Wizard Class Guide
Here are the core Wizard 5e stats for your character:
Regardless of what kind of Wizard 5e you want to be, you should focus on Intelligence as your main DnD stat. As a Wizard, your spell save DC and spell attack modifier both use your Intelligence modifier. A Wizard with low Intelligence will not go far – you’ve got to pass all your spelling tests.
Wizard Species
While the Custom Origin rules in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything mean any of the DnD species could plausibly make a great Wizard, not everyone may be playing with this additional sourcebook. Our top Wizard 5e species are based on the classic D&D 5e rules, but we wanted to mention the potential that Custom origins open up when creating a character.
Variant Human
Humans are classic adventurers, as they can be good at anything. With the Variant DnD Human ruleset described in the PHB, you can increase two ability scores by +1 each, and also take a skill proficiency and feat of your choosing.
Forest Gnome
DnD Gnome Wizards get a +2 to Intelligence, which is the most important ability for a Wizard. As a Forest Gnome, you can know the Minor Illusion cantrip instantly, allowing you to pick other cantrips when building your character.
Half-Elf
Half-Elves get a +2 to Charisma and +1 to two other skills. As a Wizard, these should be Intelligence and Constitution. This will raise your Spellcasting Modifier and ensure that you can take a bit more damage if you are overwhelmed. Half-Elf 5e Wizards can also take two skill proficiencies of their choice.
High Elf
High DnD Elf Wizards get a +2 to Dexterity and, more importantly, a +1 to Intelligence. They also get the Trance ability.
Wizard Skills
Arcana (Int): Wizards are all about Arcana, so it’s reasonable to assume that you know it.
History (Int): Helpful, especially in campaigns which go into history frequently.
Insight (Wis): You likely don’t have enough Wisdom to be particularly good at this, but it can be helpful if your party’s Face doesn’t have it.
Investigation (Int): Helpful, but likely best left for the party’s Scout.
Medicine (Wis): This skill is useless. Medicine is best done magically.
Religion (Int): One of the more important knowledge skills, and you are probably better with it than the Cleric.
Wizard Backgrounds
This section does not address every published background, as doing so would result in an ever-growing list of options which don’t cater to the class. Instead, this section will cover the options which I think work especially well for the class, or which might be tempting but poor choices. Racial feats are discussed in the Races section, above.
With the Wizard’s Intelligence, you want as many knowledge skills as you can get. There aren’t great tool options for most wizards and languages may not be useful with poor Charisma and access to magical solutions to language barriers, but when all of the options are poor there’s a lot of flexibility to pick something fun rather than something that’s definitely useful.
If you’re having trouble deciding, here are some suggestions:
AcolytePHB: Two skills from the Wizard skill list, and two languages. Not awful, but nothing that you really need to have and it doesn’t expand your options.
Clan CrafterSCAG: History is good, but Wizards typically don’t get a lot of use out of Insight, and artificer’s tools aren’t terribly useful.
Cloistered ScholarSCAG: Two knowledge skills are great, and you get to pick one. The bonus languages might not be particularly helpful, since you can handle languages magically.
Faction AgentSCAG: Insight is okay, and the flexible skill choice is nice, but you can get the languages magically.
HermitPHB: Two skills from the Wizard skill list, one language, and proficiency with the herbalist’s kit, which you can use to craft potions of healing.
SagePHB: Two of the better skills from the Wizard skill list and two languages. The bonus languages might not be particularly helpful since you can handle languages magically.
Wizard Subclasses
Order of Abjuration Wizard – Specialize in shields and protection spells. You can create magical wards for yourself and your friends, and your abjuration spells are extra powerful.
Order of Conjuration Wizard – Master teleportation and summoning magic. You can zip yourself and allies around the battlefield and call forth stronger creatures to fight by your side.
Order of Divination Wizard – Gain glimpses of the future. You can subtly change the results of dice rolls and use your knowledge to gain an advantage in combat.
Order of Enchantment Wizard – Manipulate minds with your magic. Your enchantment spells have greater influence over others, and you can even subtly alter memories or target multiple creatures with a single spell.
Order of Evocation Wizard – Wield the raw power of destruction. You gain precision control over your blasts of fire and lightning, protecting your allies, while your destructive spells pack an even greater punch.
Order of Illusion Wizard – Your illusions are incredibly convincing! You can fool your enemies with realistic mirages and even create illusory copies of yourself to confuse your foes.
Order of Necromancy Wizard – Harness the power of death. Defeating enemies strengthens your own life force, and you can command an army of undead minions with greater resilience.
Order of Transmutation Wizard – Transform matter and the laws of nature. You change the shape and properties of objects and creatures and can even modify your own magical abilities on the fly.
War Magic Wizard – Combine powerful magic with resilience. You gain increased resistance to harm in battle, and your spells strike with greater force when you act decisively.
Chronurgy Magic Wizard – Manipulate the flow of time. You can rewind moments to gain a second chance, force your foes to reroll, and even alter the age of creatures.
Graviturgy Magic Wizard – Control the forces of gravity itself. You can adjust the weight and density of things, manipulate your enemies on the battlefield, and empower your spells with gravitational force.
Order of Scribes Wizard – Your spellbook isn't just for writing, it's your magical partner! You can change the type of damage your spells do and even share some of your spells with friends.
Bladesinging Wizard – Become a master of both magic and the sword. You're faster and tougher in battle, and your spells help make you an even better fighter.
