Why Prestidigitation is a BROKEN Cantrip (sometimes)

Check out Into the AM for awesome graphic tees (and 10% off with code DMTHINGS!):

Join the Arcane Almanac for a weekly digest of nerdy content:

Email me at:

SEO stuff:

dnd spells best dnd spell cantrips in d&d spellcaster prestidigitation how to say prestidigitation dungeons and dragons spells worst dnd spells ttrpg creative cantrip uses 5e spell builds deck of dm things if you're reading this you're awesome (:

[deck_of_DM_Things]

Thanks for watching! I'd love to hear feedback on this style of content and whether it's something you'd like to see more of. Or, if not, what you'd like to see instead.

Most of my content is in short-form on TikTok, so I'm still feeling out these longer-format videos.

Cheers!

[phawkuffe]

Nothing game breaking here. Just really clever use of character abilities. I would actually encourage this style of play.

[angelic]

I mean, GM's should reward clever use of game mechanics imho, as long as it doesn't outright derail the campaign and the opportunity cost is high enough.

[aardmaat]

To be honest, hardly any of this seems broken. The double subtle spell and action surge combo takes a lot of resources and will only work for specific bad guys that would be interested in such a game and are willing to keep their word. The trick with the poison only works if you already have some high quality poison, which is a rather costly resource. Here the cantrip is really one small piece in a much more elaborate plan. The skeleton key thing could be broken, although it does require you to take an entire feat and e.g. mage hand with a good sleight of hand check can get you out of there just as easily, albeit with a little more risk.

[davidmoutray]

Personally, I think all of the examples are legitimate uses of the cantrip. Each use required skill checks or opposed skill checks and sometimes multiple skill checks. The DM can adjust the probability of success by requiring additional skill checks, making regular skill checks into opposed skill checks, increasing the DC of the check or applying disadvantage to the check. In the first two examples, the player got one shot at passing all of their checks, and if they failed there were serious *consequences*: an @$$-kicking or even death by execution. In the last example, the "skeleton key", the DM could rule that the player only gets one shot at making the checks, and if they fail, then rule that they missed some crucial detail. So, it just doesn't work.

To expand a bit on the second example, poisoning King Farquaad (I see what you did there), successfully poisoning the king is just the *beginning* of that scenario. Then you need to get away. How quickly does the king keel over? If he takes a drink and collapses immediately, an alert guard will grab the servant who gave him that drink. Even if the poison takes effect with a delay, a search will be mounted. Clues will be sought out. A unique poison might provide a trail that a diligent investigator could follow back to the players. Also, even if the poison has a delayed effect, how long will you wait around to see if the king actually dies? Do you leave immediately and get a head start, risking failure of your mission? Or, do you hang around and increase the chance of getting caught? Also, if the players don't see the king actually die, how do they know he is dead? The palace could conceal that fact for a time while mounting a search for the killers.

Prestidigitation is a nice utility cantrip to take to add flavor to the game, much like Minor Illusion. (Once I used Minor Illusion to create the sound of a fart and Prestidigitation to create the associated smell a turn later in order to embarrass a rival.) It adds flavor to the game and the DM has plenty of mechanics in place to reign in any possible abuse.

[iCarus_A]

For the seal/mold idea: in a world where Prestidigitation, Illusion, etc is a thing, I think a serious official seal would have magical counterfeit measures to ensure that it isn't so easily faked.
Same with jail cells used to lock wizards up. They might not just use ordinary padlock -- it could be bars that are too heavy for Mage Hand, for example.

[zztophatzztophat]

This all seems like less of the players breaking the game and more like DMs that want things done a specific way.

[jonathanfairchild]

I actually love the idea of the prestidigitation cantrip being used as a key mold. This is absolutely how it would be used in the real world. This is using your resources creatively! Same with the wine. Of course balancing with different checks will make it more or less effective but I’d totally allow that as a DM.

[foolofdaggers]

I love cantrips. In one game, I used Prestidigitation to clean a strip of the wall on my right as I walked while exploring a sewer, creating a path marker at no material cost without expending any spell slots.

[carolinelabbott]

I love these clever uses of the spell. I would allow it.

[AvangionQ]

My specific limiter on Prestidigitation is that it can't directly affect unwilling creatures. || 7:52 You have it exactly correct: these use cases should be balanced by other skill checks.
1:52 First scenario requires a persuasion check, someone mentioning fire immunity, but the magic works as intended. Prestidigitation is a great complementary for social engineering.
4:03 Purple worm poison is injury, not ingestion, and I would tell my player this to choose an alternative. Poisons have four modes of delivery: contact, inhalation, injury and ingestion.
Knowledge checks: nobles are wary of assassination, especially by poisoning, and have clerics and/or magic items equipped to Detect Poison, Delay Poison, Resist Poison, Death Ward, etc.
8:04 Taking a feat just to create a use case for a spell combo is always allowed, as it shows the player has put in an investment with the hope of a huge payout later on. Very nice.
That said, noble insignia in my campaign use a special magical material that glows in a unique way which cannot be mimicked except by upcast illusion spells such as Major Image.
You have to create your world with magic in mind. Those who hold positions of power should have experts, supporters and magic items in their employ to counter most simple plans.

[HenshinFanatic]

There's a reason Prestidgitation used to be jokingly called "Limited Wish, Lesser". Even after a few editions worth of nerfs it's still versatile.

[OffRoadRN]

None of this seems broken, to me. The closest, of course, is the skeleton key. The obvious issue is that Keen Mind does not allow the character to recall details that were too small to have been observed.

[HEARTLESSKAMUI]

I remember playing a magician wizard that used prestidigitation as a cantrip, he wasn't always the best in a fight, but always tried to brighten the mood and make money with clever magic tricks. I like it as a way to do wacky little tricks and even serious deception, really lets you think about the possibilities of using magic without just worrying about big numbers.

[gameinforcer]

The skeleton key strategy is possibly a stretch for a cantrip, but 2 levels in Conjuration wizard gets the same job done with no stretch required

[ChristnThms]

As a DM, I actually really like to see players use clever solutions like this. When I want a challenge to be more difficult, I just layer it up. Maybe the guard with the keys doesn't leave the room. Maybe another noble demands the poisoned tankard of wine while en route to the king. Maybe the lock that you just made a key for is extremely rust and squeaks loudly when operated.

None of these things deny the player their clever solution. The layered challenges simply require a layered solution. The goal isn't to deny the success, but to include the other players so that a single player doesn't cheese his way through an entire encounter.

[TheSolitaryEye]

Building your entire character around Prestidigitation is just... dedication. And at least this adheres to the rules, unlike the unhinged ramblings that Immovable Rod Fans like to try and pass off as logical.

I actually really love Prestidigitation as a spell. It's the "I'm a magic man so I can do little magic things" spell. It's the most practical spell. I imagine it's why 90% of people get into wizardry, practically speaking. It just frees up so much time you'd otherwise spend on chores.

[kOfTheQ]

My favourite use is in aiding psychic intimidations with an eldritch warlock.

"Why yes, you do hear voices of an eldritch god.'

[urbatin]

Prestidigation is my favorite spell! Ty for doing this episode. I had a gnome that used it as "transmute mud to gravy" for teammates he was less than fond of.

I also used it while modifying doors to make a timed lock. You drill a hole in the top frame of a door frame. Put a short rod in it and plug it with Prestidigationed cork. Then drill a hole in door directly under the hole you made but only half the length of the rod you put in the top hole (that hole should be a little longer than the rod.

Now the created cork will disappear after an hour. Gravity will cause the rod to fall, now the door is effectively locked cause the rod will prevent it from opening.

[SamuelRawlinson-ybez]

The subtle “Lord Farquad” and “cabbage man” were masterful 👌