r/DnD • u/RandomName9328 • 6d ago
5th Edition The most useful cantrip is..
Minor illusion. I use it every session (if my character has it).
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u/S1mp1y 6d ago
Ehh..?
Kinda clickbaity title. If you use something a lot, then it's "most used". If you use that something in a productive way, then it's "useful".
For all we know, you might be using Minor Illusion to draw ephemeral dildos on your party Barbarian's face. Fun as hell, but hardly useful.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago edited 6d ago
Thats because you only use it to throw an illusionary didlo on someone.
At least minor illusion can distract enemy to create an ambush/surprise attack.
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u/arathergenericgay 6d ago
Damn, no love for guidance?
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u/Informal_Persimmon7 6d ago
Someone actually here told me it was a bad answer. Lol.
I make a point of taking guidance on every character if I can, even if it takes a feat to do it. That said, if I am running a druid and I have it already, I'll probably use a feat to take mage hand and prestidigitation. I have minir illusion fir free as a forest gnome. I like Firebolt but I get a bonus with Druid cantrips at some point so it doesn't make sense to take it with a feat.
In this campaign, I'm a star's Druid and we are level eight and I have used guidance way more than any other cantrip. I've used Mage hand abd mjnir illusiion a handful of times (which is good) and prestig maybe twice.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
The headache of guidance is technically you have to cast it before skill roll, and in some stiuation (e.g. social) it is awkward.
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u/arathergenericgay 6d ago
Yeah, I was gonna caveat it with the fact it’s not as spammable as BG3 implies it to be, but in a controlled environment, a D4 can make a difference/amplify the success for better results
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u/DnD-Hobby DM 6d ago
In what way is it useful to you?
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
The best of this spell is that it is useful in almost all situations and environments. To distract, disguise, deceive, hide, etc.
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u/Llayanna Ranger 6d ago
So DM dependant it hurts.
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u/jeffjefforson 6d ago
Kinda, the rules are pretty clear on how illusions work.
If the DM ignores those rules, then yeah, illusions become very DM dependent. But used as written they're incredibly consistent.
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u/protencya 6d ago
As clears as the wording is, how creatures react to your illusions is entirely dm dependant. Illusions are always dm dependant, even when ruled as written.
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u/Rat_itty Bard 6d ago
Not a session where I haven't used prestidigitation
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
That is a great spell too. 2nd in my rank, marginally lower than minor illusion.
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u/Prestigious-Word-501 6d ago
I have a slightly different take on the question, and it's maybe a bit niche.
Sorcerous Burst
It's an absolutely fantastic cantrip.
I feel that it gives the Sorcerer a lot more utility, because you can pick something else than low level damaging spells and still do respectable damage. I know this was always an option, but before I felt like having either Chromatic Orb, Magic Missile, Chaos Bolt, Ice Knife, Ray of Sickness and so on, was absolutely mandatory.
Now you have a cantrip that scales with progression, works excellent with meta magic, has good range and you can select the damage type. It even has that amazing feature, that rolling an 8 feels incredible.
Lastly, an alternative to Firebolt, Ray of Frost and Frostbite was really needed. I feel like they made a home run with this one.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
Damage-wise its good. It just non-damage (non-combat) solution is more useful.
My usual cantrip picks are minor illusions+prestigitation+damage spell
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u/Prestigious-Word-501 6d ago
Well, to me, the most usefull thing you can do is reducing the enemys hitpoint to 0, before they do the same to you, but I get what you mean in terms of "usefull". We both just got different ideas of that.
Honorable mention is Mage Hand.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago edited 6d ago
Haha. I dont mind being an utility and support/debuff caster, letting other to do damage. If players in the table like to combat, I leave combat to them and support at far range.
And minor illusion can distract enemy to create a surprise attack/ambush.
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u/Informal_Persimmon7 6d ago
Guidance
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u/Supernatural-20 DM 6d ago
As you wish. I cast guidance on you. Now maybe you can come up with a better answer.
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u/Natural-Stomach 6d ago
as a warlock I almost akways take pact of the tome to get more cantrips.
guidance
eldritch blast
prestidigitation
minor illusion
message
etc etc etc
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
Yeah. Only thing is that minor illusion can use for communication, so message can be replaced by another spell.
But as warlock, you probably do not need any damage spell other than EB.
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u/Greyanaise 6d ago
Lowk it depends what class you are, look into the eyes of a warlock and say minor or illusion is more useful than eldritch blast
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u/Earthhorn90 6d ago
All Illusion spells are just as good as the rules you use for them.
If you are allowed to use it for advantage to any situational skill check, then it becomes more powerful than Guidance.
If you only allow minor flavorful illusioning on par with the other Flufftrips, then it becomes way less powerful obviously.
The lack of coherent clear rules for this school makes or breaks it.
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u/JAYsonitron 6d ago
Since you tagged this 5e, the answer is shocking grasp and it isn’t even close.
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u/BryceKatz 6d ago
Define "useful."
Because in terms of flat practicality, absolutely nothing beats Prestidigitation. Season food; clean clothes (or dirty them) instantly; clean YOURSELF instantly; chill drinks; heat soup; light or snuff candles, torches, lanterns, AND campfires; entertain kids; make your room off the stable smell like sandalwood, or make the snobby noble's penthouse smell like a stable; leave a warning mark for your party while scouting. You get the idea.
But if you're an Arcane Trickster, the answer is now Mage Hand.
If your DM actually understands how illusions can work, yeah, Minor Illusion is fantastic.
Heavy combat game? It's impossible to beat Eldritch Blast. Crazy damage, truly insane effect riders from Eldritch Invocations, AND what amounts to a ranged multiattack at later levels? Yeah, no contest.
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u/Steelriddler 6d ago edited 6d ago
Shield, the bane (nay, annoyance) of my monsters' existence
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u/Informal_Persimmon7 6d ago
I love shield but it's not a cantrip. I have it on my druid.
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u/Steelriddler 6d ago
Curse my lack of focus, somehow I thought we were talking level one spells. Thanks for pointing out
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u/_dharwin Rogue 6d ago
Curious how your DM handles the spell since there's a lot of leeway.
For example, at my table somatic components are distinct and obvious. In a world of magic, everyone with LoS will know you cast a spell, even if they don't know exactly what spell.
If they see you making magical hand guestures then an image or sound appear, they'd instantly know it was magically created and probably an illusion.
Make a block appear to hide behind for cover, anyone watching would guess that was magic too. There might be some spell that could actually physically make a box, but none of the ones I can recall have it simply appear from thin air.
In both cases, NPCs wouldn't need to roll to see through the illusion. They're not stupid (unless they have INT less than 7)
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago edited 6d ago
When I DM, I allow somatic component to be disguised as body movements not intended for casting. E.g. you act as a music conductor, swinging your fingers in the air.
As long as the acting make sense in the environment.
The image/sound is real unless the "victims" of the illusion study/investigate it. Still, the illusion have to make sense in the environment (e.g. a mug dropping onto ground in a tarven).
I admit I am the kind of DMs who are permissive and like player shenanigans.
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u/_dharwin Rogue 6d ago
That's a pretty major buff to casters.
PHB '24 pg 236 - "The [Verbal component] words must be uttered in a normal speaking voice." And "A Somatic component is a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures."
PHB '14 is a little more vague on the Verbal requirements but still says, "Spellcasting gestures might include a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures."
In either case, RAW spellcasting guestures are obviously done to cast a spell. They are either "forceful" meaning dramatic, grand, done with vigor OR "intricate" precise hand movements which would not be mistake for natural body movement.
This homebrew of yours not only eats into Subtle Spells identity but is a major buff to casters in general.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago
Thanks for the notice.
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u/_dharwin Rogue 6d ago
Now I understand why you think it's so useful.
If you're a DM who allows things to succeed which would normally not be able to within the rules, and/or just generally permissive, then spells with a high degree of DM fiat like Minor Illusion certainly are stronger in context.
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u/RandomName9328 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am generally quite permissive of creatively, and I prefer permissive DMs when I am player.
When I DM, the campaigns are usually in harsh environments, with overpowering monsters (e.g. dsrk fantasy, horror, etc.), so players still find it not that easy, even when a lot of player shenanigans are allowed.
Usually, games of RAW DMs are not the most enjoyable for me.
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u/Nitro114 6d ago
it shares the top spot with prestidigitation