Magic Missile is one of the most indispensable spells inDungeons & Dragons. Although the damage this spell dealsis relatively weak, it always hits. It’s useful for breaking enemies' concentration spells, but you can also use it to penetrate foes with high AC when all other options are exhausted.
That said, it’s easy to fall into the same familiar tropes when choosing spells for your sorcerer or wizard. Too many players don’t properly consider how they can flavor their spells, giving them extra aesthetics or allowing the story to flourish without changing the game mechanics. Here are some of our favorite ways to dress up Magic Missile.
7Improvised Projectiles
This can be used for just about every type of spellcaster under the sun. It’s best if you’re multiclassing or have the Magic Initiate feat, although you can also make it work as a dedicated caster with the Tavern Brawler feat. The possibilities are truly endless here.
For this to work, simply narrate your character picking up various small objects whenever they cast Magic Missile, such as rocks, leaves, coins, and more. You can even have them carry around a pouch full of miscellaneous garbage if you’d like.
6Pies
It’s an indisputable fact of the universe that more people need to get pied in the face. From pompous political figures to buffoons of all walks of life, not a day goes by where you won’t find a face in need of a pie. With the power of Dungeons & Dragons, you’re able to pie everyone you meet in the face, whether they deserve it or not.
This flavor of Magic Missile has obvious clown associations, but it can also be used for bakers and cooks who also found their way into the spellcasting world. You could even opt for cakes or other baked goods instead of pies, although you might want to ensure it’s a similarly messy food.
5Dice
Dungeons & Dragons is a gamewhere dice rollsmean almost everything. Every player needs several different types of dice to get started, so why not pay tribute to your favorite math rocks by incorporating them into your spellcaster’s aesthetics?
It’s up to you how far you want to go with this theme. If you don’t want to lean into it as a core part of your character concept, you can just use the dice shapes. That being said, using the numbers is also a great idea. Wild magic sorcerers can have their d100 rolls appear in-universe, while divination wizards can have a similar thing happen with their portents.
4Flowers And Flower Petals
If you prefer a bit of glamour or whimsy in your Dungeons & Dragons character, it’s hard to go wrong with flower petals. There are a number of different character concepts that can use this theme, from spellcasters with a nature themeto vampire heartthrobsshowering everyone with rose petals.
One of the best things about this particular flavor is how many options you have. Different flowers carry different meanings, and it might be worth it to find a flower that speaks to your character by doing some research. This is a great flavor for any player who cares a lot about their character’s aesthetics.
3Gems
Gems are a fantastic option for spellcasters who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Creatures that have a strong connection to the earth and mining, such as dwarves, are the first choice you might consider. But dragonborn and kobolds are definitely another option.
Even if you don’t want to use your character’s species as the basis for choosing an aesthetic for their spells, you may look at other aspects of their background. An overly ostentatious noble might also use gems in their Magic Missile, as would a sorcerer whose magic is strongly tied to the earth and mountains.
2Cards
It’s hard to beat the allure of throwing a bunch of cards around. Like dice, cards are a wonderful way to thematically tie your character’s magic to random chance. It’s a great aesthetic to lean into if you play a wild magic sorcerer, although there are several wizard subclasses that would also benefit from Magic Missile cards.
Ordinary playing cards are the go-to for most people, but you could consider other types of cards for your spellcaster. Tarot cards, tarokka cards, and a replica of theDeck of Many Thingsare all options you can consider. You can even create your own custom deck with cards representing different facets of your character.
1A Gun
This is the big one. Sure, the Dungeons & Dragons community has debated whether firearms have a place in the game since time immemorial. However, the answer to this age-old question is “yes”. This also presents a follow-up question: should wizards have access to guns? The answer is “also yes”.
Pretty much any character concept can work with a Magic Missile gun. Artificers are the first thing that comes to mind for many people, but martial characters with the Magic Initiate feat are another favorite. Just make sure you don’t think too much about the finer points of marksmanship.
