Davvy's D&D 5e Divination Guide

[@kije25z83]

Davvy, I would take Divination as a wizard, if only it were a wizard spell.

[@morgancunningham1153]

Now it is, thanks to the new UA

[@leonemaledetto1500]

Are you serious? IT'S NOT? nobody tell my DM.

[@accountN6942]

@@morgancunningham1153 yeah in tasha cauldron

[@pedrostormrage]

Thanks to Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Divination is now an optional spell in the wizard spell list (meaning there's now a chance you can learn/cast it as a wizard, as long as your DM is okay with it). Personally, I don't like the fact it has a costly material component (you might think 25gp is not that much at 7th level - when you can start learning 4th level spells -, but I've seen surprisingly stingy DMs out there), and that it only lets you ask one question. As a wizard (especially a diviner), I'd probably choose Contact Other Plane instead: it's also a ritual (no spell slots needed if you have the time), you can ask **five** questions and the spell description ("If a one-word answer would be misleading, the GM might instead offer a short phrase as an answer") seems to imply all answers need to be truthful (I'd make sure to double check that with the DM, though). It might look like a risky spell, but at that point (9th level) your proficiency bonus is +4, your Int modifier should be +5, meaning your Int saving throw bonus is +9. You're guaranteed to get at least a 1 on the d20 (by RAW, "rolling a 20 or a 1 on an ability check or a saving throw doesn't normally have any special effect"), which means you're only 5 short of passing the DC 15 check (you could get that with something like Bardic Inspiration, Guidance, or Aura of Protection with the help of a party member, or just using a Portent die as diviner if one of the Portent dice is at least a 6). Alternatively (as long as you have enough HP to take the 6d6 psychic damage), you can basically negate the negative side effects if you just cast it right before a long rest (and have a trustworthy party member tie you to a bed or something); the spell description says that "On a failure, you take 6d6 psychic damage and are insane until you finish a long rest. While insane, you can’t take actions, can’t understand what other creatures say, can’t read, and speak only in gibberish".

[@100nodog]

1:45 OH MY GOD THANK YOU SOMEONE SAID IT "Can I use Arcana to detect if there's any magical fields here?" Do you have Detect Magic? Then no. "Can I use Arcana to determine the properties of this magic item?" Do you have identify? Then no. "Can I use Arcana to do literally anything useful?" Yes, plenty. You can use it to decipher codes, determine if you've read about something not classified as Natural, Religious, or Historic, and it's the base skill for any science-type checks. Arcane doesn't mean "magic sense" it means "obscure lore"

[@BlueSun_]

phb p.177 "Arcana. Your Intelligence (Arcana) check measures your ability to recall lore about spells, magic items, eldritch symbols, magical traditions, the planes of existence, and the inhabitants of those planes." It should at least help in identifying or knowing about spells and magic items

[@jthejester2338]

If you are proficient, you can even make your own magic items with it, given the time and gold

[@lil_halfrican_boi2124]

I use it pretty much the same way, but I also allow people to know whether or not certain things are magic. For example, if there's a magic trap, I allow players who have discovered the trap to roll an arcana check to determine whether or not the trap is magic. I only allow this to happen if it is, say, a rune that will explode when stepped on, or anything along those lines. They won't know that it explodes when stepped on unless they've experienced a similar situation before, they just know that there's a glyph on the ground, and have identified through their arcana check that the rune resembles those used in spellcasting or other magical practices.

[@elf-lordsfriarofthemeadowl2039]

it might help if a magical item had a symbol which only the educated would know says what the item does.

[@randomlygeneratedname]

The only thing arcana can do is determine the nature of spells for example someone cast a fireball you can go ah thats a fireball spell

[@MrEcae]

My names Jarod and I played a divination focused cleric in my campaign (before he died at the hands of our BBEG) and 0:41 scared the hell out of me

[@Hi_Lana_Ray]

Is elf: Trance is nice Has foresight: huh nice spell Casts foresight then trances for a long rest:😏

[@seeker296]

Some dms allow you to cast spells at the end of a long rest anyway, right before they recharge

[@jordanfleming7022]

Starts off as Druid and later specs into Div-Wizard: I can now provide components for my own spells - bloodhound fur and hummingbird feathers for example.

[@Darkpentagrams]

I need no divination spell to know that I already failed at life

[@balintvasvari7573]

Dude

[@TheCoolerDrilis]

2:49 "If it's an object? _Mind spike_ it anyway." UM, ACKCHYUALLY, DAV-VY, OBJECTS ARE, UM, IMMUNE, TO, A-PSYCHIC, DAMAGE

[@unknownentityenthusiast6765]

Mind spike it ineffectually then

[@DHTheAlaskan]

Divination wizard: I CAN SEE THE FUTURE!

[@fundindylgobrad1598]

If only that first party in Goblin Slayer had used Augary...

[@H2OHydraulic]

*_ooooooof_*

[@drizzt7dourden7]

the thing is you could argue for "wheel and woe" result there cause on on hand YES its REALY BAD but on the other hand without it pristess chan would have never met GS if she didnt go ^^

[@honkthegoose3543]

If only that party in Goblin Slayer were over 1st level.

[@GreatBeanicus]

Foresight might not be THE be all end all spell, but it does have lots of practical use even if it contends with wish and meteor swarm for level 9 spell.

[@waaurufu]

Detect Thoughts is a lot more useful than most realize because it has the special use to be able to feel the thoughts of things that are hidden or invisible in a certain radius around you, almost like a very limited Find Creature.

[@David_Blake91]

Really informative as always Davvy! Also extra points for the Galavant theme!

[@arty3090]

3:50 Just wanna say "thanks!" That song was kinda rocking so I went to track it down. The amount of people disappointed by the fact that Galavant (the show the song came from) only got two seasons has increased by one.

[@clawgerber1992]

Doesn't find traps only tell you that traps exist, and nothing else?

[@clawgerber1992]

and only if they are specific types of intentionally laid traps too.

[@vesve]

"You sense the presence of any trap within range that is within line of sight. A trap, for the purpose of this spell, includes anything that would inflict a sudden or unexpected effect you consider harmful or undesirable, which was specifically intended as such by its creator. Thus, the spell would sense an area affected by the alarm spell, a Glyph of Warding, or a mechanical pit trap, but it would not reveal a natural weakness in the floor, an unstable ceiling, or a hidden sinkhole. This spell merely reveals that a trap is present. You don't learn the location of each trap, but you do learn the general Nature of the danger posed by a trap you sense."

[@2MeterLP]

If a place warrants casting find traps, it also warrants having your rogue on constant "investigate for traps" duty.

[@clawgerber1992]

@@vesve still really bad trade for a spell slot

[@vesve]

@@clawgerber1992 it depends on party composition and how bad the trap is.

[@wolfcalibur1569]

Give a like for the Galavant reference.

[@dustinsmith2021]

Galavant was the shit.

[@danielfisher898]

Galavant is on Netflix, therefore Galavant continues to be the shit.

[@dustinsmith2021]

@@danielfisher898 Musically: you can goooooo to hellll!

[@Strill_]

@3:16 Divination wizards can't take the spell Divination, because it's not on their spell list. Clerics only.

[@nathanjolly148]

You are what got me into D&D, I was on the fence a while, then I saw one of your vids and laughed so hard that I was suddenly a huge megafan of the game, but you probably already knew that from these spells

[@shanerooney7288]

I saw what you did there. a week ago by throwing dust into a fire and interpreting the flames.

[@nathanjolly148]

@@shanerooney7288 These spells told me that you would reply to my comment

[@shanerooney7288]

My mystical powers predicted that Davvy will reply. (My powers can see *_really_* far into the future. So there may be a long wait)

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

Find traps two Davvy stamps? "You know theres a trap somewhere within 120 feet of you." Oh. Thanks. It's a fucking dungeon!

[@rednotbread]

Davvy Chappy, milord, are you sure you want to glimpse into the DM's notes?

[@JohnFPinto]

Just wanna say, as a DM, I show your guides to first time players because you're awesome. Thank you for being you!

[@kentsilvain7329]

2:22 Uh oh, someone didn’t actually ready the spell. But hey, who wouldn’t want to waste a second level spell slot to know that, somewhere in this 120ft radius is a trap. Unless that that is something natural like a rockfall, a rotted floor over a pit, etc, in which case you’re still blissfully unaware.

[@Amanoob105]

There *IS* a time when True Strike is a good spell. And yes. You just read that. If you have a Rogue, that for any reason couldn't normally get their Sneak Attack on a target, that also have at least three level of Sorcerer with the Quick spell option. You can cast True strike as a bonus action. So to all those people that said this spell had no use? BOOYAH!! In your collective faces! They said it couldn't happen? I say they weren't trying hard enough.

[@RJM1410]

The advantage happens on your next turn so you have to wait a whole turn to see the effect and its concentration so you cant have any other spells going to do this and you risk losing concentration between rounds. It's just a bad spell

[@Tigercup9]

RJM1410 is correct, the advantage is only applied to your attack _next turn._ That said, wasting a turn to gain advantage and then rolling as many damage dice as a fireball gets you one hell of a high.

[@gabrielrussell5531]

Mind Spike has "That you can see" targeting, so no, it does not supersede See Invisibility.

[@StateBlaze1989]

The fact he gave find traps 2/3 is astounding.

[@fencserx9423]

Why is this so good and not more popular

[@MasterTim1127]

Thank you for the rendition of galavant. I needed it.

[@km1dash6]

It's arguable that a plot twist is one where knowing it doesn't make the story worse for wear. There are actually psychological studies showing that spoiling a movie, in general, makes the movie more enjoyable. That being said, if someone politely says they don't want a spoiler (me included) don't spoil.

[@Ganurath]

Mind Spike: Because your DM won't realize the implications of what a 6th Level Diviner can do with this until it's too late.

[@kur-tarknickg5009]

Have you thought of doing a race guide for Warforged? I am currently playing a cleric of the forge Warforged and he is nearly unbreakable.

[@FirePowerPhoenix]

Can’t start my saturday without a Davvy Video

[@99sonder]

I can see some merit to True Strike. Like if you won't get in range to attack this turn, you could use True Strike to prepare for a hit.

[@drgoo2825]

99sonder except no ranged weapon has a range short enough for it to be worth your time.

[@readinglennon8254]

Ben Anderson I think he meant as with a melee weapon. I can clearly imagine using true strike at the end of my 30 ft run with a great sword to attack an enemy who is now 15 ft away. But really, what kind of wizard uses swords? This is better suited for monks and other types of spellcasters (the ones bold and weird enough to go melee)

[@99sonder]

@@readinglennon8254 Just because it's a Wizard spell, doesn't mean you have to be a Wizard to use it. The Wizard spell list isn't only restricted to Wizards; Aereni Elves get a cantrip from the Wizard spell list and Eldritch Knights and Arcane Tricksters use the Wizard spell list for their spells. There's also the potential of Multi-classing, of course. And even if you're a pure Wizard, attacking with a weapon can come in handy if you should ever come into a situation where you can't speak for whatever reason, and thus lose access to a lot of your spells, since most of them require verbal components to deal damage.

[@drgoo2825]

99sonder Only a Rogue could find a use for this spell because Fighters rely on landing many attacks, Wizards and Sorcerers only have about one spell above 2nd level that uses spell attacks and doesn’t have concentration (Crown of Stars). Even then the Rogue has access to many easier options to get advantage on the attack roll like hiding, flanking, and using debilitating poisons. Arcane Tricksters also get a feature that replicates True Strike at level 13 without concentration which makes it more worthless.

[@bruhbro7044]

Love your videos, keep it up

[@David-we3sb]

you made me so lol when you yelled CANTRIPS

[@nicolasmarcora9330]

That sock comment got me, lol That ability alone is enough to convince me to roll a divination wizard.

[@Aloemancer]

I Divined this video was coming just to get here early and comment

[@electricgiga8084]

I hope the next spell guide is Conjuration, largely because I'm playing a conjurer at the moment

[@JayF2912]

@Lance Clemings lmao thats a pretty funny description of a club

[@skullman-us7wn]

I hate that i sang along when you started singing galavant. But i love that you sang galavant

[@Krzysztorf]

3:50 I'm subscribing just because of the reference

[@WickedDreadroot]

Davvy can you maybe make a guide to bards magical secrets. There are so many spells and you have experience in the most fabulous class in the game

[@τεσττεστ-υ5θ]

my favorie spell is contact other plane beacose you can ask a lawful good being and it is 5 questions so do not contact chtulhu or something

[@dance_ofThaDEAD]

Before watching the video. Im just here to see if I can make A Divination Wizards who can Accurately Perdict the Future with Tarot Cards..... I like playing with my Tarot Cards...

[@galaxytea1239]

my divination wizard uses tarot cards too!

[@ashliz8925]

Whoa...Stumbled here by clicking around youtube... I love your sense of humor... and...i miss Galavant

[@SnowflakeVee]

2:24 Excuse me, how else will you find a blue flower with red thorns?

[@zory6699]

Well Wizard Divination Dragonborn The funniest thing

[@leonemaledetto1500]

Super useful!

[@Gyvon]

"Find"the Path is not useful" Can I have what you're smoking?

[@lockskelington314]

True Strike just change it from advantage to allowing you two attack twice (with a weapon attack)

[@2MeterLP]

Detect thoughts, also known as "I managed to not kill an enemy, now tell me the entire plot of your story" The wizard in my group has it and I kinda hate it, because it means that either: A: The first goon the party manages to not murder hobo all over tells them everything, regardless of any charisma checks. B: I have to plan enemy groups with this spell in mind and keep all the NPCs on a very tight need-to-know basis. But not everyone should have the planning and secrecy of a spy agency, so thats not always a believable option.

[@saltypork101]

Consider he biases of the character. This allows you to obfuscate the facts of your plot details with solid roleplaying.

[@antrosatheant7036]

@@saltypork101 and do your bbeg let all guards know everything?

[@saltypork101]

@@antrosatheant7036 Of course not. There's a middle ground between every single member of an evil organisation having been present at every single planning meeting, and each minion only being told exactly what they need to know and no more. Once you start exploring that middle ground, you realise that the "I heard a rumour" trick is a very easy way to give the party exactly the information that you want them to have at this stage in the story to push them in the direction of the plot. In this way, DT-enhanced interrogations become useful tools in your DMing toolkit, rather than an annoying nuisance that you have to prepare for. Of course, this all relies on there being sensible limits in place on what the players can learn from a guard when they interrogate him normally, no matter how many nat 20s they roll. You can't have a literal mind-reader be outstripped by an exceptionally friendly smile.

[@missbelle9159]

You get a like for the galavant reverence

[@mydmscreen7620]

I've seen all of your videos multiple times on multiple youtube accounts! Any advice for a new D&D youtuber?

[@DavvyChappy]

In My DMScreen Accept that you wont get any views, like, ever. Make a video at least once a week, no matter what, even if the sky is falling. It took me 7 months to get my first thousand subs, and I was lucky if I got two hundred views before that point. Have a reason for your channel besides “getting popular”, because otherwise your channel won’t have the focus it needs for people to care. I made my channel so that I could show it to my players and teach them even when I’m not available. That just so happened to line up with what other people wanted. I didn’t aim for it. Get really comfortable with your flaws. If you spend your time trying to be a perfectionist, you won’t have any left to keep to a realistic schedule.

[@mydmscreen7620]

@@DavvyChappy I really appreciate the reply, and the advice. Honestly, I'm not trying to "get popular" I just want a fun little community/forum to interact with people that also enjoy the game! I do recall from your one video, you explaining why you created your channel and I find that both awesome and funny! Again, thank you for the advice, and I wish you success, you deserve it!

[@OffSatan]

0:59 I feel this spell would be better as a first level spell, as I can se a use for it if someone is planing to do a high level spell or use a consumable magic item like an arrow of slaying, but no fucking way that spell is taking up one of my known cantrips

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

The idea is that you spam cast it to the point where the DM rolls the 1d4 before you evem declare you casted. Think of it as "permanent +1d4 on all rolls listed as long as you're conscious"

[@uriel7395]

Ah, divination magic, a school of magic that will never be able to destroy the world. Might be a bit useful for the upcoming dragons among us though.

[@_tost9890]

True strike is only useful for arcane tricksters with a bow, so they can instantly get sneak attack

[@cpudraner]

Mind spike on a div wizard is AWESOME

[@cpudraner]

1st slot used for mage armor, second for mindspike, get back first, use third for mind spike and so on!

[@rahuhe4102]

Identify sucks though, because it won't tell you about curses.

[@HyenaPlayGames]

can you make a revised ranger guide, or a comment on how it is so much better than the original?

[@tddd9786]

Ok so true strike is an amazing spell and here is why. Its meant for potion creation and those potions are meant use by npc fighters. Spell gets insanely powerful when suddenly that army of low level npc archers who cannot hit squat suddenly can land their shots.

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

...how do potions factor into any of this???

[@kasperween3614]

Could you do a guide about the mystic?

[@SaintCreeps]

R.I.P Galavant

[@magnatorra5325]

odd that divination has no 7 or 8th level spells. does homebrew have the answers?

[@g.ggaming7645]

well, i looked some spells up and you could use some 3.5 spells like greater scrying(7) Discern Location(8) or Moment of Prescience(8th)

[@ChrisJohnson-du9zc]

3:52 YES!!!!!

[@loserclubari357]

I'm playing dnd today be proud

[@calebbeer2771]

Davvy can you please do a transmutation guide.

[@noxumbra173]

Can you make a video about DPR kings and queens?

[@namewitheld2637]

So, just as a quick FYI to all the players/GMs out there, the Identify spell is actually kinda useless, as you can get the same amount of information you get from it from studying the item during a short rest. You can focus on one item to learn the same stuff that Identify can tell you - including whether the item is cursed or not (strictly, Identify shouldn't even tell you that - you need to get some stronger mojo to be able to tell that sort of thing), what it does and how (Citation: DMG pg. 136). You don't need Arcana trained to do this, either - anybody can divine the purpose and use of a magic item. All Identify does is speed the process up from an hour's rest to ten or one minutes. That's it. For the investment of a 100 gp pearl at first level, I dispute the ranking here, unless you're house-ruling that Identify is necessary, in which case the ranking stands. Also, identifying potions takes tasting the thing. That's it.

[@EvelynNdenial]

it's really dumb that all it takes is a long rest to learn everything about how to use an item. its so much more fun for players to not know until they actually use the thing. like finding out that was a wand a fireballs and you just roasted yourself or jumping a chasm after you got some fancy new boots and promptly slamming into the far wall with your now 3x jump distance. plus it makes cursed items so much more interesting.

[@seansimonalle8896]

Nothing on Portent? :0

[@tiagodesousalyra2184]

I was tinking: Can I make a character that is a blind divination wizard? And still be optimized?

[@kunalpol9256]

what class should i play if i want to be combat viable but fun as well. Like i dont want to be a barbarion and one shot everyone but i also dont wanna do 1d4 damage every turn

[@mikeg9516]

Lord davvy

[@queenskelaton6507]

New magic item bag of raccoons

[@uglyweirdo1389]

Decanter of endless raccoons.

[@queenskelaton6507]

@@uglyweirdo1389 Robe of useful raccoons

[@uglyweirdo1389]

@@queenskelaton6507 Raccoon of lordly might. Shit.

[@queenskelaton6507]

@@uglyweirdo1389 hewards handy raccoonsack

[@uglyweirdo1389]

@@queenskelaton6507 Raccoon of magic missile. Caster level 3. 50 charges.

[@snakeorbreak6258]

davvy nation

[@yuvalsela4482]

divination wizard bad guys are fucking terrifying for PCs

[@ethos2314]

Hey could you do a genasi guide

[@filchhoff]

Davvy, I love your content alot. Literally I've seen all your videos at least 5 times. But man you use dozens of art pieces without a single credit. No pined comment or anything. Please credit the artists, maybe a Pinterest link to a new board for all the art used in your video with credits and links? I just really don't want to lose the ability to binge your videos when I'm stoned as hell cause of someone claiming copyright or art theft lol. Keep it up man! I love the content

[@red_comet_3326]

Could you maybe do conjure magic next plz

[@km1dash6]

If a twist has no retell value, it's usually a bad twist. Think Oedipus and how the audience knows he killed his dad and married his mom, but he didn't. It can turn shock into suspense.

[@ethanpark4274]

3 Mana Draw 2 All Day EVERY DAYYY

[@NobodyDungeons]

so foresight lasts for 8 hours and elves only need 4 hours of sleep so cast foresight go to bed wake up with another 9th level spell slot and have 4 hours of foresight left to annoy your GM with because nothing beats having 12 hours of foresight every other day

[@SeanOfTheDeadHD]

Was that Barbarian you find attractive Onyx Davvy?

[@Vuln_Snacks]

Yay, someone else has watched Galavant \o/

[@minigree8468]

Transmutation Spells next please!

[@JakeTheCaster]

Hell yeah

[@TheCoolerDrilis]

2:32 To be fair, it's a ritual spell.

[@Deo-]

I feel like your underrating Foresight. Mostly because I’ve use it at high lv right before boss fights to not get slaughtered. Yea wish is good but it can be restricted by your dm and true polymorph has just as many restriction and if your using it against an enemy then it’s all about that save which they could use things like their resistances to get around. As far as I’m concerned a advantage on saves, attacks, skills and disadvantaged on attacks against you is real good in a fight when your playing as any of the classes that learn it. But that’s just my opinion and I could also be wrong.

[@saltypork101]

True Strike is better than attacking twice when you have disadvantage, especially for high AC targets and/or sneak attack. A lot of particularly elusive enemies will have both a high AC and a way to impose disadvantage on attacks against them (blur, invisibility, hiding, dodging... I could go on). This is where True Strike comes into its own. True Strike also becomes gold dust if your DM enjoys punishing you horribly for rolling 1s on attacks by, say, making you hit yourself. Not bitter. Nope. Not bitter at all.

[@saltypork101]

Thanks. We are discussing the problem. For anyone having a similar problem, when they say "it benefits you too because the bad guys also critically fail", this is not a fair defence of the practice. It's not satisfying to watch your enemies trip over themselves and accidentally slay one another. Whichever way around it happens it breaks the immersion, and the "comedy" such as it is, has a very short half life.

[@mestre12]

Where is portent?

[@ernestlam5632]

Galavant reference!

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

Why get find the path when you can just use divination to ask what the fastest way to any location is? And the requirement of an item from the location means you cant even combine it with scrying to figure out where the BBEG is, and it won't work in a plane with changing geography, or a vague location like "the place with the best deals on diamonds" so. Why not just use a fourth level spell slot, cast divination?

[@sleeve.3995]

Do conjuration plz, it's my favorite school of magic

[@mementorespice8025]

Foresight is god-tier on a hexblade though.

[@BurningBlood517]

Honestly it’s easier to know what the rankings are by counting the chins

[@hepotitus]

Find Trap should be a 1 Davvy spell. It doesnt actually tell you where the trap is and it has to be in line of sight. Itd be better to go slowly through the twisting dungeon looking for traps then wasting spells on it.

[@blomjob1519]

Woah Davvy, True Strike is only bad in combat settings. Archers can use it to get bullseye's in tournaments, fighters can land blows on cheeky monks in tavern brawls; heck, I even once used it to launch a ballista missile directly into another missile I'd gotten lodged into an ice wall, starting a very helpful avalanche. True Strike is situational, sure, but I won't stand here and see her be bad mouthed by a charming bard.

[@fatcoyote2]

Find Traps should be nest to True Strike in the usefullness section. It doesn't even do what the name of the spell says it does. It should be called Sense If There Are (Physical/Mechanical) Hazards Put There On Purpose...But Not Where They Are.

[@acemoz]

Nice.

[@caseygray2328]

Make a Halfling Divination Wizard, and get him the lucky feat, then? watch as your DM starts crying tears and feel the great justice of getting back at them for that dick move they pulled on you that you KNOW they totally railroaded you into

[@marlucill9440]

Hey man you don't have to call me out like that.

[@bookworm3696]

Find trap, unlock=why u rogue?

[@catfeldman3614]

GALAVANT

[@ThatOtherGuyOverThere]

Yo Transmutation when?