so much for your expert analysis. You’ve given your subscribers such a good baseline of understanding for the new PHB.
Can’t wait to see the Treantmonk treatment on the new PHB a la builds, quirks, etc.
Enjoy the rest of the week off
A lot of work went into this series of videos. Thanks Chris
Born to play War Magic
Forced to play Abjurer
Would love to see you remake your tier list for the subclasses in the new phb, for the people who aren't using any old stuff and are just looking for what is the best and worst in the current 5e24 sandbox
I hope he holds off and does some analysis for a while first. He should cook before giving us something as "permanent" as a big new tier list.
Really, I wouldn't be upset if he waits for the Forgotten Realms setting books which have been announced for the latter half of 2025.
Thanks for all the work! Already looking forward to build videos! But… you really should update your written GOD Wizard guide because that is what got you (and most of us) here.
If a bonus action Dispel Magic fails, you can then cast it using an action, so two changes to dispel on the same turn. :)
23:00 You don't have to choose your Third Eye feature immediately after the rest. That's why it's a bonus action now.
Congratulations on another successfully completed series! Great job!
Yeah, illusionist looks cool
Wizard is definitely still powerful- but I'm a little afraid they're going to feel less 'distinct' from other casters. They don't get as many expanded spells as the Sorcerer, so a Sorcerer has much more at their disposal at once. even if Wizards still have the option to switch on a rest, I typically find people don't often deviate from the few 'best spells' they have at their fingertips unless they've really been clued in on upcoming events. Many of those 'best spells' at early levels being ones shared by both classes even.
But, however- I hear you all say about how the Wizard has many unique spells that Sorcerer does not have. This is true for a bit when Wizards pick up their gamechangers, but many of the famous powerful Wizard spells come at extremely high level. What happens at high level in the new version now? Bards get the entire Wizard spell list. and the Cleric. and the Druid. Now the Bard actually has the best spell list in the game.
I feel like Wizard's are gonna often feel like they're playing a worse version of another class at many points in their game- but I'm open to being wrong here. Like if there's something I'm missing or overlooking in my view.
Side note: I think they screwed up the Illusionist bad by making them play like a Conjurer now. It's a complete misunderstanding of the fantasy of being an illusionist by making one of their big new features mechanically a Conjurer feature.
Yeah, unfortunately, their "expanded spells" (besides the ones they get from their specialty school) are highly dependent on the DM. If spellbooks and scrolls aren't showing up in treasure hoards or aren't available to purchase in town... wizards are going to feel that pinch. They thrive with options.
Eh, I think the fact that Wizards can use _all_ the ritual spells in their spellbook without having to prepare them is... _really_ good. In a way, they have the largest expanded spell list for this reason. But unlike most lists of spells, it amounts to an entire list of unlockable class features which largely expend no resources.
And being able to permanently learn new spells between level-ups is something no other class can do. It's fantastic. Although I will grant that more DMs should be awarding found spellbooks and scrolls more regularly. Collecting spells has always been one of my favorite aspects of wizards.
Isnt the logical choice then to play a bard, which gets all the wizard spells, but can also take cleric and druid spells... and has better skill proficiencies, AC, HP and bardic inspiration as icing on the cake?
@@tantalus_complex Also I think its less about conjury, and more about illusions so realistic they feel real.
@@rogerexcell249 I didn't speak to the topics of conjuration or illusion, so I'm not clear why you're directing that comment to me
Old [school] savant features are meant to help safeguard your [school] spells with an extra book kept somewhere safe. Books can be quite fragile!
Now, you lose your feature if/when you lose your book.
If it were up to me, I'd have it so that you can prepare an extra number of [school] spells, where that number equals half your wizard level, rounded up.
Most campaigns probably NEVER put your spell book at risk. At all, for any reason.
This is probably the reason why people doesn't rate such a safeguard highly.
Also Enduring Spellbook is a common magic item that costs a mere ~50gp.
Sadly you used to be able to take pact of the tome and use it as your spellbook. You'd summon an exact copy of the book for an hours ritual prayer. New invocation implies its a new book and the old one vanishes, and the contents are pre-specified. Yet another reason PotT is a very, very bad invocation now.
The low level changes for Evoker are relatively minor but i think add up well. Potent cantrip half damage is great at lower levels where chip damage is meaningful, and will scale ok. Savant is great for Evoker given how many evocation spells you want, allowing you to choose other options with the base class features.
And Sculpt spell comes online in time for important usage.
Congratulations on completing your reviews of all of the new 2024 subclasses! All of these videos have been fun and informative.
Finally finished watching all the videos I had stockpiled over the last 7 months from you, and boy how enjoyable it was!
While the biggest factor making me watch them is your amazing insight and information, your sense of humor is definitely my favourite Ribbon Feature
It's good to be back!
I think the biggest buff to wizards slipped under the radar:
They can still take Arcane Initiate (Cleric/Druid) to get access to Cure Wounds.
But they can now:
- Cast it with intelligence for 2d8+int healing
- Cast it with their spell slots
- Upcast it for an additional 2d8 per level.
That means with minimal investment we can make wizards who are almost as good at healing as clerics and druids.
Dont forget to combine with Healer origin feat (humans can take two). This means you get to reroll 1s on heals too.
Yup. Now, the alternative POV is, while improved, do you ever really want to use cure wounds over a Wizard spell? Sure, it can save an ally.. but so can more potent, utility Wizard spells
I think it's an intriguing option, and adds more build choices, but it's not as powerful as it may seem.
To be fair, I've been happy using Wither and Bloom. You get to heal an ally, while doing a tiny bit of damage in an AOE. If you look at it as a damage spell it's not great, but as a healing spell? Its not bad! And triggers bloodwell vials for Sorcerers!
I'm stuck between this, guiding bolt and inflict wounds since my DM likes to shut down my ranged spell attack options with disadvantage.
I could see warlocks finding an evocation dip an attractive idea, since they'll never miss again! 🤣😁
Wizard cantrips only sadly. Did this in game and went awe lol
@@onichupacabraNah, it's any cantrip 24:49
@@NotYourAverageNothing I think he was mixing it up in his head with warlock agonizing blast invocation. That's Warlock cantrips only. I personally wouldnt ever dip. Why delay my spellcasting progression by 3 levels? It also delays my extra attacks and lifedrinking, and so on and so forth if I'm blade pacted which will be an aditional downgrade.
I was thinking the other direction and considering a warlock dip for a wizard. Even with 1 level (or some other means of getting base EB), it would still be half damage per roll... but 2 levels, and you could add cha in there, too.
I'm not sure if there is really optimization to be had here, but it seems fun to try and find out. ^.^
@@nikolmorith800 Seems valid enough to me. Blasting them back into your evocation spells and if we want go to subclasses fiend has plenty of temp hp renewal potential (gaining temp hp with each kill and evocation seems to go wel together to me) or celestial could provide some self healing options (if we can find a spare space for an invocation taking gift of the ever-living one, now means a fifth lvl cure wounds heals you for 85 hp).
In the end the best we can hope is to get to play in a gestalt campaign and than things a lot more interesting, including in term of the theme for the character.
For the level 18 feature I think two particularly potent options are "suggestion" for level 2 and "disguise self" for level one. Both are actions and don't consume components so the are basically cantrips at that point.
Longstrider and False Life mgiht be some decent candidates too. Or maybe the new Sleep or sipmly Grease if you have gruelingly long adventuring days.
And for an Illusionist, Silent image could be good.
For level 2, maybe Enhance Ability, Invisibility, Mirror Image, or abusing Locate Object to triangulate things at long distances, could be interesting.
Or Tasha's Mind Whip or Web if you have gruelingly long adventuring days.
@@Moley1Moleo those are some decent ones too. I specifically went for ones I'd like to cast as much as possible during a day. I don't think I'd take ones like grease only because of other options available by level 18. But one of the best parts is you can change them if you don't like how one is working. Locating objects is low key great. Finding rare ingredients, gemstone deposits or anything else could create a whole industry.
@@Moley1Moleo False Life is eh, but long strider is awesome, specially if you can anticipate a combat and cast it beforehand
@@Moley1Moleo _Jump_ would be better than _Longstrider._ The former increases your movement effectively by 20ft, and the latter has a longer duration.
So you can spam cast _Jump_ outside of combat, and when you _really_ need a boost to movement speed, cast _Longstrider_ on top for a total of +30ft to your base movement each round.
Isn't the logical L2 spell Misty Step? Its a bonus action one so casting it with no spell slot means you can still cast a leveled action spell, and negates attacks of oppertunity unlike Jump or Longstrider?
For L1... Shield or Spiny Shield? Though I'd give serious thought to Cause fear. You could fey step away and then stop them moving closer with the fear condition. All when out of spell slots. You can also upcast it with a spell slot since it's awlays prepared to affect up to 8 additional targets.
abjurer spell resistance is the same, but the META hs changes and it's therefore worse now !
Exactly
What changed? (Haven’t read everything yet)
yeah, what's this referring to?
Monsters, even spellcasters, tend to have abilities mimicing spells, but aren't actual spells. That means spell resistance loses some value.
@@bozieu Actually something that came up. In our spelljammer campaign we did Tomb of Annihilation and had an option to steal a god seed. For his divine epic boon, our cleric picked spell resistance. Its litterally in 2 years play been usable once. Twice if you count him telling the party storm sorcerer to shoot him with an AOE spell just to have his feat be used. Its AMAZING vs liches, dragons and players who have spellcasting, but if you fight undead, or aberations, or demons or monsters and beasts... Never seems to count. I picked wings to be like a Deva... I was given Hover without asking. I feel like I won.
Warlock has been indirectly buffed by every class getting some resource back on a short rest, incentivizing actually taking a short rest even when you're not a Warlock.
What an amazing journey this was, Chris! So happy you decided to make all these videos separately - looking forward to more analyses, math work, and builds in the coming weeks!
Woot!! The long awaited wizard video!
Nice to see your subscribers keep going up by a few thousand every video Chris . Well deserved.
Great video as always ! I have to disagree with you about the diviner Level 6 feature : With the base class level 5 feature, you could actually get a couple more uses out of Expert Diviner. Prepare a high level (5-6) divination spell, use it right before your short rest, switch it during the rest for another spell with a lower level spell slot, and repeat the process on each short rest. I've played a diviner wizard for quite a while, and my biggest deal was always that I had to chose between preparing a lot of divination spells to take advantage of that feature, or select the usual suspects of the wizard list for the day. Now I just could do both throughout the day with a bit more ease.
That's not a game breaking deal, but I think that synergy 's worth noticing when considering the diviner wizard.
Sorcerers: look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power.
The sight restriction on sculpt spells makes sense; you are creating pockets of safety within your AoE so you need to be able to know precisely where someone is to keep them safe.
21:00 Mind spike is divination. Cast it at level 5, then 4, then 3, then 2, for the cost of one spell slot.
Another thing worthy of note on the topic of wizard spell selection is that spell scrolls might be much easier to come by.
PHB's section on adventuring gear now include cantrip and lv1 scrolls (costing 50gp for the latter). So hopefully you can convince your dm that bigger shops will have at least a small selection of scrolls to buy and learn from.
Scribing scrolls yourself is also described, with costs that are roughly 1/3 as they were in XGtE from lv2-5. If you could convince a party member to scribe one for you to learn from, esp if it's one they don't intend to keep prepared for long, that'll work too.
Thanks Treantmonk! ❤
Love the shirt, also I get my PHB today, cant wait
I'm currently playing a multiclass of artillerist artificer and evocation wizard and while I can blast I'm primarily battlefield control with currently faerie fire and rime's binding ice at my current level being able to give my allies advantage on attacks and be able to bind any enemy who fails their save in ice without hitting my allies, I also have Thunderwave of course so I can push enemies away from damaged allies
One thing to keep in mind re the Diviner's 6th level feature: Mind Spike. So you can do a Mind Spike cascade by:
- Casting a 1st Level Spell (any)
- Cast Mind Spike with a 2nd level slot (regain the 1st level slot)
- Cast Mind Spike with a 3rd level slot (regain the 2nd level slot)
- Cast Mind Spike with a 4th level slot (regain the 3rd level slot)
- Cast Mind Spike with a 5th level slot (regain the 4th level slot)
- Cast Mind Spike with a 6th level slot (regain the 5th level slot)
And after all that, you're just out one 6th level slot. Maybe Mind Spike isn't the best spell in the game, but it is a little crazy the amount of leveled spells you can be casting in a day using this.
Love the shirt, Chris! Thanks for the video!
This is the one I've been most eager to see. This Saturday I did a thorough selection of the spells I would pick both on the Wizard (accounting for subclasses etc) and Sorcerer up to spells level 5 (usually where campaings finish for me), and I couldn't see any real difference on the spells I really wanted and all that I got, for the Sorcerer could get them all except wall of force (although the Clockwork can). Let's see if i'm convinced that the Sorcerer wasn't too much buffed and the wizard got behind. By the way: I think that the wizard would be perfect if they had made the Order of Scribes the base class: get their books for free on a short rest if they lose it; basically free new spells (ink is infinite - this could give a discount only to wizards to scribe scrolls. Any class can do it, but wizards should do it better); a bit of flexibility choosing the damage type as long as you have other spell of the same level (Fireball could only become lightning and necrotic, while sorcerers, for a cost, could change to whatever type); more rituals (no reason why tongues, darkvision, knock, remove curse or glyph of warding are not rituals). Let's watch the video now!
I’m gonna miss 4 videos a week, but congrats on making it through release without going crazy 🎉
Circle of Power was also added to the wizards spell list
"You're inside an adamantine crate with no openings" arguably gives the a) restrained condition; and b) the blinded condition.
no it doesn’t.
There is a change to arcane recovery it used to be once per day not once per long rest, which is quite relevant in hardcore games where you cant get the benefits of a longrest outdoors
The Wizard will have to rely on being the master of spells as it always did! Thanks for the video Chris this is my favorite class!
Master of Spells? But the Bard has access to your whole spell list... 😸 ((joke))
@@rogerexcell249 Yes, I think Bard at 10th level become godlike with the spell access.
Applying resistances before the Arcane Ward takes damage enables the rather OP Baldur's Gate 3 combo: casting Warding Bond on a creature with a high Arcane Ward. If the damage doesn't go through the ward, the warding creature also won't take any damage.
Now, it is more OP in BG3 because Arcane Ward works differently there and lasts a lot longer. But I think it might still be quite good here, at least and mid to higher levels.
Failed dispel magic not using a slot is situational, but really powerful in right circumstances. Given enough time, you are guaranteed to dispel what you decide to dispel, it's only a matter of time.
I had a session where a sorceress used all her slots to dispel a magic storm that was about to sink their ship. She finally succeeded on her last slot, and then the villain just gloated and recast the spell. Had she been a 2024 abjurer, the situation would've been much less dire. Still bad, because the ship kept taking damage every round that she failed, but not as hopeless. (Luckily the paladin of the group managed to discover that the villain was channeling their magic through her cursed headband of intellect and destroyed it).
Im am DMing a campaign currently with a illusionist wizard.
Had a magic Item for him, that let him cast silent image at will without concentration, because I felt it war a necessary buff for the subclass when comparing power to the other subclasses.
He recently replaced that item for story reasons. I now immediately let him use the new rules for bonus action minor illusion to offset that :D
It only feels right for an illusionist, to ave some unfair advantage illusion-wise. Though the no concentration thing is gone... which may have been a little overpowered in the first place but was mainly for hiding the item, which was some dark artifact and would gain unwanted attention and hostilaty.
So I guess I didn't realize I could have been watching the patreon videos here on youtube by clicking through them on patreon, i feel silly, I could have commented through youtube and not patreon so much earlier, I also just got the new book today, I appreciate all that this 32 days of patreon has done for me, you earned your keep. Oh well.
It is finally here! I've been looking forward to this.
It makes sense that the Arcane Ward loophole has been closed, but it seems a bit unfair that any abjuration spells cast without spell slots but in good faith no longer work. You’d think that the signature spells etc of a high level abjurer should still count. I might use DM discretion here…
Another hole, if your counter spell/dispel magic fails, you don't expend a slot which means you don't recharge your arcane ward either. There nothing like getting punished by the "benefit" of using a subclass feature.
I would like to point out that they may have removed free bond replensihment, and mastered abjuration spells now will not work, but they did however gain the ability to double reinforce the ward each turn. You can cast an abjuration spell as an action, then EXPEND a spell slot as a bonus action to replenish. This expending feature isnt a spellcast magic action, so it not subject to the 1 leveled spell limitation. Also reactions can replensish, so shield and spiny shield still add an aditional amount to the ward. Spiny Shield is particularly a good pick due to it also providing 2d4 damage mitigation on top vs melee strikes, and reflecting it as piercing damage. Vs ranged its still granting +2 ac and dex saves from half cover, so not totally useless vs ranged.
@@rogerexcell249 Spiny Shield? is that a new spell?
@@Silverythoughts It's a third-party spell published by Hitpoint Press in their Humblewood Campaign Setting. That's not an official WotC publication, so many DMs would consider it a homebrew spell (that requires their explicit approval) unless they're running an actual Humblewood campaign.
I dunno about that level 6 ability - it's pretty good for the wizard that wants to prepare. Cast mislead to infiltrate, dimension door to blink away, hypnotic pattern on a group of folks that are still able to assault you, misty step to get away, and shield when you got attacked once. Then later you regroup with the party, you cast true seeing so you can then cast scrying, then arcane eye, then sending, then mind spike all for free.
congrats on completing the reveal, Chris
Instead of Summon Beast/Fey, I wish the Illusionist got a unique spell called Summon Phantasm.
An illusion spell that conjures a Medium-sized phantasmal creature with the following forms:
Beast, Doppleganger, or Nightmare
Beast is the Attack form, treated as a Beast creature with Multiattack and bonus HP.
Doppleganger is the Utility form, treated as a Humanoid creature with the Disguise Self spell ability and able to swap places with the caster when the Caster is hit.
Nightmare is the Controller form, it's treated as a Monstrosity with a Fear effect and hard to hit.
The Summon Beast/Fey options are just undershelming compared to previous 6th level feature options that made creatures.
Looks like you just homebrewed a spell to me. Well done.
I'd just point out that you can reflavour a spell descriptively however you want. Just use the statblock of the fey or beast but describe it not as a Owl/Spriggan, its a ghost!
Changing the Wizard’s prepared spells from a formula to a chart is a buff for multi class characters who are grabbing Wizard for non-save spells and are not prioritizing Intelligence as a stat to be raised to 20. I almost never get to do high level play, but if I do get a chance I foresee a fair number of (Class)16/Wizard4 builds in my future, using Epic Boon feats at CL19 and 20 to make up for not getting either class’ capstone.
I would love a ranking of classes as well!
They may have closed the Armor of Shadows exploit on the Arcane Ward (which I always thought was cheesy anyway), but they gave a potentially sizable buff to it with Warding Bond. Warding Bond gives you resistance to all damage, which would be applied to the damage before the ward takes it, effectively doubling the size of the ward. And, since the ward takes the damage, not you, the caster of Warding Bond doesn't actually take half of the damage until the ward reaches 0.
That's always been the case. Also you're misreading warding bond. "Each time the target takes damage, the caster takes the same amount of damage". Doesnt matter if the bond blocks it, you took 20 damage to the ward, the bonder takes 20 damage.
That is incorrect on both accounts. The 2014 Arcane Ward does not gain the benefits of resistances. This is clearly addressed in the Sage Compendium. Search “Arcane Ward” to find the entry. It also states the Ward is not an extension of the Wizard; it is a magical effect with its own hit points similar to a Familiar or Conjured creature. The 2024 Arcane Ward ability states that if the Wizard would take damage, the Ward takes it INSTEAD. This means you do not take damage, so the caster is Warding Bond would not take that damage, either.
wow this is a big bump to the abjurer's strengh, since in a party that has a cleric or paladdin he makes a no concentration 1 hour duration 2 level spell be +1 to ac and saving throws + resistance to all damage. At 2nd lvl thats an S+ spell for a class starved for defense.
Here's a couple of ideas for Spell Mastery (they're not new, actually, but Shield and Misty Step totally overshadowed them):
At level 2, Enhance Ability could mean advantage on initiative checks for one character in the party (probably your wizard, if we're honest). Also, even though skills are probably rather irrelevant in many (if not most) high level games, it might also have some utility value once in a while 😉
And at level 1, at-will Longstrider becomes a party-wide speed increase.
Medium illusionists all have a height of 4'11" this edition for some reason... or have back pain from stooping behind those 5' tall walls every round
With all of the classes reviewed, first impression Classes Ranked? (ignoring CME)
I'd be curious to see a top 5 ranking with _and_ without Conjure Minor Elementals taken into account as well.
@@juliendrainville7131 WITH I feel like the list is Bard, Warlock (if only because necessary to really see it break open), Wizard, Druid, specifically assuming Blade Singer is allowed at table, else I think Druid might be stronger- neither EASILY gets many iterative attacks, and then 5th place is whichever class is strongest otherwise- for my money, Paladin
@@4roryvt Interesting. Sounds about right too! But I'd put Sorcerer above Wizard for Crowd Control and AoE now. Although, Conjure Minor Elementals keeps the Bladesinger in contention of the top spot still, if we consider subclasses.
@@4roryvt I believe its comes down to no spells sustain vs. have spells burst vs. vs. Mid combat support vs. out of combat support.
For sustained constant damage Warlock > Sorcerer > Bard > Wizard.
For damage while you have spells Sorcerer > Bard > Wizard > Warlock.
Mid combat support Bard > Sorcerer > Wizard > Warlock.
OOC support Bard > Wizard > Sorc > Warlock.
Listed only arcane casters.
My reasons?
Warlocks hands down do the most damage with cantrips, and also high damage in melee and range with blade pact, and eldritch smite.
Sorcerer spells have higher DCs, saved with disadvantage, longer range, longer duration, ~20% bonus damage, all spell attacks are with advantage, and are immune to countermagics with subtle casting.
Bards have all the control spells Wizards do, but can take those on the bard, druid and cleric lists too. Add to this Bardic inspiration in combat.
Finally out of combat, Wizards can nap more often as there's no risk so they have their full spellbooks as options rather than just their 4-25 prepared spells since out of danger they can swap spells. You can also swap 2 per day (one per short, one per long rest) in a pinch. While they have far fewer spells prepared than a sorcerer, and less options than the bard, the emergency knock, or emergency waterbreathing might make a difference. The Bard outperforms them though due to a wider selection of utility spells, plus 4x more expertise than a wizard combined with jack of all trades allowing them to solve extra things with skills rather than magic.
21:00 If this were a feature of pretty much any other school it would be so busted! Evoker, for example.
Polymorph + Armor of Agathys + AbjurWiz is insane. Well, more just the Poly & AoA. But since you don't need to concentrate on Polymorph to keep the temp HP and you can bolster your temp HP in a number of ways this can be abused insanely.
The errata compendium is going to be longer than the original book when it comes out.
Get this man to 100k! 200 New subscribers since yesterday, yay!
Remember he brings you EVERY DAY a digestible info dump of the new PHB even before its released. Imagine what this man will publish as soon as the NDA lifts! And then let's hope for DMG and MM!
GO CLICK THAT BUTTON!
Another thing about the abjurer's ward in 2014 was that if you had an abjuration spell that had a casting time longer than 1 action you could begin casting it activating the ward stop casting it and it wouldn't expend the slot because you didn't finish the spell, this was also a problem with diviner's recycled slot ability
Abjuration Barbarians, lets go!!!!
New wording from Overchannel is a great buff for Steel Wind Strike
Portent + heroic inspiration!
Level 3: Arcane Ward, “alternatively, as a bonus action, you can expend a spell slot and the ward regains a number of hit points equal to twice the level of the spell slot expended.”
2024 PHB pg 236, “on a turn, you can expend only one spell slot to cast a spell”
So it doesn’t lock you out because the bonus action expends a spell slot but not to cast a spell. That seems like a high cost. A level two spell slot would only recover 4 hp to the ward and then an additional spell slot is necessary for a spell as an action. Just seems like a lot for one turn and not a big recovery for the ward.
The evo wizard is GREAT for usually large tables. They so happen to be usual for me though!
Nice video as always! I was wondering: are you going to do something special to celebrate 100000 subscribers? I just saw your one shots with d&d deep dive and the Dungeon Dudes and it would be so cool if you played another one. Regardless, you deserve to reach your goal and more, this is one of my favourite youtube channels, congratulations!
now with all the classes discussed there's some interesting "tiers" that show up based on your rating system.
using the rating system as a scaling for each class (averaging the 4 subclasses, then if tie dropping lowest, then if tie again ordering by highest score):
Tier 1: (3.875) Sorc, Monk, Barb, Cleric, Ranger (full tie on Monk/Barb/Cleric)
*Tier ?: (3.83) Druid* (fine print on this one due to Moon Druid rating withheld)
Tier 2: (3.75) Bard
Tier 3: (3.625) Warlock, Fighter, Wizard (full tie on Fighter/Wizard)
Tier 4: (3.5) Paladin, Rogue (full tie Paladin/Rogue)
Would be interesting to see if this ordering matches your initial thoughts of each class overall.
Thanks for the deep dive!
He has previously said that he still believes the Wizard is better than the Sorcerer even after the 2024 changes, so clearly his subclass rankings cannot be applied across classes (since Wizards fall so low in your composite analysis).
7:52 Honestly, this is a welcome nerf. You're already spending your first level spell slots for shield, resist elements and quick uses of identify or detect magic anyway.
You’re definitely wearing the optimal shirt for this video
With healing potions now being a bonus action, it might be more tempting to use overchannel more than once.
Arcane Ward + Barbarian + Armor of Agathys/fire shield = Profit.
Then ask your Bard/cleric friend (or Cartomancer+Bard/cleric 1 if you lack said friend) to cast power word fortify for the ultimate "stop hitting yourself" build!
The biggest annoyance for me with the illusionist 6th level feature is that it doesn't let you ignore the expensive material components of those summon spells, so if you actually want to get any use out of your 6th level class feature, you have to pay a hefty gold tax.
Once. The component isn't consumed. Its also cheaper than Fighter fullplate.
Also merchant origin feat for 20% discount.
I need something to spend money on. Making money is too easy as a wizard.
38:00 haha illusory bridge is the most exciting thing the devs could come up with 😂
This is a joke. It's intentionally bland for illustrative purposes, I'm sure.
To be fair it was a good example. I can see a lot of players asking if a whole, massive bridge is one item, and the DM being unsure.
The change to reading from spellbooks makes identity actually worth learning. Otherwise, you'd be missing out big time if you ever get your hand on a spellbook other than your own.
The only situation I can think of for why he Diviner's "Third Eye"feature being a Bonus Action instead of an Action would matter is if you are interrupted during a Long Rest (see the entry in the Rules Glossary on page 370-371 for these rules), and you have been resting for at least one hour (thus getting a Short Rest), then you could use your Bonus Action to set it up one the first round of the fight.
To me it's simpler. You select darkvision 120ft for the adventuring day, and then you get into a fight and one of your enemies becomes invisible. Now you have to spend an action and a spell slot to See Invisibility (or find some other strategy) to counter.
But if you wait to select Third Eye's option only when it's necessary, you can start that fight with all the options available, the enemy becomes invisible, and now you can cast See Invisibility as a bonus action without expending a spell slot and still have your action free to do basically whatever you want.
Blinded is a condition, no illusion you cast with illusory reality can cause the blinded condition
Ie you need to poke sky light holes in the top of the adamantine box which let light through
If he can see inside the box, is he blinded?
@gabapc I don't think so, as long as it gives total cover rather than say, darkness, since darkness blinds you, but cover doesn't
Awesome shirt!
I will point out a change for wizard's arcane recovery from the 2014 rules. In 2014 it was once per day, now it's once per long rest. Won't make a difference for most tables, but for those of us who use gritty realism it definitely hurts.
18:19 - Sometimes with dispel Magic, I'd want to cast it on things to experiment with if it would help, but that would risk wasting it.
With Spellbreaker, depending on how you read "fails to stop a spell", maybe you can spam it on various targets just to test if they have any magic on them.
Please please target your party abjuration wizard. I'd love to see them loose their arcane ward and not be able to get it back without a long rest! 🤣
Person who judges people's 6-packs: ab juror.
As an illusionist main, I will miss the Malleable Illusions feature. I know the buffs will make up for it, but it was a nice mechanic for extending the utility of your illusions.
Wait, am I reading this correctly? The abjurer's ward regains hit points when you "cast an Abjuration spell with a spell slot" and Spell Breaker makes it so that "When you cast either spell with a spell slot, that slot isn't expended if it fails to stop a spell." So... you could Dispel Magic that mundane rock over there. Since the Dispel Magic spell doesn't stop a spell, you don't expend the spell slot, but you did cast the Dispel Magic spell "with a spell slot". So, the Abjurer has a baked-in infinite recharge mechanic for their ward?
Probably just a lack of critical reading on behalf of the design team. Almost certainly not intended. But, nevertheless it's there.
I already sent feedback during pt but if we did not choose any skill of the wizard for example because we multiclass in wizard, we have 'scholar' which cannot apply :) fantastic.
Ask your DM. They might allow you to choose one proficiency to add instead of one expertise.
@@bigdream_dreambig I AM THE Dm.
I'm sad that malleable illusion is gone. It was really fun together with mirage arcane.
I used to carry a small stone with mirage arcane cast on it and used malleable illusion to increase the affected area up to 1 square mile after putting the stone to the ground.
Though, I had a pretty lenient dm
At lvl 18 I'd just take longstrider and mirror image
Permanent 10 extra feet of movement for the entire party and a good defensive buff that is now permanent too
Also, as another guy said it benefits from the new spellcasting rules when it comes to not spending a spell slot
So all in all it's still pretty good
While I like the new Illusionist, I strongly dislike the Illusionist's Phantasmal Creatures feature.
Because it is thematically inappropriate. Conjuring things is the Conjurer's schtick.
I'd propose something like this, instead:
Expert Illusionist.
You have Major Image spell always prepared and can cast it without expending a spell slot. Once you cast this spell in this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.
Additionally, when you cast Major Image, you can choose to do so without concentration, but the spell's duration is reduced to 1 minute.
Here you go. Thematically appropriate, not overly powerful but useful. Synergises with Improved Illusions.
I was subbed, don't know what happened but I'm subbed again!
Got my book today (might have been yesterday, it was on my porch today and I didn't venture outside yesterday)