Non-combat 6-th level Magic Secrets?

[Tangleweed]

So, I play a lore bard that is about to hit that sweet 6th level and get that sweet magical secrets. However, I am a bit unsure on what spells to pick and I was hoping for some advice. This character does not like combat nor is a combatant. They are able to provide some assistance through illusions, inspiration, de/buffs and such but does not do blasting or direct damage. Their magic is more along the line of summoning a bunch of unseen servants to magically clean out that dusty house or cast a couple of illusions and give a speech to incite a revolt or bolster the morale of troops in combat.

Do you guys have any advice on cool out-of combat spells to pick up that is both thematically valid and usefull? Counterspell I feel could fit thematically and be of use, but I am not married to the idea. I also thought Animate Dead could be cool (the image of playing music to animate bodies to fight for you or otherwise help out seems supercool to me) but I am unsure how usefull it would be. Phantasmal steed also seems cool. Ritual cast it to get some fast mounts for the party seems cool. Its such a hard choice. Cool triumphs usefullness, but I dont wanna pick something completely useless at the same time.

Have you guys got any advice for me?

[DwarfDM]

Check Treantmonk's guide to wizards. He has a guide for all spells wizards can choose. A great place to start.

[DwarfDM]

Check Treantmonk's guide to wizards. He has a guide for all spells wizards can choose. A great place to start.

But my personal choice: Counterspell and Aura of Vitality (20d6 healing over 1 minute with a 3rd level slot)

[diplomancer]

There are two technically combat spells that have great utility, Thunderstep (short distance teleport for two; if stealth is an issue ritual cast silence first) and Enlarge/Reduce (it targets objects, has a lot of uses if you are imaginative enough)

And if you do get to combat they would still help you. Thunderstep takes you OUT of combat, so very thematic.

[DrKerosene]

Hex is a no-save ability check debuff that may wildly swing the direction of a social encounter, or contests. It could be cast on a rat (and then killed) before hand and silently moved onto a target.

It can also be used in combat it you plan to dual weild thrown weapons for the most part.

Revivify and Gentle Repose are a combo that isn’t for combat, technically.

It’s a Bard spell, but do you already have Magic Mouth?

[nickl_2000]

Bards are amazing with Counterspell. With the Jack of All Trades they actually get half-prof added to Counterspell checks, so that is a no brainer.

As for other Spells I would look at.
Conjure Animals - You can summon horses for the party or Giant Owls to carry them, or make a fur wall in battle. Also can be upcast
Fly - Great both in combat and out of it. You can solve a lot of problems by being able to fly. Can be upcast to help more people
Leomund's Tiny Hut - Great to always have a place to stay. What foppish bard wants to sleep outside! - Don't do this, it's already on the list. I just missed it.
Water Walk - Highly situational, but flat out amazing when you are in that situation
Healing Spirit - Because it's an amazing healing spell.
Find Steed - Get yourself an intelligent mount friend
Tensor's Floating Disk - You can make yourself a stage anytime, anywhere
Find Familiar - Another animal friend option. Great for scouting and many other things.

[diplomancer]

One other thing I would like to add; if you do decide to add a combat spell, try to avoid concentration ones, as Bards have so many wonderful spells that require concentration. You don't want to spend one of your few magical secrets on a spell you are not going to use regularly for most of the campaign;

With that said... though I am a huge fan of Find Steed, if the campaign is going to very high levels I would wait to get Find Greater Steed at 10th level, unless your DM allows retraining magical secrets.

For both of those reasons, I would not recommend fly.

[Merudo]

Leomund's Tiny Hut - Great to always have a place to stay. What foppish bard wants to sleep outside!


Why would a Bard waste a Magical Secret on a spell already on the bard spell list?

[nickl_2000]

Why would a Bard waste a Magical Secret on a spell already on the bard spell list?

Because I'm an idiot and completely missed that when I was researching spells. Thanks, I fixed it.

[Tangleweed]

Tanka for all the suggestions ya all. Really helpful. Still can’t decide though. :D

[KillingTime]

Pass Without Trace