The Magic Missile Build: Creating a True Master of Arcane Destruction in D&D 5e

The magic missile spell in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is a popular choice among spellcasters, especially those looking for a reliable source of damage. Known for its simplicity and effectiveness, this spell has become a staple in many wizard's or sorcerer's arsenal. At its core, magic missile is a 1st-level evocation spell that allows the caster to create darts of magical force and hurl them at their enemies. What makes this spell particularly unique is that it automatically hits its target, bypassing the need for an attack roll. This is a huge advantage, especially for spellcasters who may not have high attack bonuses. When casting magic missile, the player rolls a number of darts determined by the spell's level.

Another variant of this spell was slingstar, which allowed a mage to imbue her or his sling with magical energy. The caster evoked a number of magic missiles by using small stones or bullets as an added material component. [26]

It gives you a more accurate answer and doesn t waste time with people wondering what system you re talking about or giving answers for a different system or reading your post if they re really not interested in that RPG system. My best argument that magic missiles are not homing missiles and cannot fly around corners is that if they could, a Shield spell would not be an effective defense.

When casting magic missile, the player rolls a number of darts determined by the spell's level. At 1st level, the spellcaster creates three darts. Each dart deals 1d4+1 force damage, making the spell's total damage potential between 4 and 13 points of damage.

Can magic missiles shoot around corners?

Specifically, if a wizard sees an enemy through scrying or other indirect means, could he hit him with a magic missile even if it must navigate around corners?

Bonedagger

First Post

The question could be if you can target a creature/person with a "Target" spell (e. g. Magic Missile, Charm Person, Dominate Person etc.) if you are detecting the target through divination, and if the target is within range of a unblocked parth.

. I would say yes. But spells have limited range and often the unblocked path is much longer than the actually distance.

Kraedin

First Post

Bonedagger

First Post

Well. Yes. But the question is if they took into account that certain spells allows you to look around corners. In the case of selfguiding spells you must assume that they are able to change direction in midair. Otherwise they wouldn't have a 100 % hit chance.

In the case of a fireball that need to be targeted at a certain area a straight-path line of effect makes sense.

Kraedin

First Post

Line of effect rules apply, clairvoyance or no. The ability to see the proposed target is immaterial.

PHB, pg. 150 A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can effect. [y]ou must have a clear line of effect to any target that you cast a spell on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect.

Bonedagger

First Post

Line of effect rules apply, clairvoyance or no. The ability to see the proposed target is immaterial.

The question is if that apply to selfguiding spells like MM. It certainly doesn't apply to the spell Clairvoyance.

(It only says that you must be able to see or touch the target)

Bonedagger

First Post

Kraedin

First Post

Magic Missile includes no text that supercedes the general LOE rule. It still applies. Clairvoyance does include text that supercedes the general LOE rule, so it doesn't apply to that spell.

Bonedagger

First Post

Lela

First Post

Under the same argument presented above I could set up a serries of Mirrors that would allow me to Magic Missile, Charm Person, and Dominate Person around corners (and other areas). I don't see this working.

This also leeds into the Rays bouncing off mirrors argument (which I also believe doesn't happen in magic).

Kraedin

First Post

PHB, pg. 148 Line of Effect: A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier. It's like line of sight for ranged weapons, except it's not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight.

You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you cast a spell on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect (such as conjuring a monster). You must have a clear line of effect to the point of origin of any spell you cast, such as a the central point of a ireball. For bursts, cones, cylinders, and emanating spells, the spell only affects areas, creatures, or objects to which it has line of effect from its origin (a burst's point, a cone's starting point, a cylinder's circle, or an emanating spell's point of origin).

You'll note that in the LOE text, it talks about spells with targets, spells with effects, and spells with areas. It also give the specific example of fireball and a "conjured" (presumably summoned or called) monster. Fireball is an Area spell, and Summon Monster is an Effect spell, yet both of these must follow LOE rules. So too must Target spells, a category which includes magic missle.

EDIT: Hey, Bonedagger, you removed the post that this was a reply to, and know it seems rather nonsensical. You can't do that to my posts!

Bonedagger

First Post

Clairvoyance does include text that supercedes the general LOE rule, so it doesn't apply to that spell.

BTW. Thought "Line of effect" was an aiming definition. Looks like that unless you actually read the text closely.

Oh. Well. I would allow target spells to "hunt" down their targets. It's not like they have that long a range anyway.

Bonedagger

First Post

EDIT: Hey, Bonedagger, you removed the post that this was a reply to, and know it seems rather nonsensical. You can't do that to my posts!

Sorry. I removed it as almost as soon as I had posted it.

I had never read the targetting rules closely. Thought "line of effect" was an aiming definition. I discovered my error as soon as I pressed the submit button.

(So instead there is only Area, Effect and Target). hmm

Alcamtar

Explorer

My best argument that magic missiles are not "homing missiles" and cannot fly around corners is that if they could, a Shield spell would not be an effective defense. Shield is a small disk which moves to intercept attacks, and thus intercepts magic missiles -- therefore they are interceptable. Presumably the reason there is no save is that the missiles are too fast for anything other than magic to possibly intercept. While you could argue that the Shield spell contains text specifically regarding magic missiles, it also has a specific explanation of how it works, so the two must be taken together.

My second argument is that this is a first level spell. It's already one of the most powerful and useful spells in the game, since it always hits, can disrupt enemy spellcasters with no chance of failure, and can damage any creature regardless of immunities. In terms of average damage, at 9th level caster ability it is equal to a 10 dice fireball or lightning bolt if the victim is likely to save, or 21 dice if maximized and empowered (11th level caster). Of course no area of effect, but other advantages more than make up for this.

Allowing it to zip through pinholes or down zigzag pipes and seek targets around corners makes it a very powerful sniping weapon, since it would allow the wizard to basically attack without fear of counterattack.

Allowing it to zip through pinholes or down zigzag pipes and seek targets around corners makes it a very powerful sniping weapon, since it would allow the wizard to basically attack without fear of counterattack.

What sets magic missile apart from other spells is its ability to target multiple creatures. The spellcaster can choose to distribute the darts among multiple targets or focus all the darts on one enemy. This versatility allows for strategic decision-making during combat, as the player must determine whether it's better to spread the damage or focus on eliminating a single threat. Another advantage of magic missile is that it cannot be counterspelled. Since the spell automatically hits its target, it is not considered a spell attack, and therefore, cannot be interrupted by a counterspell. This can be a significant advantage, especially when facing spellcasters known for their defensive abilities. Furthermore, magic missile is not affected by cover or a target's Armor Class, making it a reliable source of damage even against heavily armored foes. Additionally, the force damage inflicted by the spell is often not resisted by many creatures, making it useful against a wide range of enemies. While magic missile may not possess the same flashy effects or area-of-effect damage as higher-level spells, its simplicity and reliability make it a go-to choice for many spellcasters. Whether in the hands of a low-level novice or a seasoned adventurer, this spell proves to be a valuable asset in any magical arsenal..

Reviews for "The Art of the Magic Missile: Analyzing the Aesthetic and Design of the Spell"

- John Doe - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic missile 5e widkid". The gameplay was repetitive and lacked depth. The graphics were outdated and the controls were clunky. The story was also quite uninteresting and I found it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this game to others as there are much better options available in the genre.

- Jane Smith - 1 star - "Magic missile 5e widkid" was a complete letdown. The game was filled with bugs and glitches that made it nearly unplayable. The audio was also extremely poor quality, which detracted from the overall experience. I found myself getting frustrated and bored within the first hour of playing. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this game.

- Mark Johnson - 2 stars - As a fan of fantasy RPGs, I was excited to try out "Magic missile 5e widkid", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The gameplay was repetitive and lacked variety. The character customization options were limited and the progression system felt unbalanced. Additionally, the game had numerous technical issues, such as frequent crashes and long loading times. Overall, "Magic missile 5e widkid" fell short in delivering an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.

Approaching Combat with Magic Missile: Tactical Insights for Wizards in 5e