Spike growth

[PoeticDwarf]

I really like spike growth, but would you say that spike growth is a better second level spell than for example cloud of daggers or another second level damage spell?

[Kryx]

It's absolutely amazing. Probably overpowered. It does a lot of damage.

In 3.X it was a Druid 3, Ranger 2 and did 1d4 per 5ft. Now it is a 2nd level spells that does 2d4 per 5ft.

[TopCheese]

Fantastic Spell, especially if you have thorn whip and an ally that helps keep enemies in there. Saw two open fist monks and a druid absolutely wreck encounters this way. The monks circle the area and knock creatures back in while the druid pulls them in. I think the druid had an 18 AC and a ton of HP.

[hymer]

The damage is highly DM dependent. Most DMs will let you cut non-intelligent enemies to shreds in large numbers as they lumber towards the party. Some DMs will have just one enemy take damage, and from then on, all enemies in that encounter (and possibly later) stay out of the AoE.
Even so, it works wonders against enemies with weak ranged capability, and it can cut off or cover retreats. You can even cast it around yourself, as long as you don't move before dropping Concentration.

[Inevitability]

At low levels, it's pretty great. At higher levels, when most monsters are able to fly, it becomes less interesting, though it has its uses in large-scale battles there.

[TopCheese]

At low levels, it's pretty great. At higher levels, when most monsters are able to fly, it becomes less interesting, though it has its uses in large-scale battles there.

Earthbind works for those without magical flight and a friend could always dispel magical flight (damage or via magic).

[JackPhoenix]

The damage is highly DM dependent. Most DMs will let you cut non-intelligent enemies to shreds in large numbers as they lumber towards the party. Some DMs will have just one enemy take damage, and from then on, all enemies in that encounter (and possibly later) stay out of the AoE.
Even so, it works wonders against enemies with weak ranged capability, and it can cut off or cover retreats. You can even cast it around yourself, as long as you don't move before dropping Concentration.

You're not getting the most use from it by using it as an area-denial spell...you'll get that by Repelling Blast-ing, Open Hand Monk punching or grapple-dragging the enemies through the spell area repeatedly

[TopCheese]

You're not getting the most use from it by using it as an area-denial spell...you'll get that by Repelling Blast-ing, Open Hand Monk punching or grapple-dragging the enemies through the spell area repeatedly

We once had a stone wall semicircle around the edge of spike growth with two monks and a druid knocking them back and forth... They couldn't get away lol

[MaxWilson]

I really like spike growth, but would you say that spike growth is a better second level spell than for example cloud of daggers or another second level damage spell?

It's absolutely fantastic IMO in any scenario with constrained terrain. Cast it centered on a non-flying melee-based enemy, and he has to take at least 20 points of damage closing with you--and it takes him at least a full round of Dashing to get to you. Furthermore, you can always knock him back into the spikes with a Repelling Blast from a warlock, doing +4d4 points of damage per hit in the process. Finally, it scales to large numbers of enemies just like a Fireball does, whether they're all here at once or if they're trickling in over several rounds. And it is only second level.

Spike Growth is one of the handful of spells that I consider worth stealing as a Lore Bard's Magical Secret, especially if there are no rangers or druids in the party. (If there is a druid, other spells like Bless might have priority.)