SR: No Cleric spells?

[Shin Okada]

Following the fluffs of Mind Flayers of Thoon in Monster Manual V, I am adding some cleric levels (say, 8 levels) to Mind Flayers. But even with Practiced Spellcaster & Greater Spell Penetration feats, those clerics should roll 9+ to beat their friend Illithids' SR (25+). That means, most of their healing and buffing spells are not so useful. Of cause, an Illithid can lower their SR. But doing so in the middle of combat is not such a good idea.

Do you know some good Cleric healing/buffing spells which ignore SR?

 

[cbwjm]

Can't creatures with magic resistance lower it when needed? I thought that was a rule that existed in 3e.

 

[Shin Okada]

Can't creatures with magic resistance lower it when needed? I thought that was a rule that existed in 3e.

They can. But it takes a standard action to do so. And thus not so convenient when they are fighting .... or, when non-cleric mind flayers can spend their actions for manifesting self-buffing powers (I am using the Psionic Version of Mind Flayers, so all the Illithids are Psions).

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

From the 3.5 Rules Compendium (pg 130.), "A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities."

So spread some healing items around. If you feel you need to justify the item's presence, give a few of these clerics the appropriate crafting feats. As a DM in this situation, I would probable sacrifice a feat or two from the non-clerics to designate 1 specific cleric as able to ignore its SR.

I can think of only 2 healing spells that fit your requirements:
1) Positive Energy Aura (Spell Compendium | pg 161 | 4th lvl spell), but that heals all living in the area for at most 5HP a round for a round/lvl.
2) Warding Gems (Book of Exalted Deeds | pg 111 | 5th lvl spell), produce 1 gem {ioun stone} per 3 caster level. Each gem heals 10, lasts 1 hour per level and you cannot have more than 5 gems at a time.

As for buff spells, there are:
1) Aura of Evasion (Spell Compendium | pg 18 | 5th lvl spell), grants everyone within 10ft evasion against breath-weapons only.
2) Bear's Heart (Defenders of the Faith | pg 81 | 5th lvl spell), grant 1 ally per caster lvl +4 Str and 1d4/caster lvl temp HP for rounds/lvl. When the spell ends, all affected take 1/lvl subdual damage.
3) Blessed Aim (Spell Compendium | pg 31 | 1st lvl spell), all allies with range gain a bonus to hit with ranged attacks.
4) Divine Agility (Spell Compendium | pg 69 | 5th lvl spell), target get +10 Dex for 1/lvl rounds.
5) Energized Shield [and Lesser] (Spell Compendium | pg 79 | 3rd lvl spell), for 1/lvl rounds a shield provides 10 [5] energy resistance to 1 of the 5 classic energy types and deals an extra 2d6 [1d6] of the energy type to shield bash
6) Frost Weapon (Frostburn | pg 95 | 2nd lvl spell), for 1/lvl rounds grant a weapon +1d6 cold damage.
7) Shield of Warding (Draconomicon | pg 115 | 3rd lvl spell), for 1/lvl min gain a sacred bonus to Ref while shield is equipped

EDIT - fixed max number of gems a creature can have from Warding Gems