Magic Missile: Meat Seeking Missiles
Spell Level: 1
School: Evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Duration: Instantaneous
Components: V, S
You create three glowing darts of magical force. Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range. A dart deals 1d4 + 1 force damage to its target. The darts all strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one creature or several.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the spell creates one more dart for each slot level above 1st.
Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
There is a reason Magic Missile is one of the most iconic D&D spells ever conceived. This simple, effected damage tool gives you exactly what you ask for when cast. You get three missiles that deal 1d4+1 damage that hit up to three creatures. You basically get to assign these d4s anywhere you’d like, no chance of failure, no funny business. Therein lies the power of Magic Missile.
What’s wild to me about it is how it compares up to spells like Chromatic Orb. 1d4+1*3 has a higher damage floor, is dealing only three less average damage, but very crucially, CAN NOT MISS. You’re trading three average damage and a chance at a higher damage ceiling for needing to assign all the damage to one target every time AND the chance to miss and do nothing. Outside of the rare target with Shield, Magic Missile will always deal you that sweet force damage, and offer you the choice to distribute it as you please.
Magic Missile doesn’t stack up particularly well against area of effect damage spells when all you’re in the market for is raw damage to lots of things. If your goal is to kill a swarm of goblins, a flamethrower like Burning Hands is often going to over double the total damage Magic Missile can put out. Magic Missile stands out then in fights spread across large spaces or few enemies. Knowing something is on death’s door and sending one missile out it to finish the job while having two more to sink into the other big brute bashing the barbarians brains out is handy, and way more effective than an AOE effect may be in that circumstance.
If you’re looking for consistency, look no further than Magic Missile. This is a stand out consistent first level spell. It's not something you’ll be routinely casting in the upper tiers, but for the first few levels of the game, it's a great option to have access to.
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