Spells You Never Use

MikeMasters

I always seem to stick with the same old spells, having played both games countless times I realise that there are spells ive never even used! Most of these spells I never used seem to be quite low level, Which spells am I missing out on guys?

Grease is a spell I can honestly say ive never used or seen used against me for instance, same for Glitterdust.

Permidion_Stark

Cloudkill - I'm hopeless with area effect spells and always end up hitting my own party with them so Cloudkill is definitely out.

Alderic

Glitterdust can actually be quite useful, you should try it in battles when you have invisible assassins going for the backstab.

There are plenty of spells I don't use either. For example - the 5-th level elemental summoning mage spells. They have a chance that the summon will turn against you and priests can summon elementals without that setback. Just not worth the memorization space for me.

MikeMasters

@Permidion_Stark Cloudkill has to be one of the most used spells in my arsenal, great when you can open a door, throw it in then close the door and wait for the screams

alannahsmith

As strange as it is I have never used time stop. By the time I am able to use that spell I would rather save that slot for wail of the banshee or a level 10 spell.

ekster

Flesh to stone and timestop from the top of my head.

MikeMasters

@alannahsmith wail of the banshee is something ive not really used, which situations do you find it most useful?

MikeMasters

@ekster I was never keen on flesh to stone because you wouldn't get the experience or the dropped items im guessing?

Xanthul

Things I never use:

Anything that can potentially destroy loot (disintegrate, flesh to stone, prismatic spray, cone of cold....)

Spell Triggers, I can't be bothered preparing them everyday and wasting a precious higher level slot

All level 9 spells except Time Stop

recklessheart

I use none of the summoning spells (except in BG1, but even then I would only bother with them sparingly), least of all the elemental ones as mentioned by @Alderic.
Of course the exception to the rule are Devas. Furthermore the Web + Spider Spawn combination does seem pretty cool; I might try it some time.

And then of course there is the timeless Ultravision spell, as used by nobody in the history of anything and anywhere ^^

ryu1

After the 1st time I played BG1 & 2, I decided to use spells which I didn't use such as Doom, Blind, Resist Fire/Cold etc. It was a lot of fun to use these 'new' spells. I think that ALL spells are great and effective - it just depends on the situation and the type of character (i.e. offensive mage would likely have high-damage spells and not spells like Sleep or Grease).

alannahsmith

@MikeMasters I like AOE spells because most of the good ones don't effect your party. IE: wail of the banshee, horrid wilting, death spell, etc.

ekster

MikeMasters said:

@ekster I was never keen on flesh to stone because you wouldn't get the experience or the dropped items im guessing?

Yeah, you lose all the loot. And I just find the spell a bit boring to play with. I like to see my enemies squirm and try to run away when near death... only to be finished off by my halfling with a sling!

Tetraploid

I avoid almost any spells that require my mage to touch the target. I'd rather have him/her stay back and fire off long range spells.

MikeMasters

so has anyone actually used Grease as I always fill up lvl1 with identify and magic missles

ekster

I like grease when fighting in small spaces with minions and equip everyone with slings and bows with plain ammo. Makes for good target practice.

Tanthalas

Spells that I have never even considered memorizing include:

- Infravision
- Know alignment
- Detect Evil

Permidion_Stark

Tanthalas said:

Spells that I have never even considered memorizing include:

- Infravision
- Know alignment
- Detect Evil

I wouldn't memorise Detect Evil but I use it a lot when I am playing a paladin and you get it as an innate ability. For one thing it gives you far too much information. You cast the spell before going into a new area and you won't only be told what evil creatures await you but also if there are any creatures with magic resistance lurking nearby. Handy if there happens to be an Adamantite Golem around the corner.

waardenius

The vast majority, in fact. Every spell level has a couple of basically useless spells, and at least half of them doesn't suit my playstyle.

All the touch spells as well as all the enchanted weapons I find particulary mystifing.

Tanthalas

@waardenius

I actually used Flame Blade to kill trolls.

MikeMasters

whats the one spell you never used for a long time, then one day tried it and fell inlove? for me it has to be melfs meteors

DJKajuru

Prismatic spray and grease nearly useless. At low levels you've got better options, such as sleep or web, and later on evryone else is immune...

ryu1

I guess for me it would be the Goodberry spell

BaldursCat

Permidion_Stark said:

Cloudkill - I'm hopeless with area effect spells and always end up hitting my own party with them so Cloudkill is definitely out.

The only time I've used that (so far) was

dealing with the Cult in BGII, I actually used a wand rather than the spell, had Aerie sneak into the room with the mindflayers (invisible, hasted and brain drain protected up to the eyeballs) unleashed the spell and leg it, slamming the door behind her! It worked too.

But generally I'm useless with those area spells too, I always end up entangled, or stuck in a web because I end up with my party too close when I cast. I think I'll have to change my tactics a bit to use them.

AHF

For spells through level 4 that I never use:

Blindness
Chill Touch
Infravision
Reflected Image
Shocking Grasp

Deafness
Ghoul Touch
Luck
Power Word, Sleep
Ray of Enfeeblement

Clairvoyance
Detect Illusion
Hold Undead
Minor Spell Deflection
Non-Dection
Spell Thrust

Confusion
Contagion
Enchanted Weapon
Farsight
Polymorph Other
Secret Word

Detect Evil
Magic Stone
Shillelagh

Good Berries
Know Alignment
Silence 15' Radius
Spiritual Hammer

Glyph of Warding
Hold Animal
Miscast Magic
Rigid Thinking
Strength of One
Unholy Blight (not Holy Smite which is great)

Cloak of Fear
Farsight


Any cause wound spells other than Hurt.

BaldursCat

Tanthalas said:

@waardenius

I actually used Flame Blade to kill trolls.

Me too, super useful in the Nalia quest when you're short on flame & acid arrows.

AHF

MikeMasters said:

whats the one spell you never used for a long time, then one day tried it and fell inlove? for me it has to be melfs meteors

Teleport Field. Never really used it and then found it is really, really useful against melee opponents.

Melf's Meteors is great.

Son_of_Imoen

MikeMasters said:

so has anyone actually used Grease as I always fill up lvl1 with identify and magic missles

Grease is nice when a low-level party fights monsters that hit hard and can easily kill low-level characters if they get too close like ogre berserkers, especially grouped together (often with ogres and half-ogres): cast grease where you know they are, then step forward and you can pepper them while they struggle to get to you, taking the ones that make it through the greasy stuff in ones or twos with my tanks (usually Ajantis and Branwen).

Son_of_Imoen

A spell I never use is non-detection: such a waste of a third level slot. Yet I absolutely love the cloak of non-detection, but 3rd level slots are just too valuable for a spell that's just a support spell for another spell - and a lower level one at that (invisibility).

DJKajuru

These less popular spells should have been more used by enemies - an enemy mage who casts deafness or polyphorm other would be interesting.

AHF

DJKajuru said:

These less popular spells should have been more used by enemies - an enemy mage who casts deafness or polyphorm other would be interesting.

Interesting, but even easier to beat. Now if they started flinging webs, stinking clouds, etc. then that would start getting both interesting and deadly for the party.