Wizard question: secondary attributes for each spell specialization?

[DevonH]

Hello! I am planning on playing a Wizard in an up-and-coming campaign, but I am unsure of how to spend my points on secondary attributes in a manner that fits well with any of the Spell Schools(and I am still deciding what spell school to focus on). I know my main attributes will always be constitution, and intelligence since its just common-sense, but my left over points have to go somewhere else...

Thanks in advance too anyone who can answer my question.

[Naanomi]

With few exceptions, wizards are basically... INT>DEX=CON>WIS>STR=CHA

Spell school doesn’t matter much in this; though a specific concept might tie in both

[PeteNutButter]

With few exceptions, wizards are basically... INT>DEX=CON>WIS>STR=CHA

Spell school doesn’t matter much in this; though a specific concept might tie in both

Basically this. I value con slightly more than dex though. Preferably both at least 14, but if I can have another 16 to start, con is better than dex. Unless you plan on multiclassing or going bladesinger you’re AC will always be on the weak side so it’s better to be able to take the inevitable hit than try to avoid it. The fact that concentration saves are con saves makes con the clear winner.

Dump cha and str entirely. Wisdom might be nice to have some but you’re proficiency in the save can make up for it if you have to dump it as well.

[Naanomi]

Basically this. I value con slightly more than dex though. Preferably both at least 14, but if I can have another 16 to start, con is better than dex. Unless you plan on multiclassing or going bladesinger you’re AC will always be on the weak side so it’s better to be able to take the inevitable hit than try to avoid it. The fact that concentration saves are con saves makes con the clear winner.
I tend for CON over DEX as well unless I am focusing on Stealth in some way... but it is close enough that I feel comfortable putting them as ‘=‘.

Depending on Race, and if you are planning on getting ‘Resiliant CON’, both will be between 14-17 most of the time anyways

[ZorroGames]

Well, I am thinking of playing a Mountain Dwarf Wizard but not sure if you can tie non-IN stats to a particular school. Never thought of trying that.

ST 0+2 = 10 (minimum due to racials)
DE 7 = 14 (Medium Armor when can afford it)
CO 7+2 = 16 (+3 HPs per level on a D6)
IN 9 = 15. (Casting)
WI. 4 = 12 (+1 Saves)
CH. 0 = 8 (“Get off my grass, you kids!”)

Traditionally people suggest Abjuration for Dwarf Wizards. Light/Medium Armor plus DE I expect one of the reasons.

[Naanomi]

ST 0+2 = 10 (minimum due to racials)
DE 7 = 14 (Medium Armor when can afford it)
CO 7+2 = 16 (+3 HPs per level on a D6)
IN 9 = 15. (Casting)
WI. 4 = 12 (+1 Saves)
CH. 0 = 8 (“Get off my grass, you kids!”) .
Looks passable, pick up ‘Resiliant: Constitution’ and drop an ASI to round out those odd INT/CON scores and it should be all good

[Klorox]

In 2e, all the specialist wizards needed a 15 or 16 in a secondary stat.

The only ones I remember off hand (keep in mind I’m AFB and on my 4th beer) is illusionists needing a 16 DEX and conjurors needing a 16 CON.

[SharkForce]

i would argue that enchanters can benefit considerably from having passable charisma. apart from that, nothing special unless perhaps you're multiclassing; if you want a cleric dip, you'll need wis 13, for example, and if you're getting heavy armour proficiency out of it you may not care as much about dex.

so really, put your attributes how you like them, pretty much... or, to put it another way... what tasks apart from int-based checks would you like your wizard to be good at? what tool and skill proficiencies are you considering for your character?

[JellyPooga]

i would argue that enchanters can benefit considerably from having passable charisma. apart from that, nothing special unless perhaps you're multiclassing; if you want a cleric dip, you'll need wis 13, for example, and if you're getting heavy armour proficiency out of it you may not care as much about dex.

so really, put your attributes how you like them, pretty much... or, to put it another way... what tasks apart from int-based checks would you like your wizard to be good at? what tool and skill proficiencies are you considering for your character?

I'd add Illusionists to the "we like Charisma" camp. Abjurers that go martial will want better Dex/Con and perhaps Str than your "tradtional" Wizard, as might a Necromancer looking to use Vampiric Touch and Grim Harvest. Other than that, yeah, I can't add much.

[TheUser]

I'd say that only a few specializations can change stat priorities.

For most Wizards it's Int > Dex = Con > Wis > Cha = Str

Only two schools promote different stat priorities and it's not until the mid/end game:

Enchanters want some Cha because of their level 14 ability to memory wipe (derived from Charisma modifier).

Necromancers are one of the few Wizards that can have sub optimal intelligence since Animate Dead doesn't scale off of Int at all.

[ZorroGames]

Looks passable, pick up ‘Resiliant: Constitution’ and drop an ASI to round out those odd INT/CON scores and it should be all good

Yes, IN is 15 but CO is 16 (14+2) so that should be good. IN feats seem okay, anyone better than the others significantly? Last wizard (OD&D 16th Level) played was 1980s reunion game and my wife actually played it.

EDIT: Ah, Resilient con will bump it to 17. :smalleek:

[Citan]

With few exceptions, wizards are basically... INT>DEX=CON>WIS>STR=CHA

Spell school doesn’t matter much in this; though a specific concept might tie in both
So much this.
Favoring DEX over CON, or CON over DEX, will mainly depend on your playstyle, party composition and how you think about building your Wizard.

Only a few schools may justify another approach to cater to a very specific build like...
- Abjuration Wizard that often wants good STR instead for heavy armor because he took a dip in Fighter, or...
- Enchanter that pushes CON ahead to help concentration, or...
- Conjurer being fine with medium CON because conjuration concentration won't be broken past a point (so he bets on surviving until then), or...
- Bladesinger that dedicates himself to fighting so favors DEX first for better damage, defense (Mage Armor + Mirror Image) and Initiative...
- Any school of Wizard that instead bets on 14 WIS to dip into a Cleric for (heavy) armor, spells and other perks...

But except those specific examples, or other extremely niche case of Wizards playing only one small aspect of their power, or cases of Wizard being actually just a dip/multiclass on top of another one...
I don't see any Wizard that would not want a maxed INT as fast as possible. :)
Nor I see any Wizard that wouldn't want at least a 14 in DEX (decent-ish AC and Dex saves) and CON (decent-ish HP and concentration saves) whatever happens...
So that kinda limits the possibilities with point-buy or fixed array. XD

EDIT: good catch guys on the schools benefitting from CHA (Illusionists/Enchanters) and Necros being fine with low INT. Totally forgot about them. ; )

[Slipperychicken]

I've found that armor class in 5e to be almost more important to durability in many cases. Once you have 12 or 14 in con, I say go boost your AC in any way you can. That can mean being a mountain dwarf, having a level in cleric or fighter, casting mage armor or shield, constantly taking cover and going prone in combat, and so on.

[Naanomi]

Most necros want high INT though because 1) they don’t have much need for other stats either; and 2) they are still probably tossing out Attack cantrips

They can survive with less to be sure, but it probably doesn’t change the priority math in most cases

[Slipperychicken]

Most necros want high INT though because 1) they don’t have much need for other stats either

Any necromancer worth the title should at least have the charisma to deliver a decent monologue and look scary, if not to perform dance-moves as needed. No one wants to see their necromancer boss-fight enter the arena stuttering and wringing his hands, that's just awkward. You need a bit of stage-presence to fit the image properly.