Command: The Best Control Spell in D&D

Comments · 238

• AN

  @AndrewBrownK · 4 months ago (edited)

  Only 30 seconds into the video, but here is my guess:<br>- practically no immunities<br>- no friendly fire<br>- consumes entire enemy action without preventing you from attacking them to maintain the control<br>- versatile situational options, repositioning, disarm, prone, etc<br>- no concentration<br><br>Downsides<br>- expensive at one spell slot per round of control<br>- some DMs might be finicky about the targets hearing the verbal component or having language comprehension

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• MA

  @mayuwu4408 · 4 months ago (edited)

  Command (2024) straight up prevented a full on TPK in one of my games!!!<br><br>In my level 1 Cleric&apos;s first quest in a West Marches Discord server, her and a level 1 Wizard (and a level 1 Artificer who showed up late) were in a 10ft tall and wide tunnel in the sewers as we hit a dead end and an Ochre Jelly we didn&apos;t see fell behind us, blocking the only way out and trapping us. My Cleric got some damage in and the Wizard cast Shocking Grasp to get out of melee with it, which actually just split it in two... The Wizard is quickly downed, and my Cleric is in a terrible spot.<br><br>I realized that bringing back up the Wizard with Cure Wounds wouldn&apos;t advance the gamestate at all it just kicks the can down the road a bit further, and I saw a hail mary play that was our only winning option: Command (Flee)! (Importantly, this is the 2024 version, which like you highlighted doesn&apos;t require a shared language; that restriction would&apos;ve killed us for sure).<br><br>With a failed save, even with the Jelly&apos;s slow 10ft speed, Command separated the previously side-by-side jellies blocking the way out enough to make a gap we could run through. After healing the Wizard, we were then able to wiggle our way out of the dead end and kite the oozes to death with our Cleric, Wizard, and only just now present Artificer&apos;s ranged attacks.<br><br>If my Cleric didn&apos;t have Command, or had it been the 2014 version of Command, we absolutely would&apos;ve been TPK&apos;d. IT&apos;S SO GOOD.

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• IN

  @IntegerDevourer · 4 months ago

  In 2014, Order Clerics have it as a domain spell and can cast it as a bonus action which is really nice.

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• CO

  @CoolTrainerGavin · 4 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4R348xpAM4&amp;t=397">6:37</a> I&apos;d argue that teleporting also fits the description you give here. If the Dash action meets the qualifications then surely teleporting does too

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• XA

  @xadielplasencia3674 · 4 months ago

  I think the target DOES JUMP off a cliff, they specifially removed the line about not harming yourself while following the command on 5.24

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• AD

  @Adurnis · 4 months ago

  The reason Glamour is 5.5e’s most powerful PHB subclass.

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• DR

  @drasil5242 · 4 months ago (edited)

  Command (2014) was already one of my most used level 1 spells. &nbsp;It really needs the undead, language, and upcast restrictions to keep its power in check. &nbsp;When I first read the 2024 version it definitely set the mood for the rest of the spells in that balance and nuance were sacrificed for more streamlined spells.

  3

• PR

  @prophetzarquon · 4 months ago

  It&apos;s important to note that <b>&quot;on its next turn&quot;</b> is <i><b>not the same thing</b></i><b></b> as <b>&quot;at the start of its next turn&quot;</b> in D&amp;D 5e; those two terms have distinctly different meanings. &quot;On&quot; a turn, can occur <i>at any time during a turn,</i> so <b>the only command in the 5e</b> <i><b>Command</b></i><b></b> <b>spell that explicitly denies action, is Halt.&quot;</b>

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• PD

  @pdtrozan · 4 months ago

  Main issue with Command is during long adventuring days. The effect doesn&apos;t last a long time, so it can burn thru slots very quickly. <br><br>Shout out to the Dragon-Touched Focus, this is an ideal spell to upcast for that item.

  6

• TO

  @toorpers · 4 months ago (edited)

  In 2014 I loved the versatility, in the case of an enemy mage focusing on a concentration spell I love using the command &quot;daydream&quot; to force them to drop concentration, confess to immediately get information, and after having my party member burn a legendary resistance reaction I made the BBEG drop the Book of Vile Darkness before he could summon a baby Vecna to stomp our asses

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• DA

  @Dandy4ask · 4 months ago

  i really like simple small breakdowns like this and command lends itself really well for something like this. I do miss the fact you could say anything from the 2014 rules though. It made more creative and also more thematically cohesive.

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• RO

  @robertoreilly6660 · 4 months ago

  Halt is when you have a party with great ranged attacks. You &nbsp;don&apos;t want them to grovel (disadvantage on those ranged attacks). You don&apos;t want &nbsp; them to approach, and get closer to melee, or flee, potentially out of range, and there may be notihng to drop.<br><br>One of the greatest places to weaponize command is in aerial combat. If you command a flying steed to &quot;grovel&quot; both mount and rider fall to the ground, taking falling damage. This manuever is known as Newton&apos;s Apple.™ And many mounts will have far lower wisdom scores than the riders.

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