Malcolm Rivera
In Pathfinder, magic is classified through four traditions: arcane, divine, occult, and primal. Each tradition wields power over two of the four essences: matter, spirit, mind, and life. Magic is exhibited in many forms, including spells and magic items, and is applied in many ways, including arcane, divine, occult, and primal practices. In the game, magic is considered weak in the low levels, with casters only being able to cast a couple of weak spells each day. However, as players level up, they gain access to higher-level spells and become more powerful, with magic dealing more damage and having more impact on the battlefield.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Magic in Pathfinder | Weak at the start, becomes very powerful later on |
| Spell casters | Start out weak, gain higher-level spells as they level up |
| Magic missile | Particularly bad at dealing damage, but consistent |
| Level 1 spell | Grease, Color Spray, Sleep, Shocking Grasp, Snowball |
| Level 3 spells | Ray of frost, jolt, acid splash |
| Default attack method | Crossbow |
| Magical traditions | Arcane, Divine, Occult, Primal |
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What You'll Learn
Magic starts weak but gets stronger
In Pathfinder, magic is a mysterious supernatural force that is used by many inhabitants of Golarion and the multiverse. It is exhibited in many forms, including spells and magic items, and is applied in many ways, including arcane, divine, occult, and primal practices. Pathfinder Second Edition uses four magical traditions to classify magic, while the First Edition used three.
In the early stages of the game, it is recommended to focus on control spells such as Grease and Stinking Cloud rather than damage-dealing spells. The best level 1 spell is probably Grease, while Color Spray and Sleep are also strong picks. These spells can help win entire encounters at once by inflicting conditions on a group of enemies.
As players progress in the game, they can access more powerful spells such as magic missile, which is particularly bad in dealing damage but is still picked for its consistent damage output. Wizards become very powerful at higher levels, and magic can be used to do things that no one else can, such as controlling the battlefield.
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Arcane, Divine, Occult, Primal magic types
In Pathfinder, there are four types of magic: arcane, divine, occult, and primal. Each tradition wields power over two of the four essences: matter, spirit, mind, and life.
Arcane Magic
Arcane magic is the most versatile and powerful tradition. It includes classic spells like Shrink Item, which allows you to nest Glyphs of Warding, and easy access to minions from level 1. Arcanists, bards, bloodragers, magi, skalds, sorcerers, summoners, witches, and wizards can all cast arcane spells, as can others who study the arts of spellcraft or have an innate talent for spellcasting.
Divine Magic
Divine spellcasters include clerics, druids, inquisitors, oracles, shamans, warpriests, and experienced paladins and rangers. Divine casters sometimes refer to their spells as prayers.
Occult Magic
Occult rituals can be practiced by people untrained in magic and by those who lack innate power. It is feared by most traditional spellcasters as it is hard to control, can grant tremendous power, and can unleash horrors upon the world. Psychic spellcasters include mediums, mesmerists, occultists, psychics, and spiritualists.
Primal Magic
Primal magic has some really good blasting, healing, and buffing spells. For example, volcanic eruption has side-effect debuffs, and druids can pick up tempest surge, which is hard to inflict on enemies otherwise.
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Spellcasters: Wizards, Bards, Inquisitors
In Pathfinder, magic is classified through four magical traditions: arcane, divine, occult, and primal. Spellcasters like Wizards, Bards, and Inquisitors fall under the arcane and divine categories, respectively.
Wizards start off weak, only being able to cast a few spells each day, but they become very powerful later on. At the beginning, they rely on control spells like Grease and Stinking Cloud, and target conditions with spells like Color Spray, Sleep, and Grease. As they level up, they gain access to higher-level spells and can cast more spells per day.
Bards and Inquisitors cast spells spontaneously without preparation but have a more limited selection of spells. They are also limited to a certain number of spells cast every sleep cycle, except for cantrips (arcane) or orisons (divine), which are virtually unlimited.
While magic starts off weak in Pathfinder, it becomes very powerful later on, and this is especially true for Wizards. They may not be the best damage dealers, but they can control the battlefield and do things that no one else can.
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Magic Missile: Bad for damage, good for consistency
In Pathfinder, magic is considered a weak damage dealer at the lower levels, with Magic Missile being particularly ineffective in dealing damage. However, Magic Missile stands out for its consistency in delivering damage.
Magic Missile is a spell that creates three glowing darts of magical force, each dealing 1d4+1 force damage to the target of your choice within range. The darts strike simultaneously, and you can direct them to hit one or multiple creatures. While the damage dealt may not be impressive, the spell has the advantage of dealing force damage, which very few creatures can resist. Additionally, Magic Missile never misses its target, ensuring a guaranteed amount of damage with each cast.
At higher levels, the spell becomes more potent, creating one additional dart for each spell slot above the first level. This means that at higher levels, Magic Missile can deal more consistent damage compared to other spells that rely on dice rolls for damage calculation.
While Magic Missile may not be the flashiest or most powerful spell, it is an essential option for sorcerers and wizards, especially when combined with other spells that control the battlefield. It provides a reliable source of damage that can be directed at specific targets, making it a valuable tool in a caster's arsenal, even if it doesn't deliver the highest damage output.
In summary, Magic Missile in Pathfinder may not be the best choice for dealing high damage, but it excels in providing consistent and reliable damage output, especially at higher levels. Its ability to deal force damage and never miss makes it a valuable tool for casters, even if they have to rely on other spells or abilities for more impactful attacks.
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Grease, Color Spray, Sleep: Strong spells
In Pathfinder, magic is often considered weak at lower levels and becomes more powerful later on. At lower levels, magic is a poor damage dealer, and magic missile, in particular, is considered a bad choice for dealing damage. However, magic can be used to win entire encounters with spells that inflict conditions. Grease, Color Spray, and Sleep are considered strong spells for low-level characters.
Grease is a spell that can be used to cover a solid surface with slippery grease, creating a hazardous area that can cause creatures to slip and fall. It can also be used to create a greasy coating on items, affecting multiple targets.
Color Spray and Sleep are both save-or-lose spells that are very effective against low-CR enemies with weak Will saves. Sleep can be cast from a safer distance than Color Spray, making it ideal for spellcasters who want to stay out of harm's way. Sleep also has a longer duration, which can be useful for avoiding combat altogether.
Color Spray, on the other hand, belongs to the Illusion school, and its effects cannot be easily countered by another foe. It has a shorter range than Sleep but can be easier to avoid hitting allies with in certain situations. Color Spray is particularly effective when used in narrow corridors or against enemies grouped closely together.
While Grease, Color Spray, and Sleep are considered strong spells for low-level characters in Pathfinder, the effectiveness of spells can vary depending on the situation and the types of enemies encountered.
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Frequently asked questions
In Pathfinder, magic is classified through four magical traditions: arcane, divine, occult, and primal. Each tradition wields power over two of the four essences: matter, spirit, mind, and life.
Magic is considered weak in the low levels, with casters only being able to cast a few weak spells each day. It starts to improve once players reach level 3 spells (wizard level 5).
Moderate magic in Pathfinder occurs when casters can cast more spells per day and gain access to higher-level spells.
Strong magic in Pathfinder is achieved when wizards become very powerful, with access to a wide range of high-level spells and the ability to cast more spells per day.
Some examples of weak magic spells in Pathfinder include "magic missile", "ray of frost", "jolt", and "acid splash."
Examples of strong magic spells in Pathfinder include "Grease", "Color Spray", "Sleep", "Shocking Grasp", and "Snowball."
