The Best & Worst Cantrips in D&D

What are the best & worst cantrips in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition? Let's talk about it! Stay tuned for some SPICEY takes.

Script: Ash Ely & DnD Shorts
Edit: Hannah Thomas

I've been told to use keywords in video descriptions, but I don't know what I'm doing. I stole these tags from MonkeyDM who seems on top of this type of thing when we chat.

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0:00 - Intro
0:04 - 5th Best
1:12 - 5th Worst
3:25 - 4th Best
4:45 - 4th Worst
7:29 - 3rd Worst
8:44 - 3rd Best
9:54 - 2nd Worst
12:11 - 2nd Best
13:13 - The Worst
14:23 - The Best

[DnDShorts]

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[woodrobin]

Yeah, the original idea of Dancing Lights was to create decoys to deceive enemies into thinking your party is going down a hallway or on a path outdoors when you're not. So it wasn't ever meant to be used to light your way, but rather to lure opponents into wasting an ambush on the fake party. It was enough light to muddle darkvision so that creatures couldn't be sure if there were actually people holding the "torches" or not.

So, Light was "Here I am!" to darkvision opponents, and Dancing Lights was "There I am!"

[arcticbanana]

I once had a character get rich off of Prestidigitation. This was back in the mid-2000s, 3.5 Edition, campaign started at level 1, I built a Wizard and put the majority of my skill points into Craft and Profession skills. At level 3 I took the Craft Wondrous Item Feat, and used the money I'd been saving to buy a small shop where I crafted items enchanted with Prestidigitation (and a few items with other cantrips like Light or Mending): self-lighting candles and lanterns, self-cleaning clothes, plates and bowls that keep food warm, tankards that keep drinks cold, forks and spoons that flavor food, and so on. I retired that character since they'd achieved their life goal, and created a new one to replace them. A few levels later, the party is now fairly well-known, and the DM actually brought that character back, now a very wealthy and respected business owner, as the party's NPC patron who bankrolled his old companion's adventures.

Honestly, with Prestidigitation and Mending, I'm surprised there aren't more Wizard-operated laundromats.

[RETRODIBUS]

One of my favourite interactions with Green Flame Blade is that you can target yourself with the secondary damage, then cast Absorb Elements as a reaction and gain extra damage next turn on top of another Green Flame Blade

[ceasarg.]

I remember one time our party was arrested and stuck in a max security prison and I spent a number of days memorizing the shape and appearance of the wardens keys with a LOT of checks and eventually was able to use Prestidigitatiom to replicate the keys and escape.

[MakinItRain-]

Blade ward is one of those cantrips with so much potential but then you realize it costs an Action. What if it was like a reaction you take when, but ended on the start of your next turn, kinda like Shield but for damage reduction and not using a spell slot. Maybe that would be broken, but that alone would fix it

[troperhghar]

Presdidigition and druidcraft really should just come normal with thier class rather then need a cantrip slot

[dallenlofgreen]

The one time Dancing Lights was useful: Our DM set our low-level party against a shadow creature that was immobilized by any light. Two of us used Dancing Lights to pin the creature in place while the rest of the party wailed on it. The DM was so pissed because he thought the spell was useless.

[Ondrix]

Taking inspiration from the mention of poison, you could also do the opposite and flavor somthing to taste like it had been poisoned to cause panic as a distraction.

[ASVASV]

Honorable mention Chill Touch. A week ago in our campaign I denied the boss's second phase thanks to this cantrip

[scrubyt]

I would actually argue that Prestidigitation is the best Cantrip in the game if you are creative with it. It has been the cause behind some of my favorite character moments and most memorable character quirks

[kaneo]

Pair Friends with M's Hound in a small space. WHEN target becomes hostile, Hound will use them as a chew toy, with no defense.

[Maninawig]

I rememeber a decent argument for Dancing Lights: Darkvision states you see dim light as bright light. So if you are fighting an enemy without darkvision, the dim light disadvantage would only apply to the enemy.

[dylanmcgregor]

Dancing Lights can be moved, that's one of its biggest advantages and what it is made for. I've had a player use this spell to laser designate targets for other players, read things in the dark at range, and light up rooms through keyholes. It's more useful than people give it credit for.

[generalskittles]

I'd like to have shocking grasp and an honorable mention, 1D8 lightning damage is pretty high for a can trip and a not super common resistance, advantage on targets wearing armor made of metal and most importantly the target cannot take reactions until the start of hits next turn which means no shield spell or opportunity attacks.

[deathiscoming]

Bless doesn't affect any ability checks at any point in the minute it is active.

[ShinGallon]

I abuse the hell out of Guidance in Baldur's Gate 3. I literally never do any checks without it if it's an option and I make sure at least one party member has it at all times. And given my love for environmental kills in video games I give Wyll Repelling Blast ASAP on every playthrough. I love giving enemies free flying lessons.

Prestidigitation is the cantrip I'd want most to have iRL, and since one of my characters is a kobold who's a bit of a fusspot regarding dirt/grime/gross stuff in general I get a lot of RP use out of it.

[reynastrange]

Eldritch Blast + Bladesinger Extra Attack + Action Surge + Quicken Spell = Way more attacks than anyone else

[ryanedgerton]

Genuinely surprised there was no mention of Chill Touch in this list -- feel like it should've been somewhere in the top 5 best cantrips, considering it outright prevents healing and regen on hit while also doing damage and having a bonus effect vs undead.

[andyyoo]

Something you probably don’t hear enough, is that your ad-reads are amazing! This is one of the only channels I don’t skip the ads.