What are the best candidate spells for Contingency?

[Zubrowka74]

As stated in the title, given the limitations of the Contingency spell in Pathfinder, what are the best spells to use?

[StreamOfTheSky]

Resilient Sphere
Emergency Force Sphere
Breath of Life*
Heal*
Teleport
Dimension Door
Greater Invisibility
Mirror Image

*Divine spells, so not an option for most with Contingency

[Mirakk]

Contingency: Mirror Image is kind of a waste, considering Greater Mirror Image exists and is an immediate action that also creates additional images, thus making it strictly better.


Not picking, but trying to be helpful here. You could definitely do better on that one!

[StreamOfTheSky]

Contingency: Mirror Image is kind of a waste, considering Greater Mirror Image exists and is an immediate action that also creates additional images, thus making it strictly better.


Not picking, but trying to be helpful here. You could definitely do better on that one!

Yeah, the Mirror Image one was kind of a lazy addition on my part, I forgot that GMI exists in PF.

I suppose I should add my old standby choice for Contingency: Mage's Lucubration. Not to save you in an emergency, but simply for the ability to call up any 5th level or lower spell you know on the spot whenever needed. Cause what wizard *doesn't* put dozens of incredibly situational spells into his spellbook? My trigger for the contingency was having my character declare,"I came re-prepared for this!" :smallwink:

[andreww]

Yeah, the Mirror Image one was kind of a lazy addition on my part, I forgot that GMI exists in PF.
Which PF source is Greater Mirror Image in as I am not finding it anywhere.

[Mirakk]

Which PF source is Greater Mirror Image in as I am not finding it anywhere.

Ah! When I'd made the original reply I didn't catch the fact we were talking about pathfinder. I didn't read properly apparently.

It may or may not exist! Sorry!

[MightyPirate]

It isn't in Pathfinder to my knowledge. This actually makes mirror image a decent option before more powerful spells become available. Protection from Evil (or other), Antimagic Field (to protect conjurations from Disjunction) are decent options. If plundering contingency as a cleric, druid, or oracle you also really like the antilife shell option.

[Zubrowka74]

And since it only allows one to be active at a time, would you say this is a waste of known spell for a spontaneous caster?

[Sayt]

Resilient Sphere
Emergency Force Sphere


Really? it's an immediate action, it doesn't really need to be contingent. Assuming a decent perception score, I guess.

Globe of Invulnerability isn't a bad choice, seeing as most blasting optimizations tend to use scorching ray as a base point. My runesmith has this in case the parties spellwarp sniper decides to off him with occular maximised blah blah blah scorching rays for 300 odd damage or something. (It's a tense party).

Resist Energy, if your GM lets you choose the element when the contingency triggers.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Really? it's an immediate action, it doesn't really need to be contingent. Assuming a decent perception score, I guess.

Yeah, I listed it mainly because you can't take immediate actions when flatfooted, so EFS, while quite overpowered and useful as a panic button on its own, still has some use for contingency, if you're really paranoid. Perhaps it doesn't belong on the list of good choices, though.

[nedz]

And since it only allows one to be active at a time, would you say this is a waste of known spell for a spontaneous caster?

It depends upon your strategy. It probably wouldn't be your first choice of spells known at that level and you could always buy scrolls of Contingency.

[andreww]

And since it only allows one to be active at a time, would you say this is a waste of known spell for a spontaneous caster?
Paragon Surge or a Scroll with Mnemonic Vestment are probably better options.

[Zubrowka74]

It depends upon your strategy. It probably wouldn't be your first choice of spells known at that level and you could always buy scrolls of Contingency.

Yeah, considering that the spell is 1500 GP a casting and the scroll is... 1650 ?

EDIT: And also, Limited Wish would work for this, albeit a level higher. In downtime this doesn't change a thing.

[Sayt]

It's a 1500 gp focus, not material component. It's reusable.

[Zubrowka74]

It's a 1500 gp focus, not material component. It's reusable.

True. Got mixed up with limited wish.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Mythic Contingency adds half your tier to the number you can have up. Thought I might put that out there.