Favorite 0-Level SPells

[KitsuneKionchi]

I almost feel like the title of the thread itself is enough...

I recently designed an NPC who dubbed herself "the cantrip queen". She's exactly what she sounds like: a caster who specializes in cantrips (especially those modified with metamagic). I had a long list of some super cheesy stuff (usually involving making the spell damaging with Black Moil, then making the spell explosive, etc... and killing people with Messages and Arcane Marks), but it might be better just to post one at a time while I see other people discuss their favorite cantrips and/or use of cantrips.

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Thus so far my favorite use of a 0 level slot has been using Mage Hand to ensure a thrown inhaled poison cloud never dissipates (err or dissipates slower). Unfortunately I just used it to bar off an entrance to help the PCs out when more wasps were gonna swarm in and attack...I say unfortunately because I'd rather use it as I walk through a dungeon...just have a cloud of poison lead the party...

[Deth Muncher]

inb4 Prestidigitation.

EDIT: Anyway. Cure Minor Wounds is great, especially if you can get it in an unlimited charge item - free out of combat healing!

[Sir Homeslice]

in during Prestidigitation

Prestidigitation.

[Ashram]

Cure/Inflict Minor Wounds is why Paizo changed those to Stabilize/Bleed in Pathfinder. >.>

[SurlySeraph]

Sonic Snap. Automatic 1 damage. Combine with the Fell Drain feat and metamagic reducers for awesomeness at 1st level; and if you've got metamagic reducers it's still a very nice use of 0th and 1st level slots later.

[FishAreWet]

Silent Image on Illusionist Gnomes

[Deth Muncher]

Silent Image on Illusionist Gnomes

A bad person are you.

Sonic Snap. Automatic 1 damage. Combine with the Fell Drain feat and metamagic reducers for awesomeness at 1st level; and if you've got metamagic reducers it's still a very nice use of 0th and 1st level slots later.

And a terrible person are you.

[subject42]

I like the spell compendium's "Launch Bolt." It has 1001 uses.

[Brendan]

I once convinced a Koa toan tribe leader that he was chosen by god with message. It was a nice bloodbath.

[KitsuneKionchi]

Oh! There is a spell...I think its cloud zap or something similiar. It was from a Dragon Magazine article about Cantrips...it makes a cloud above the target's head that zaps them for one point of damage each round unless they make the save.

Use Extend and Persist and ask them "you think your sanity can survive being zapped by lightning every 6 seconds for 48 hours?!" Eventually they'd have to (try to) sleep, right? Exaustion modifies saving throws...

[Zaq]

I find that few are quite as universally useful as Detect Magic. I mean, come on. It's friggin' Detect Magic.

That said, I too am a fan of metamagicizing Sonic Snap, though my preferred meta was Fell Frighten. No-save shaken for a 2nd level slot (that by all rights should have the potential to stack)? Yeah, I'll take it.

Caltrops with the Cloudy Conjuration feat is probably the most bang for your buck you can get out of an actual 0th level slot, unless there's some ScM shenanigans I don't know about that actually keep Silent Image at level 0.

[Glimbur]

Summon Instrument. If there isn't enough lute in the dungeon, you can magic some up.

[Fiery Diamond]

I once convinced a Koa toan tribe leader that he was chosen by god with message. It was a nice bloodbath.

That's why my favorite is message.

[Signmaker]

Oh! There is a spell...I think its cloud zap or something similiar. It was from a Dragon Magazine article about Cantrips...it makes a cloud above the target's head that zaps them for one point of damage each round unless they make the save.

Thunderhead? SpC?

My favorites are Launch Bolt and Launch Item, personally. They're just too abusable.

[Temotei]

Prestidigitation to impress the ladies.

[Kallisti]

Prestidigitation for just about everything.

Also, Ray of Frost +Sneak Attack=hey, my sneak attack is a touch attack...screw you, crossbow...of course, if you have enough BaB to get iterative attacks it becomes a lot less useful.

[Soranar]

a rogue sneak attacking with touch attack/ranged touch attack cantrips is just hilarious

[deuxhero]

screw you, crossbow...of course

Why a crossbow? Doesn't Rogue give you shortbow?

[Temotei]

Why a crossbow? Doesn't Rogue give you shortbow?

Indeed. Maybe he meant hand crossbow?

[Optimystik]

Summon Holy Symbol (CC), the naked cleric's best friend.

[Lycanthromancer]

Summon Holy Symbol (CC) Sex Partner (BoEF), the naked cleric's best friend.

Fixed that for you.

What about preserve morning wood, from the BoEF? Should have a range of 'touch'.

Anyway, I like some of the psionic Talents. Aquis is a nice utility power (and can help you survive in Dark Sun campaigns). As is astral companion. Ectoplasmic adhesive is pretty awesome, too, as it's the only Ex glue I've seen yet. Power Extraction is great for extending one's adventuring day, while energy spark is good for CdG'ing trolls and other things with energy-bypassed regeneration.

As for official cantrips? Prestidigitation all the way, baby. Followed by summon instrument shenanigans (summon a singing bard or your spellbook if you've written hymns in the margins; if you have a big carrying capacity, summon a pianoforté to drop on people).

[taltamir]

my favorite is prestidigitation, i typically use it for grooming and hygiene...
done with the sewer crawl? prestidigitation clean.
done murdering some folk and your clothes are soaked with blood? prestidigitation clean.
done trekking through the woods and you are filthy? prestidigitation clean...

[Optimystik]

Fixed that for you.

I'd like to know what seminary you go to.

Ectoplasmic adhesive[/i] is pretty awesome, too, as it's the only Ex glue I've seen yet.

It may not be (Ex), but the Stick cantrip (SpC) conjures instantaneous glue, so it'll last forever and even in an AMF.

[Lycanthromancer]

I'd like to know what seminary you go to.

Not so much a seminary as a sem...err...nevermind.

It may not be (Ex), but the Stick cantrip (SpC) conjures instantaneous glue, so it'll last forever and even in an AMF.

Hadn't seen that one. Very nice.

[Optimystik]

Not so much a seminary as a sem...err...nevermind.

*gestures toward the alleyway*

...What were we talking about again?

[Tyndmyr]

Sonic Snap. Automatic 1 damage. Combine with the Fell Drain feat and metamagic reducers for awesomeness at 1st level; and if you've got metamagic reducers it's still a very nice use of 0th and 1st level slots later.

I agree with this entirely. Plus, the image of snapping your fingers, and that commoner keeling over dead is purely awesome.

I probably use Detect Magic more than any other cantrip. Once I get it permanencied, though, prestidigitation tends to fill up the slots next.

[Temotei]

Oh, and ghost sound.

Cure/Inflict Minor Wounds is why Paizo changed those to Stabilize/Bleed in Pathfinder. >.>

Too many people are looking only at cantrips. You got the orisons. Yeah.

[Roam7]

Prestidigitation, all the way.
It's like diet wish.

[Longcat]

Mage Hand aka The Stranger...

[Lycanthromancer]

Mage Hand aka The Stranger...

...passing in the night?