D&D 5E Wizard: Divination vs Evocation

[Vitor Bastos]

Considering a campaign from level 1 to 12. Only PHB allowed. No Multiclassing.
How would you rate these 2 Wizard Subclasses, in terms of:

1. DPR
2. CC
3. Utility
4. Social
5. Exploration
6. "Fun factor"

 

[Kobold Stew]

DPR: Evocation > Divination
Combat: Evocation > Divination
Utility: Divination > Evocation (slight edge)
Social: Divination > Evocation (slight edge)
Exploration: Divination > Evocation (slight edge)
Fun if you don't use a map with a grid: Divination > Evocation
Fun if you do use a map with a grid: Evocation > Diviniation

 

[Mistwell]

Divination allows you to essentially end battles with a single spell. It's not "DPR" it's more like "Disabled out of the battle, allowing you to mop up the minions and then all pounce on the big bad and take him down quick without worry."

 

[Vitor Bastos]

Gotcha!
And how do you gusy feel about Draconic Sorcerer compared to these guys? Would it shine more in a Combat driven campaign or that's too relative?

 

[Ogre Mage]

If you are being forced to start from Level 1 I would go with divination. It is by far the superior specialty from Levels 2-4. Evocation is a terrible specialization at those levels. But evocation really comes into its own starting at Level 5. Being able to sculpt fireball, ice storm, wall of fire, cone of cold and even lightning bolt around your party members has a big effect on party tactics.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I would not put a sorcerer in the mix.

 

[tglassy]

Yeah, Sorcerer's are completely different. They're morel like X-men than wizards. They get very few spells, so if you try to optimize, they all wind up looking the same. If you go Sorcerer, I suggest picking a theme and taking spells to back it up.

I had a Draconic Sorcerer that I wanted to make into a Grappler. I took only spells I thought would work for someone with Dragon Blood, so Enlarge/Reduce, Darkvision (he was human), Dragon Breath, things like that. I fluffed the spells as Draconic abilities, rather than "Magic". Turned out very effective. Managed to grow large and grapple a shadow dragon and pin it to the ground, allowing the party to go to town on it. At level 4. It helped that he had Expertise in Athletics thanks to the Prodigy Feat.

But you could do any kind of theme with that. Draconic Sorcerer gives a little bit of a melee edge, though not a big one. The extra health and always-on Mage Armor does help with being up close and personal. But while you have the same number of spell slots as a Wizard, and have Metamagic at higher levels, you will not have the spell versatility that a Wizard does. You can't be all things to all people. A wizard can learn every spell in the game from the largest and most versatile list. They functionally play very, very differently from each other.

 

[Vitor Bastos]

Managed to grow large and grapple a shadow dragon and pin it to the ground, allowing the party to go to town on it. At level 4.

Holy naughty word, that's badass! I also liked the creativity that you put in your character.
I like to base my character on something that I enjoy. For example, I was thinking about creating this character based on my Mage in Classic WoW. Not the same character, just some inspiration. I know it might sound a little bit dull but I enjoy playing that mage very much. That's why I'm really interested in Evocation Wizard and Draconic Sorcerer... Cause they feel like the closest thing to it. Divination is a bit different "theme-wise" but I was amazed by the Portent potential, looks fun.

 

[Iry]

At Level 12 the Diviner can cast 9 Fireballs, without sacrificing any of his higher level Diviner spells.

 

[Todd Roybark]

A wizard can learn every spell in the game from the largest and most versatile list.

Someone always tosses out this canard. While a valid statement, so is stating a Fighter could have every Magic Weapon in the DMG.

Both statements suffer from not being sound: 99.84% of the time a Wizard is not going to know every spell on the list. Dungeon of the Mad Mage gives 2 chances to find spell books w/ the Wizard PHB spells of 1-8 level, but those are the books of Trobriand and Halaster respectively, ( so well guarded to say the least).

The aforementioned spell books might be the mightiest haul of magical formulae in the entire history of D&D published adventures, (so rather rare).

Mistwell states my thoughts on Diviner v Evocation well.

Wild Mage Sorc holds their own, and can ruin many a Saving Throw at the right level, and is an excellent Crit Fisher. Ritual caster Feat can give one much greater versatility, if versatility is desired.

Druids have a very versatile spell list; knows all of their spells...only downside is 5e does not have a ‘Blaster’ type subclass...but D8 hp and Wildshape HP tanking can keep you upright. Circle of the land makes Spell recovery equivalent to the Evoker.

Any Cleric with Potent Spellcasting is close to the damage of an Evoker, cantrip-wise.
A Cleric of the Arcana Domain learns two Wizard Cantrips ( Wis Spellcasting Attribute),
and can chose one spell from the Wizard list from 6-9th level.