Learn all about D&D’s scholarly spellcasting class, the wizard
Wizards are scholars who are educated in the ways of magic using spells as a tool to further their own pursuits. Unlike sorcerors, who inherit their magical abilities, and warlocks who are gifted it in a pact, wizards dedicate themselves to endless study in order to gain access to the powers of magic. As such, wizards are capable of hugely powerful feats of magic, though often are not prepared to go toe to toe in melee combat.
How to play as a wizard
As a wizard, you’ll want to maximise your use of intelligence as this is your spellcasting ability. You’ll have a low HP and low AC so you’ll want to steer away from the action as much as possible, especially if you’re using concentration spells. For a wizard, their brain is their greatest asset and will need to be used to its utmost to get themselves out of tricky situations.
Wizard Strengths
Wizards are one of the more versatile of full-spellcasters. Not only do they have a large repertoire of memorised spells (more than any other class), but they’re also able to learn new spells whenever they rest enabling them to adapt to any situation. This does mean that wizards are not just useful in combat, but in a wide variety of situations for which spells might be useful.
Wizard Weaknesses
There’s no surprises here. Wizards are not great with weapons and do not have much HP or AC so are best kept far from combat. Spellcasting is their primary tool and they’re extremely good at it, but in most other areas, wizards tend to find themselves lacking.
Wizard class features
| Party Role | Utility, Spell Damage Dealer, Control |
| Main Ability | Intelligence |
| Saving Throws | Intelligence, Wisdom |
| Hit Dice | 1d6 + Consitution modifier per level |
| HP at 1st Level | 6 + Constitution Modifier |
| Spell Casting Ability | Intelligence |
| Armour Proficiency | None |
| Weapon Proficiency | Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows |
Wizard Abilities
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Spellcasting, Arcane Recovery | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2nd | +2 | Arcane Tradition | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3rd | +2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5th | +3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 6th | +3 | Arcane Tradition Feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7th | +3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9th | +4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | |
| 10th | +4 | Arcane Tradition Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| 11th | +4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 13th | +5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |
| 14th | +5 | Arcane Tradition Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 15th | +5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 17th | +6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 18th | +6 | Spell Mastery | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | Signature Spells | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Wizard subclasses in D&D 5e
| Wizard Arcane Tradition | Subclass Abilities | Source Book | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abjuration | Aburation Savant, Arcane Ward, Projected Ward, Improved Abjuration, Spell Resistance | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in abjuration magic. |
| Conjuration | Conjuration Savant, Minor Conjuration, Benign Transportation, Focused Conjuration, Durable Summons | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in conjuration magic. |
| Divination | Divination Savant, Portent, Expert Divination, The Third Eye, Greater Portent | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in divination magic. |
| Enchantment | Enchantment Savant, Hypnotic Gaze, Instinctive Charm, Split Enchantment, Alter memories | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in enchantment magic. |
| Evocation | Evocation Savant, Sculpt Spells, Potent Cantrip, Empowered Evocation, Overchannel | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in evocation magic. |
| Illusion | Illusion Savant, Improved Minor Illusion, Malleable Illusions, Illusory Self, Illusory Reality | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in illusory magic. |
| Necromancy | Necromancy Savant, Grim Harvest, Undead Thralls, Inured to Undeath, Command Undead | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in necromantic magic. |
| Transmutation | Transmutation Savant, Minor Alchemy, Transmuter’s Stone, Shapechanger, Master Transmuter | Player’s Handbook | Wizards that specialise in transmutation magic. |
| Bladesinging | Training in War and Song, Bladesong, Extra Attack, Song of Defense, Song of Victory | Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything | An order of wizards that incorporates artistic swordsmanship with their magic. |
| War Magic | Arcane Deflection, Tactical Wit, Power Surge, Durable Magic, Deflecting Shroud | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything | Wizards that are adept at casting magic in combat. |
| Chronurgy Magic | Chronal Shift, Temporal Awareness, Momentary Stasis, Arcane Abeyance, Convergent Future | Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount | Wizards that specialise in chronurgic magic. |
| Graviturgy magic | Adjust Density, Gravity Well, Violent Attraction, Event Horizon | Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount | Wizards that specialise in graviturgic magic. |
| Order of Scribes | Wizardly Quill, Awakened Spellbook, Manifest Mind, Master Scrivner, One with the Word | Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything | Lore masters that gain magical mastery through intense study. |
