The sorcerer class present some of the most powerful spellcasting options for players inDungeons & Dragons, particularly due to their supply of sorcery points. Whilesorcerers don’t learn as many different spells as wizards or clerics,they can use their sorcery points to recover spell slots or to modify their spellsusing metamagic. Metamagic options include ways to make spells affect more creatures, last longer, and even make magic damage more potent.
There were ten metamagic options for sorcerers in the2014 Player’s Handbook, and the 2024 version includes the same ten choices. Butseveral important updates have made these metamagic features strongerthan ever. While a few options have been left untouched, others have had their costs cut down, and two in particular have even had additional effects added to what they do.
Sorcerers Can Use Their Metamagic Options More Often
Sorcery Point Cost & Class Progression Improve Metamagic’s Utility
Sorcerers in the2024 Player’s Handbookget access to theirinitial metamagic features at level twoinstead of three, giving them those options earlier than before. Not only that, butthey can also use more of the metamagic options than they once could, being able to swap their choices out during each level-up and getting more available at once at later levels. Not only this, but the sorcery point cost for many of these options has dropped.
Exclude chosen targets in a spell’s area from its effects
1
Distant Spell
Double a spell’s range or give a touch spell 30 feet of range
Reroll a spell’s damage dice to get a higher result
Double a spell’s duration and maintain better concentration
Heightened Spell
Give one target of a spell disadvantage on the saving throw
2
Quickened Spell
Shorten a spell’s casting time from an action to a bonus action
Reroll a spell attack roll
Disregard verbal, somatic and some material component requirements
Change a spell’s damage type
Twinned Spell
Upcast a spell that affects one creature to make it affect two
Certain metamagic choices, like heightened spell and higher-level versions of twinned spell, were very hard to use beorre given that they could cost 3 or more sorcery points.Sorcerer’s throughout most of a D&D campaign will have less than a dozenpointsper long rest, so the lower cost for each of these abilities really amps up how much players can use them. This change allows sorcerers to lean more into twisting and altering their magic andfeeling like spell sculptors.
Careful & Extended Spells Are More Useful Than Before
Two Previosuly-Underwhelming Choices Are Now Quite Powerful
The careful and extended spell metamagics can now do more than before. Extended spell still makes a spell’s duration twice as long, up to 24 hours, but the use for that can be rather niche given how time works in D&D combat. However, now it does something else,allowing sorcerers to make concentration checks with advantage. Sorcerers already get proficiency in constitution saving throws, but using this would make it almost guaranteed that they could keep their more powerful spells going.
Wizards Vs. Sorcerers in D&D (Which To Choose & Why)
Wizards and sorcerers may seem to have a lot of similarities at first, but actually playing them can be a different experience entirely.
Careful spell got a much bigger and better improvement. In the 2014D&Drules, careful spell specified that sorcerers could choose creatures within the range/radius of their spell and allow them to automatically succeed on the saving throw, but they would still take half damage fromcertain spells like fireball. This was not especially useful, and was inherently worse than alternatives like the evocation wizard’s “Sculpt spells.” Now, the metamagic also states thatchosen creatures do not take any damage from the spell, finally making this metamagic feature worth using.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
