I want to point out that war magic wizard mixes great with non-normal classes. Arcane Deflection is not a spell so it works with wildshape and Rage Arcane Deflection limits you to cantrips so a Paladin would love that to be booming blade Increases to saves is good with all classes, but works best with a high level monk (proficiency in all saves) or a paladin (+Cha to all saves) Looking at +10 or +9 at higher levels Increased AC and Saves when concentrating is good for all except for barbarian. Again best with Monk and Paladin. Looking at +12/11 to saves and paladin can get to around 30 AC without magic items Additional Combo: If you can take Quandrix Background, can get "Cartomancer" feat with paladin, or can get a "Mizzium Apparatus" with paladin Circle of Power + Arcane Deflection gives you +4 to the save with the adv (Effective +5) and you have evasion vs all magic. Additional +2 if over level 10 in war magic.
@@TheSinisterheroes Playing a level 7 pvp with the paladin 2 war magic 5 build. I have studied it alot this week. It was just good timing. (If you get the Feat or Item you are effectively a level 11 paladin at level 7)
My favorite Wizard subclass. A one level dip into Artificer makes this subclass into a nightmare at higher level play. Plus 6 to all saving throws and plus 4 to AC when needed practically resource free is really slept on. Not to mention the built in Alert feat. The closest I ever felt at mimicking a Battlemage from Morrowind.
This feels like one of those subclasses when a player can’t decide if they want to play an evocation or abjuration wizard and this subclass says why not both? This also feels like something players only go for a two level dip.
That’s the concept I know I had a hard time wrapping my head around. I looked at this class the first time and thought oh this is gonna be nasty high damage. Then I read it and just tossed it out, it wasn’t till I got the right understanding that I saw it’s real purpose
With arcane deflection you gain a plus 2 to your armor class as a reaction or a plus 4 to your saving through. So if you went with mage armor you would have 13 ac plus your dex so if you had a plus 2 you can use your reaction every turn to give you a total armor class of 17. For early levels that’s really good. Most tanky characters before plate will hang around at 18 armor class. Once you hit level 10 you will have a plus 2 to your armor class while concentrating on a spell which you should be doing every combat. This ability stacks with arcane deflection. Keep in mind that as a reaction you can use the spell shield to give you more armor class, but it costs spell slots. Your arcane deflection does not. This is what he was talking about when he said tank wizard.
@@TheSinisterheroes OH! I thought it was something along the lines of combining Evocation magic with Abjuration. What I mean is that with Abjuration, you summon a shield but give it an elemental bonus with Evocation (ex. creating a fire based shield bubble around yourself)
Yeah they both are very defensive oriented, I prefer the abjuration wizard personally but the war wizard dose have a place. To me war wizard is more anti wizard than others. Which in a large scale war makes a huge difference.
This is my second favorite wizard subclass only bested by the order of scribes wizard subclass I love the perfect balance between offense and defense it honestly feels like it's combining the best of evoction and abjuration wizard subclasses in one package I also like the fact that war mages get light armor which most wizards don't even get armor without mage armor or a feat which is very much appreciated and frees up your spell choices and spell slots and the fact that you get additional benefits when you cast counter spell which you are probably are going to cast anyways which is so amazing this subclass is chiefs kiss perfect 😘
I am so glad that this subclass has gotten some love in the comments. I like how this subclass gives you the opportunity to support a strong fact of the wizard. You expect the wizard to counter spell and disable magic. This gives you such an added reason for following that expectation it really works well
I want to point out that war magic wizard mixes great with non-normal classes.
Arcane Deflection is not a spell so it works with wildshape and Rage
Arcane Deflection limits you to cantrips so a Paladin would love that to be booming blade
Increases to saves is good with all classes, but works best with a high level monk (proficiency in all saves) or a paladin (+Cha to all saves) Looking at +10 or +9 at higher levels
Increased AC and Saves when concentrating is good for all except for barbarian. Again best with Monk and Paladin. Looking at +12/11 to saves and paladin can get to around 30 AC without magic items
Additional Combo:
If you can take Quandrix Background, can get "Cartomancer" feat with paladin, or can get a "Mizzium Apparatus" with paladin
Circle of Power + Arcane Deflection gives you +4 to the save with the adv (Effective +5) and you have evasion vs all magic. Additional +2 if over level 10 in war magic.
Your math it looks right. How long did it take you to come up with that?
@@TheSinisterheroes Playing a level 7 pvp with the paladin 2 war magic 5 build. I have studied it alot this week. It was just good timing. (If you get the Feat or Item you are effectively a level 11 paladin at level 7)
My favorite Wizard subclass. A one level dip into Artificer makes this subclass into a nightmare at higher level play. Plus 6 to all saving throws and plus 4 to AC when needed practically resource free is really slept on. Not to mention the built in Alert feat. The closest I ever felt at mimicking a Battlemage from Morrowind.
It’s one of those classes that takes a 2nd look to really put together
Yeah this is true and if you take like a 3 level dip into battle smith or artillerist it compliments the build a lot
This feels like one of those subclasses when a player can’t decide if they want to play an evocation or abjuration wizard and this subclass says why not both? This also feels like something players only go for a two level dip.
It's like a patch created for the Eldritch Knight.
I feel like you’re right. Though I dislike multiclassing I can see these abilities working well together.
I like the analogy you used it pleases me
A War Wizard is a tactician first, I'd always keep Expeditious Retreat on hand.
That’s the concept I know I had a hard time wrapping my head around. I looked at this class the first time and thought oh this is gonna be nasty high damage. Then I read it and just tossed it out, it wasn’t till I got the right understanding that I saw it’s real purpose
JoCat describes a wizard using War Magic as being like a "tank mage."
How exactly does that work?
With arcane deflection you gain a plus 2 to your armor class as a reaction or a plus 4 to your saving through. So if you went with mage armor you would have 13 ac plus your dex so if you had a plus 2 you can use your reaction every turn to give you a total armor class of 17. For early levels that’s really good. Most tanky characters before plate will hang around at 18 armor class.
Once you hit level 10 you will have a plus 2 to your armor class while concentrating on a spell which you should be doing every combat. This ability stacks with arcane deflection.
Keep in mind that as a reaction you can use the spell shield to give you more armor class, but it costs spell slots. Your arcane deflection does not.
This is what he was talking about when he said tank wizard.
@@TheSinisterheroes OH! I thought it was something along the lines of combining Evocation magic with Abjuration.
What I mean is that with Abjuration, you summon a shield but give it an elemental bonus with Evocation (ex. creating a fire based shield bubble around yourself)
Yeah they both are very defensive oriented, I prefer the abjuration wizard personally but the war wizard dose have a place. To me war wizard is more anti wizard than others. Which in a large scale war makes a huge difference.
This is my second favorite wizard subclass only bested by the order of scribes wizard subclass I love the perfect balance between offense and defense it honestly feels like it's combining the best of evoction and abjuration wizard subclasses in one package I also like the fact that war mages get light armor which most wizards don't even get armor without mage armor or a feat which is very much appreciated and frees up your spell choices and spell slots and the fact that you get additional benefits when you cast counter spell which you are probably are going to cast anyways which is so amazing this subclass is chiefs kiss perfect 😘
I am so glad that this subclass has gotten some love in the comments. I like how this subclass gives you the opportunity to support a strong fact of the wizard. You expect the wizard to counter spell and disable magic. This gives you such an added reason for following that expectation it really works well
@@TheSinisterheroes this subclass deserves more love than it receives
Really really true!!!
Very cool👍🏾👍🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Man have I missed you
They should change the name of the subclass to 'shield mage'. 🛡
That’s a pretty accurate name. It is really meant for being the shield to the armies.
@@TheSinisterheroes I would legit play the class if it was themed as a shield mage 😆