D&D 5E - Does Anyone Use Hold Monster?

Posted by Almeda Bohannan on Friday, May 3, 2024
At low level (and 7th level is still rather low) save or suck spells in 5th edition appear worthless, since every monster stands a good chance of making its save, regardless of what ability you target.

The true value in save or suck spells comes at higher levels.

The secret is that your save DC steadily increases, but the saving throw bonuses of monsters don't. (As long as you target weak abilities intelligently)

This means that one and the same spell, cast in the same slot as before, becomes MORE powerful as you level up.

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At the same time, the cost of a given spell drops dramatically after you first get the chance to use it.

At 3rd level, casting Hold Person means using 50% of your best spells, and 1/6 of all spell slots.

At 13th level, casting Hold Person is MUCH cheaper. It's now only 1/17 of all spell slots (likely even less considering the chance of you looting wands and scrolls etc), and it's not even close to one of your best spells.

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So.

The price goes down (dramatically for lowest levelled spells).

The power goes up (significantly, at top level you should look at a save DC close to 20, which is nearly impossible for most creatures to make, given a weak ability and no proficiency).

You see where this is headed...?

In conclusion: when you first gain Hold Person, it truly is as weak as you think it is.
*) or Monster

But don't give up on it. Five or fifteen levels later, you would do well in giving it a second look.

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