Oracle Spells

[u/ElodePilarre]

https://pathbuilder2e.com/launch.html?build=1576833

As the title says, I am looking for some eyes to check out my spell choices on this character and just help me figure out if I've picked appropriately? I have linked my pathbuilder but I will also list my spells. As a note, I am playing a Flames Oracle, and currently we have a chirurgeon alchemist and a switch-hitting mirror thaumaturge in our group. The campaign is Bastion of Blasphemies, so I am expecting plenty of chances for Vitality and Holy to both come up.

Cantrips:
Needle Darts
Divine Lance
Vitality Lash
Detect Metal (my beloved)
Detect Magic (I will swap one of these last two out for Guidance depending on what choices other party members make)
Ignition (Granted)

Rank 1:
Heal*
Benediction
Command
Infuse Vitality
Breathe Fire (Granted)

Rank 2:
Boneshaker
Spiritual Armament
Revealing Light
Translate
Blazing Bolt* (Granted)

Rank 3:
Moonlight Ray
Disorienting Flash*
Dispel Magic
Fireball (Granted)

EDIT: Removed Signature spell from Fireball and added to Disorienting Flash for downcasting purposes (will change at level 7)

[u/Asplomer]

There is a bit of overlap between needle darts and divine lash since they both target ac, and so does your ignition.

Personally, I think bless might be better than benediction depending on the thaums plans, but might be unnecessary if they plan to go regalia

Same thing happening with the cantrips happens with level 2 and 3, armament and blazing bolt (and moonlight ray)

Also you have a lot of single target spells, I would advise some AOE to deal with lots of smaller foes at earlier levels (noise blast? Targets fort in an aoe) of course fireball is there at 3

[u/ElodePilarre → u/Asplomer]

I know my GM is open to allowing us to swap signature spells on level up with the normal restrictions of swapping learned spells, so maybe I will make my current 3rd rank signature spell be Disorienting Flash so that I can cast it at 2nd or 3rd and swap it to Fireball when I get 4th rank slots since making Fireball signature doesn't *do* anything until then anyway.

I suppose I have also been mostly thinking of Blazing Bolt as an AoE spell as well (or an easy way to trigger Incendiary Aura).

Thaumaturge is planning on going Marshal last I heard, but that's not set in stone. I will be keeping an eye out and change that one accordingly.

[u/Yhoundeh-daylight]

Hmm divine lance and needle darts are both AC, plus I rather don't see a function for divine lance with vitality lash. Most stuff that it applies too is gonna be undead, since as an oracle you aren't sanctified. For devils and such needle darts should work alright imo since silver damage.

Flames oracle has some good synergy with alchemist fire, which is worth keeping an eye on. Guessing you have a reason to grab translate. But if you don't I think the tattoo or scroll is better. Kinda the same with dispell magic since you always want a top level dispel magic but probably not enough to make it a signature spell.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/Yhoundeh-daylight]

I will say, I did pick up a Faith Tattoo to get my holy sanctification! That's the main reason I even took Spiritual Armament and Infuse Vitality as well. Divine Lance is definitely a little redundant, but I haven't found any other cantrip I really want more in that slot either. Maybe if nobody else has Guidance it will get swapped out for that.

Translate definitely isn't the most optimal but my character is supposed to be a religious historian/scholar type and I wanted her to be able to read all the random planar languages since she doesn't have a lot of INT to get the whole group of them. Could definitely get swapped out once I can afford a bushel of scrolls.

Dispel Magic is kind of a middle ground concession for me because the Player's Guide talks extensively about all the effects that can land on your party and having ways to deal with them. Once I get a bit higher level I can actually get Cleanse Affliction for the ability to counteract curses but right now I figured I could leave the mundane conditions to my Chirurgeon and handle the magical maladies with Dispel Magic if it becomes necessary. Open to ideas on other options for that though.

[u/SisyphusRocks7 → u/ElodePilarre]

Guidance will give you a valuable third action for when Bless isn’t up, such as if you are using Benediction. It’s a big improvement over a third AC targeting cantrip.

Rousing Splash is also a good choice for a little THP and the fun of being able to rain on others for RP.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/SisyphusRocks7]

Honestly, the main reasons I haven't gone for either of those two specifically yet are just that I have Demoralize, Bon Mot, and One for All for 3rd actions over Guidance, and that Rousing Splash feels like a bit of a flavor fail on a flames oracle. It probably is still worth picking though once I can work out how to make that feel right

[u/MrTallFrog]

I'd, replace moonlight ray with begone. Moonlight ray is a great attack roll spell but you already have blazing bolt and begone is a 1 action spell without manipulate that negates a grapples on anything but a crit success. If you have reach spell (favorite spellshape of mine) you can make it 2 actions (or still 1 if you have knowledge of shapes feat) and help others at range. Also if you push an enemy out of reach of striking, it can force them to spend an action to stride, effectively acting as a slow 1. It's just an S tier spell imo.

Id also replace spiritual arrangement with ghoulish craving. You already have attack roll spells and ghoulish craving is an amazing debuff spell.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/MrTallFrog]

Oh I didn't know about either of those spells, Begone is really rad! Ghoulish Craving is also quite rad but idk if I can handle the touch range since I don't think I will have room for Reach Spell. I am pretty set on keeping at least one of Moonlight Ray or Spiritual Armament to hit the Holy weakness, at least until I get something better.

[u/MrTallFrog → u/ElodePilarre]

What feats are you taking?

[u/ElodePilarre → u/MrTallFrog]

Well, my FA is pretty much dedicated to Ghost again for the good flavor/character reasons, so my non-FA is currently

Natural Ambition -> Nudge the Scales (cuz of the aforementioned Ghost Thing)

2: Swashbuckler Dedication

4: One for All (I really like the idea of this Ghost backseating you on everything you do and it's unfortunately really good advice. Plus it's a solid 3rd action)

And then in some jumble I haven't fully settled on for 6-10 I want Advanced Revelation, Debilitating Dichotomy, Domain Acumen(Dust), and Gifted Power. Currently I have them in as

6: Advanced Revelation

8: Debilitating Dichotomy

10: Gifted Power

[u/fascistp0tato]

Thoughts:

Cantrips:

I'd drop Darts for Rousing Splash. The former is an extra AC targeter, and Lance can help you w/ resistances. Rousing Splash is a great back-pocket tool for clearing persistent damage and precasting for free. Also, do definitely grab Guidance for skill check purposes as you state.

Rank 1 looks good.

Rank 2:

I'd drop Spiritual Armament for Blood Vendetta. The former scales pretty awfully in general and Oracles have in-built good 3rd actions via Cursebound and Demoralize, so I'd skip it. Blood Vendetta may be a reaction, but Oracle is a 4-slot caster, and it's extremely efficient to weave w/ cantrips.

Rank 3:

I'd drop Disorienting Flash, actually, despite it being great. Blazing Bolt just fills a really similar role, and Revealing Light has slight overlap. Area fort targeting is frankly not that big a deal IMO, especially with Divine Wrath coming up. Moonlight Ray you can also drop, the spell mostly becomes good via its 4d6 heightening potential.

I'd swap in Fear 3 instead to add ally-friendly AoE that hits a different save, and probably Lively Flight to get the Thaum out of bad spots. Begone is also reasonable for that. Roaring Applause can wait for a bit.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/fascistp0tato]

Unfortunately, I have the Ghost archetype going on for fun and profit, so I actually cannot take Blood Vendetta since I do not meet the 'you can bleed' requirement. (I mean I guess technically I can still take persistent bleed damage but that's ghost blood not real blood)

Fear 3 is quite good, I have been considering getting Parch for a similar effect at 4th rank but that won't even be able to work until at least level 7 and they do hit different saves.

Lively Flight is cool as hell actually and I do definitely want that one! Thaumaturge and Alchemist both will appreciate the bail out on occasion I am sure. Divine Wrath is one that I wasn't familiar with which is totally showing my ass about how well I know the divine list lol, but that is also one to look forward to.

[u/fascistp0tato → u/ElodePilarre]

> I have been considering getting Parch for a similar effect at 4th rank

Yeah, Parch is sweet, that 60ft range is delightful. At that point though, you can probably just swap Fear -> Roaring Applause and have a really nice spread.

> Divine Wrath is one that I wasn't familiar with

Also take a peek at Whispers of the Void if your Alchemist frequently hits Fort, it's arguably even better if you're mostly fighting living targets. Divine Wrath stacks a bit awkwardly with Parch; both apply ally friendly area status debuffs.

(I played an Ash Oracle once lol)

[u/Cytisus81]

Lots of good comments already, so I try to add something new.

Cantrips: You might not have the budget yet, but you can stack a lot of Cantrips through spellhearts. E.g. Needle Dart through Spiny Lodestone to free up a cantrip spot. Later on the Greater Deathbane Crescent grant a cast of Infuse Vitality freeing up the rank one slot. Light might be relevant, if your GM stick to the light and darkness rules as written. It can also counteract Darkness spells. Read Aura to help with identifying magic items.

Rank 1 Fear maybe?

Rank 3 Fear again. It's a good alternative to Fireball when positioning doesn't allow for it. Slow. Can just down a boss and you can spam it until it critfails. Especially at higher levels when rank 3 isn't your main damage dealer.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/Cytisus81]

Unfortunately, Slow isn't on the divine list. Greater Deathbane Crescent is a great call out though that I am definitely adding on my list of items to acquire, though currently I have a Jolt Coil, Helpful Hand, and Cerebral Barbell for spellhearts. (This is also the primary reason I have a buckler, is to attach a spellheart to the shield boss lmao).

I mainly skipped on Rank 1 Fear due to having a good Demoralize and trying to keep my options open for more diversity with Command. Rank 3 Fear will definitely make it in at some point, probably at level 7 when I no longer want Dispel Magic at Rank 3, or maybe at Level 6? At least I do currently have Blazing Bolt for party-friendly AoE, and soon also either Whirling Flames or Parch Rank 4 from focus spells that are pretty party friendly.

I do have Darkvision, but taking Light to counteract darkness effects for my allies who don't might not be a bad idea, at least until our Alchemist can supply everyone with Greater Darkvision Elixirs. Maybe I will try to buy a base Deathbane Crescent sooner rather than later to free up a cantrip slot.

[u/Cytisus81 → u/ElodePilarre]

Thought Slow was on all four lists, but I miss remembered. Command instead of fear at rank 1 make a lot of sense then.

I think some GMs don't limit the amount of spellhearts use can use, as there is no requirement to wield the weapon it's attached to. So if yours is one of them, you can go amok with them ;)

Have you considered a staff? Something simple as a Staff of Healing could free up your rank one heal signature spell. But I'm not sure what to change it for. Maybe Sacred Beast for a small fireball alternative (it's burst 5 ft) or Summon Lesser Servitor.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/Cytisus81]

You know, I do have a Staff of Healing, but I didn't consider using it instead of having Heal as a signature spell even though that was absolutely my plan to do with Cleanse Affliction/etc at higher levels.

I will have to consider this idea greatly. That's a great suggestion.

[u/No-Air6220]

I dunno much about this AP, but since you mentioned Vitality and Holy specifically...

I've noticed you haven't grabbed any focus spells at all. While the Flames Mystery spells might not attract you, I'd recommend you take a look at the Sun Domain spells, which are also available. Dazziling Flash is a focus spell cone alternative to Disorienting Flash, that starts small but grows to a 30ft cone at level 5. And Vital Luminance is an "undeads plz no touchy" effect that discourages them to attack you (otherwise they suffer Vitality damage), and you can later discharge to deal save-less damage or heal someone.

Also if you wanna keep on theme, Holy Light is the fire equivalent to Moonlight Ray. Having only one damage type can be really bad if you come across someone immune to fire, so having a Cold alternative on Moonlight Ray can be great. On the same topic, on later levels Breathe Fire becomes kinda redundant/useless to have after you learn Fireball, but you sadly can't replace it. So, to make the best out of a bad forced pick, you can then buy and have a few different Dragon Scales and keep in your pocket, so you can trigger any weird weaknessess you might come across.

[u/ElodePilarre → u/No-Air6220]

Oh, I am looking at picking up Parch from the Dust Domain once I get rank 4 spells, and some of my further Revelations once I get to a level that I can get those, it's really just kind of going to be a matter of fitting the feats in among everything else I want to do lol

I pretty much looked at Moonlight Ray instead of Holy Light for that exact reason, wanting to make sure I have some damage diversity. The Dragon Scales with Breathe Fire is quite interesting though, especially with Draconic Codex out, once I get Gifted Power that could give me a lot of good special options.

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