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BG2 Favourite Arcane Spell level

elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
edited June 2013 in Archive (General Discussion)
What is your favourite spell level for bards/mage/sorcerers? By spell level I mean like improved haste is spell level 6, haste is spell level 3, magic missile is spell level 1, etc.

I've included HLA's like the spell comet and dragon's breath as a "10th" level.

If you need any help with what spells are available in the different levels this is an alright source

http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/bg2/character/spells/wizard/
  1. BG2 Favourite Arcane Spell level86 votes
    1. 1st
        9.30%
    2. 2nd
        2.33%
    3. 3rd
      25.58%
    4. 4th
      10.47%
    5. 5th
        6.98%
    6. 6th
      20.93%
    7. 7th
        4.65%
    8. 8th
        5.81%
    9. 9th
        6.98%
    10. 10th/HLA's
        6.98%
Post edited by elminster on
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Comments

  • Balrog99Balrog99 Member Posts: 7,371
    Improved Haste, Death Spell, Tenser's Transformation, Chain Lightning...
    What's not to love? (And you don't have to wait forever to get them!)
  • Lord_TansheronLord_Tansheron Member Posts: 4,212
    I've said it before, I'll say it again: Improved Haste is *the* best spell in the entire game.

    True Sight and Protection from Magic Weapons are some other spells of the same level that see frequent use. Death Spell and Tenser's Transformation are good, too.

    But really, IH alone is enough to take the cake. Have I mentioned how good that spell is?
  • KaltzorKaltzor Member Posts: 1,050
    For me it was between 8 and 9... But Time Stop is my favorite spell in the game so I went with 9.
  • BelgarathMTHBelgarathMTH Member Posts: 5,653
    edited June 2013
    Third level spells are the most awesome pawsome for mages. This spell level presents the hardest conundrum for sorcerers. Fireball, Flame Arrow, Melf's Minute Meteors, Haste, Slow, Confusion, Hold Person, Hold Undead, ... my god, the awesomeness covers almost the entire level. What is a poor sorcerer to do?

    Runner up: ninth level. Time Stop, Freedom, Imprison, Wish. Again, what is a poor sorcerer to do?

    Second runner up: fourth level. Stoneskin, Minor Sequencer, Spider Spawn... this is why I usually choose to play mages over sorcerers.

    LOL. This is a good poll, I think.

    EDIT: This poll may need seperation from BG1 and BG2. Spell levels six to nine are never going to see the light of day in BG:EE, and five only rarely.
  • MalicronMalicron Member Posts: 629
    @Kaltzor
    Same, but Horrid Wilting won out for me.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    belgarathmth said:


    EDIT: This poll may need seperation from BG1 and BG2. Spell levels six to nine are never going to see the light of day in BG:EE, and five only rarely.

    Well the title of the poll is BG2 so its not like that isn't clear. I mean characters vary along with what you prefer to use your bard/mage for (direct damage, debuffs, buffs, etc), and the few odd people may even choose to dual out of a mage into something else (at BGEE levels). So no poll is going to be perfect regardless of what you do with it.
  • TJ_HookerTJ_Hooker Member Posts: 2,438
    edited June 2013
    I don't leave home without Slow, Haste, and Fireball (and/or Skulltrap) memorized. Dispel Magic/Remove Magic can come in handy in a pinch, and Melf's Minute Meteors can be pretty useful too. Nothing wrong with Flame Arrow either.

    Edit: I somehow managed to miss the fact that this poll was for BG2 in particular.
    Post edited by TJ_Hooker on
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    I like 5th. You get animate dead (great against mindflayers at level 15), breach/lower resistance (yea, yea pierce magic does these two things with one spell I know), cloudkill, shadow door (which is just improved invisibility with a shorter casting time), spell immunity, and sunfire.
  • TheElfTheElf Member Posts: 798
    4th. Filled with spells that are useful when you get them and spells that remain pretty useful for the whole game. Plus, I don't always use cheese, but when I do, I make Firkraag into a squirrel.
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    Probably 5th~
  • DrayenDrayen Member Posts: 127
    8th level.. oh horrid wilting, such a solid spell
  • PugPugPugPug Member Posts: 560
    SCARY_WIZARD said:

    Probably 5th~

    Considering you basically can't finish the game without Breach...
  • QuartzQuartz Member Posts: 3,853
    3rd as others have been saying, although 6th level tends to be incredibly deadly (so much instant-death, summons, cool stuff like that). Furthermore it's very rewarding getting to 6th level magic because it takes an extra level to get there. Then 1st level is just solid stuff. Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb, Spook, Sleep.
  • MalicronMalicron Member Posts: 629
    No love for 2nd yet? I didn't choose it, but still, how many times has YOUR life been saved by Mirror Image? And never underestimate the value of a good DoT like Acid Arrow against a caster.
  • lunarlunar Member Posts: 3,460
    6th is the best lvl:Mislead is brokenly powerful. PfMW is a life-saver in every epic battle. Pro from magic energy is essential to survive ABDHWs from mod mages. Death spell is very very very useful against hordes of really annoying creatures. (umber hulks!) Disintegrate is THE one-shot-kill spell and is cool beyond words! Improved haste turns a powerful fighter into a dervish of destruction! (hint:cast it on Planetars and they will solo everything) True Sight is no brainer if you don't have a priest or are soloing.

    Ooh, I wish I could trade some lvl 7 slots for more lvl 6 goodness!
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    So far I'm surprised in that I assumed more people would go for level 8 and 9. :)
  • MortiannaMortianna Member Posts: 1,356
    edited June 2013
    3rd because it's the spell level in BG where you begin to see how powerful arcane casters can be.
    It also just happens to be the spell level with the most Necromancy spells. ^.~

    I think the most noticeable difference in power between mage levels is when you go from a 4th level mage to a 5th level one.

    Even in ToB, 3rd level spells remain among the most powerful and useful (Skull Trap, Flame Arrow, Remove Magic, etc.)

    *Edited for BG2-applicability
    Post edited by Mortianna on
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    edited June 2013
    While grossly underrepresented in BG, 2nd level has a TON of useful effects. Forget (Modify memory), alter self (aka...FLY 1 level sooner, and for a better duration), mirror image, Blindness (is supposed to be 2nd level, not first), Summon swarm and Irritation (basically two different flavors of insect swarm 2 levels sooner), Shatter (also known as Demi-lich's Bane (Their 8th and under immunity explicitly excludes shatter), ESP (Detect Thoughts), Imp. phantasmal force, web, invisibility, knock....lots of others as well.

    The biggest disadvantage of 2nd level is so many awesome effects...so little room.....fortunately..in PnP you can put lower level spells into higher level slots.
  • ambrennanambrennan Member Posts: 173
    edited June 2013
    NRD - maybe not the most effective spell, but certainly the most fun.

    Edit to add: Maybe "favorite spell" is a little it ambiguous.
  • SenashSenash Member Posts: 405
    (Damn it, clicked on a bookmark accidentally, just before posting my comment... So this is just a shorter version)
    Ah, screw it, I have to go with the HLAs! Dragon's Breath is just my absolute and all time favourite. A spell worthy to the heir of the Lord of Murder! Summon (Dark) Planetar is also the best summon ever.

    As runner-up, comes 6th lvl (Chain lightning, Invis Stalker (my faithful protector against those filthy Mind Flayers!), Death Spell and True Sight)
    Bronze place for 7th (Mordekainen's sword, Mass Invsibility and ofc Project Image)
    Fourth goes to 8th (Abi-Dazi and Simulacrum)
    And fifth place goes to another favourite: level 3 (Fireball, Flame Arrow, Remove/Dispel Magic and occasional Vampiric Touch)

    9th is only cool because of Time Stop, in 5th, Breach is useful, but sooo boring, 4th is only for Stoneskin and Malison (again: musts, but boring), 1st for Magic Missle and 2nd for minor protection (Mirror Images) and acid arrow, which deals out damage too slowly.
  • AristilliusAristillius Member Posts: 873
    &th, thats when I really start to feel da POWER, and like @Quartz mentioned, it is also an extra character lvl to get there.
  • TinterTinter Member Posts: 152
    Over 60% of people choosing level 6 or under is why people enjoy playing bards.
  • MoomintrollMoomintroll Member Posts: 1,498
    edited June 2013
    I was well up for this but find it impossible to choose! I think when I'm playing, the best spell level is always the Next spell level.
  • BelgarathMTHBelgarathMTH Member Posts: 5,653
    edited June 2013


    Well the title of the poll is BG2 so its not like that isn't clear. I mean characters vary along with what you prefer to use your bard/mage for (direct damage, debuffs, buffs, etc), and the few odd people may even choose to dual out of a mage into something else (at BGEE levels). So no poll is going to be perfect regardless of what you do with it.
    Oh, okay, sorry, I didn't read it carefully enough. I was mostly trying to say it was really hard to choose, because so many spells are important during different phases of the game.

  • Urd1enUrd1en Member Posts: 84
    One of the richest spell levels imo:
    1. area glitterdust and web;
    2. single target melf's arrow, deafness and weakness;
    3. self defense blur, mirror image and vocalize.

    I'm always missing some more additional slots per 2nd spell level.
  • KamigoroshiKamigoroshi Member Posts: 5,870
    7th-level has my favourite summonings nicely lined up. And you simply won't get tired of the Finger of Death!
  • LindeblomLindeblom Member Posts: 257
    Come on!!!!!!! Magic Missile and Chromatic Orb.......identify....it never stops
  • KenjiKenji Member Posts: 251
    Magic Missile never gets old
  • GodGod Member Posts: 1,150
    Nahal's Reckless Dweomer
    One single level 1 spell that can be far more powerful than a few level 9 ones. It's almost as awesome as High Elven Magic.
  • Nic_MercyNic_Mercy Member Posts: 420
    edited June 2013
    I went with 4th level spells. Why? because they are game changing and yet still fairly accessible even in bg1 and you usually start with them or near getting them in bg2. The utility afforded by this level is just incredible AND since this level isn't commonly used for artillery dps, you usually have slots in this level to use those utilities when you really need them.

    Stoneskin - who doesn't love stoneskin (when you're the one using it that is!)

    Emotion - early on this is basically your "sleep spell for the big boys" and remains useful throughout the game with supprt from....

    Greater Malison - Who doesn't love penalizing their opponents saves? Especially when coupled with other devestating spells in a sequencer!

    Minor Sequencer - And speak of the devil! Your first metamagic spell! The ability to "hang" spells has always been a favorite of mine. It's an elegant art that I am glad was included in the BG series.

    Improved Invisibility - Not only is this great for scouting dungeons while removing traps, the added benefits during combat are fantastic! Not being targetable by spells is very useful, especially when supported by Nondetection spells or items.

    Spider Spawn - A wonderful summon particularly when coupled with web spells!

    Enchanted Weapon - Great for when you need that highly enchanted blunt weapon for golems and don't have enough to go around for your party!

    Minor Globe of Invulnerability - Immunity to level 1 to 3 spells? Yes please! That alone completely shuts down most mages in BG1 and still provides protection against popular damage spells like Fireball and Magic Missile later in the series.

    Spirit Armor - Are you a dual classed kensai? Or maybe a fighter/mage/thief who wants a high AC but still retain use of thieving skills? Maybe its early in BG2 and you dont have money for expensive robes yet? This handles your AC woes and gives a save bonus to boot!

    Confusion - Nothing is worse than losing control of your character... except when that character starts killing their fellow party members... It's much more fun to turn the tables on the bad guys for a change.

    There just so much of use in this level range and much of it stays useful well into ToB I can't say enough good things about it. Lots of bang for your buck.
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