This spell creates a magical sphere in the caster’s hand, which can then be thrown at the opponent. It is a great First Circle spell, much better than magic missile. Its damage increases as you level up, plus it gets various effects (Blind / Pain / Stun / Burn / Weakness / Paralysis / Petrification / Instant Kill).
Why Chromatic Orb is Great:
Damage increases as you level up.
Great additional effects.
Level 10 and 12 effects completely ignore the target’s Magic Resistance.
As the name suggests, this Second Circle spell creates an arrow made of acid and shoots it at the target. Depending on the level, the acid effect lasts between 2 and 8 rounds.
Why Melf’s Acid Arrow is Great:
Damage over time, unless dispelled.
Can be used efficiently to disrupt enemy spellcasters.
Mirror Image basically creates hologram copies (illusions) of the Wizard, thus protecting the spellcaster from any hit – melee, ranged or magical. This is the best protective spell in the whole game PERIOD.
Why Mirror Image is Great:
Caster cannot be harmed, until all illusions have been hit or dispelled.
Illusions can absorb any amount of damage.
Protects caster against physical damage, as well as elemental Area of Effect damage.
A high-level Wizard can cast the spell as much as four times per battle.
Heeey, it’s Melf again, with another awesome spell! When casting this spell, the Wizard creates up to 20 globes of fire and hurls them (quite merrily) at the enemy targets. The globes burst upon impact and engulf the victim in fire.
10. Protection from Evil / Protection from Evil 10’ Radius (Priest Spells)
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Protection from Evil is extremely helpful, in that its bonuses stack on top of all other armour buffs. The fourth level, 10’ Radius version extends to all party members.
09. Minor Globe of Invulnerability / Globe of Invulnerability (Wizard Spells)
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These spells protect the Wizard from magic attacks – the Minor version protects from 1st to 3rd level spells, while the full version includes protection from 4th level spells as well.
Both Wizards and Priests get this spell, and both should use it! It creates undead monsters who serve the caster. This is by far the best summoning spell in BG2.
Why Animate Dead is Great:
Summoned creatures are immune to most effects.
Summoned creatures have 90% Magic Resistance, 60% Missile Resistance, 50% Piercing Resistance and 40% Slashing Resistance.
There is a 5% chance to summon two undead instead of one.
At caster level 15, this spell summons a powerful Skeleton Warrior.
I cannot overstate the importance of healing spells, especially during the early parts of the game. After all, healing is one of the main purposes of a Priest. On a side note, the Cure Serious Wounds spell can be skipped in favour of a more useful Level 4 spell, as it does not make much of a difference from Cure Medium Wounds (see below).
Why Cure / Heal Spells are Great:
Cure Light Wounds (Level 1): heals 8 hit points and cures intoxication.
Cure Medium Wounds (Level 3): heals 14 hit points and cures intoxication.
Cure Serious Wounds (Level 4): heals 17 hit points and cures intoxication.
Cure Critical Wounds (Level 5): heals 27 hit points and cures intoxication.
Heal (Level 6): completely heals the target creature and cures all disease.
This awesome Eighth Circle spell dehydrates all hostile creatures within its Area of Effect. A high-level Wizard can deal absolutely massive damage with Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting.
Why Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting is Great:
Does not affect party members.
1d8 damage per level of the caster (saving throw vs. spell for half).
-2 to saving throws for water elementals and plant creatures.
03. Minor Sequencer / Spell Sequencer (Wizard Spells)
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Spell sequencing is truly powerful stuff. It enables the Wizard to store and cast two (Minor version) or three (full version) spells simultaneously, by means of the special ability button. All the spells must be level four or lower.
Why Sequencers are Great:
Create spell combos and unleash them on your enemies.
Zero casting time.
Colourful combos make for spectacular gameplay. Be creative!
Chain contingency works like an algorithm – you pick three spells, which will be cast when a certain condition is met (e.g. the Wizard sees an enemy, the Wizard is hit by an enemy, the Wizard has lost 50/75/90% of hit points, the Wizard has been poisoned).
