Sorcerer

Sorcerer — summary

Game version: 4.1.1 (Patch 8) · Last updated: 3 August 2026

• Hit die — d6
• Main ability — Charisma
• Saving throws — Constitution, Charisma
• Armour — None: you rely on Mage Armour or Draconic Resilience
• Weapons — A few simple weapons such as quarterstaffs and daggers
• Resource — Spell slots plus Sorcery Points, which fuel Metamagic
• Feat levels — 4, 8, 12
• Ability scores — Strength 8, Dexterity 15, Constitution 15, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 10, Charisma 17
• Party role — In a party this class covers: Ranged damage, Area control, Face.

Two ready-made builds

• Easy path: Draconic Bloodline — Sturdy Artillery — One class. Extra health and free armour make this the caster that does not shatter.
• Strong path: Draconic Bloodline — Twin-Spell Burst — Same bloodline, different use: you spend Metamagic on twinning and quickening. Two Hastes, or two Chain Lightnings, in a single turn.

Subclasses

• Draconic Bloodline — Unlocks at level 1. Extra health, free armour and bonus damage in your chosen element: the sturdiest and simplest bloodline.
• Storm Sorcery — Unlocks at level 1. You fly to a new spot after casting: the movement-focused bloodline.
• Wild Magic — Unlocks at level 1. Your spells trigger random side effects: fun, but out of your control.
• Shadow Magic — Unlocks at level 1. You return from death once and summon a hound of shadow: Patch 8's new bloodline.

Recommended races

• Half-Elf — +2 Charisma, +1 to two more abilities and free shield proficiency.
• Dragonborn — +1 Charisma and a breath weapon, which also fits the Draconic Bloodline thematically.
• Drow — +1 Charisma, +2 Dexterity and superior darkvision.

Recommended backgrounds

• Charlatan (Deception, Sleight of Hand) — Deception from Charisma, Sleight of Hand from Dexterity — the first works at full strength since Charisma is the Sorcerer's casting ability.
• Noble (History, Persuasion) — Persuasion feeds on Charisma, making the Sorcerer both the area controller and the party's talker.

Companions who play this class

No story companion plays this class: if you want it in the party you have to play it yourself.

Resource rhythm

• Sorcery Points and slots both return on a LONG rest. You can turn points into slots, but the reverse is expensive: plan the exchange before the fight, not during it.
• Twinned and Quickened Spell burn points fast. Use them two turns running in the day's first fight and you reach the boss as an ordinary caster.

In Honour Mode

• Twinned Spell hits two targets in one turn but burns Sorcery Points fast; in Honour Mode it is better to save them for the boss's second phase.
• The durable artillery build is safer: the Draconic Bloodline's extra health and resistance let you take an out-of-turn Legendary Action and keep going.

Level by level: Draconic Bloodline — Sturdy Artillery

• Level 1 — Bloodline: Draconic · 4 cantrips and 2 spells · Gain: Draconic Resilience
  • Fire Bolt — Your free, unlimited fire attack: you fall back on it when spells run out. Useless against fire-immune foes like fire elementals and devils; switch to Ray of Frost.
  • Ray of Frost — Slows the enemy it hits so they cannot reach you.
  • Light — Lets you see in dark caves, where you would otherwise miss more.
  • Minor Illusion — Creates a fake noise that pulls enemies into the corner you choose.
  • Magic Missile — Never misses: your only guarantee against invisible or dodgy enemies.
  • Shield — Triggers even when it is not your turn, turning a hit into a miss.
  Tip: The Sorcerer picks its bloodline at level 1.
• Level 2 — 2 Metamagics and 1 spell · Gain: Metamagic
  • Metamagic: Quickened Spell — Turns a spell into a bonus action, so you cast twice in one turn.
  • Metamagic: Twinned Spell — Casts a single-target spell at two enemies at once.
  • Chromatic Orb — You choose the damage type, and it leaves ice or fire on the ground.
  Tip: Quickened Spell lets you cast two spells in one turn: the strongest option.
• Level 3 — 1 Metamagic and 1 spell · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Metamagic: Distant Spell — Doubles the range of your spells so you cast from safety.
  • Scorching Ray — Fires three separate rays, which stack into serious damage on one target. All three rays weaken on a fire-resistant target; switch to ice or lightning.
• Level 4 — A feat, 1 cantrip and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • War Caster — Damage no longer breaks your spell, essential for anything needing concentration.
  • Shocking Grasp — The enemy you hit cannot retreat that turn, pinning anyone trying to flee.
  • Misty Step — A bonus-action teleport that gets you out of an enemy pile-up.
• Level 5 — Pick 1 spell: Fireball is here · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Fireball — Wipes out a crowd in one cast: the most famous spell in the game. No effect on fire-immune enemies; switch to ice or lightning.
• Level 6 — Pick 1 spell · Gain: Elemental Affinity
  • Haste — Gives an ally an extra action: the strongest support spell in the game.
  Tip: If you chose fire, every Fireball now carries your Charisma bonus.
• Level 7 — Pick 1 spell: fourth-level slots opened · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Wall of Fire — Raises a wall of fire, so enemies either burn or go around. Fire-immune enemies walk straight through it without hesitation.
• Level 8 — Ability Improvement and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Charisma +2)
  • Polymorph — Turns a dangerous enemy into a harmless sheep.
• Level 9 — Pick 1 spell: fifth-level slots opened · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Cone of Cold — Freezes a wide cone, for enemies that resist Fireball.
• Level 10 — 1 Metamagic, 1 cantrip and 1 spell · Gain: Heightened Spell
  • Metamagic: Heightened Spell — Lowers the target's chance to resist: save it for critical spells.
  • Bone Chill — The enemy you hit cannot be healed that turn, which matters in boss fights.
  • Hold Monster — Paralyses a boss, and every hit against it counts as a critical. This also fails against undead; skeletons and zombies need a different tactic.
  Tip: Makes one target's saving throw harder. Sorcery Points are expensive: spend this on the single control spell that turns the fight, not on trash.
• Level 11 — Pick 1 spell: sixth-level slots opened · Gain: Chain Lightning
  • Chain Lightning — One spell sends lightning arcing to several enemies.
  Tip: Arcs from the first target to nearby enemies. Use it when they are clustered, not spread out, or it turns into a single-target spell.
• Level 12 — Ability Improvement and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Charisma +1, Constitution +1)
  • Disintegrate — Enormous damage to one target: your hardest single-target spell.

Level by level: Draconic Bloodline — Twin-Spell Burst

• Level 1 — Bloodline: Draconic · 4 cantrips and 2 spells · Gain: Draconic Resilience
  • Fire Bolt — Your free, unlimited fire attack: you fall back on it when spells run out. Useless against fire-immune foes like fire elementals and devils; switch to Ray of Frost.
  • Ray of Frost — Slows the enemy it hits so they cannot reach you.
  • Light — Lets you see in dark caves, where you would otherwise miss more.
  • Minor Illusion — Creates a fake noise that pulls enemies into the corner you choose.
  • Magic Missile — Never misses: your only guarantee against invisible or dodgy enemies.
  • Shield — Triggers even when it is not your turn, turning a hit into a miss.
• Level 2 — 2 Metamagics and 1 spell · Gain: Twinned Spell
  • Metamagic: Twinned Spell — Casts a single-target spell at two enemies at once.
  • Metamagic: Quickened Spell — Turns a spell into a bonus action, so you cast twice in one turn.
  • Chromatic Orb — You choose the damage type, and it leaves ice or fire on the ground.
  Tip: Twinning Haste gives two allies an extra attack each.
• Level 3 — 1 Metamagic and 1 spell · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Metamagic: Careful Spell — Your allies are spared from your area spells.
  • Misty Step — A bonus-action teleport that gets you out of an enemy pile-up.
• Level 4 — A feat, 1 cantrip and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • War Caster — Damage no longer breaks your spell, essential for anything needing concentration.
  • Bone Chill — The enemy you hit cannot be healed that turn, which matters in boss fights.
  • Mirror Image — Creates three fake copies, so enemies swing at them instead of you.
• Level 5 — Pick 1 spell: Haste is here · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Haste — Twin it and two allies each gain an extra attack.
• Level 6 — Pick 1 spell · Gain: Elemental Affinity
  • Fireball — Wipes out a crowd in one cast: the most famous spell in the game. No effect on fire-immune enemies; switch to ice or lightning.
• Level 7 — Pick 1 spell: fourth-level slots opened · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Greater Invisibility — You stay invisible even while attacking, so enemies rarely hit you.
• Level 8 — Ability Improvement and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Charisma +2)
  • Dimension Door — Teleports you and one ally far away, for escape or ambush.
• Level 9 — Pick 1 spell: fifth-level slots opened · Gain: Spell Slots
  • Hold Monster — Paralyses a boss, and every hit against it counts as a critical. This also fails against undead; skeletons and zombies need a different tactic.
• Level 10 — 1 Metamagic, 1 cantrip and 1 spell · Gain: Heightened Spell
  • Metamagic: Heightened Spell — Lowers the target's chance to resist: save it for critical spells.
  • Shocking Grasp — The enemy you hit cannot retreat that turn, pinning anyone trying to flee.
  • Cone of Cold — Freezes a wide cone, for enemies that resist Fireball.
  Tip: Makes one target's saving throw harder. Sorcery Points are expensive: spend this on the single control spell that turns the fight, not on trash.
• Level 11 — Pick 1 spell: sixth-level slots opened · Gain: Chain Lightning
  • Chain Lightning — One spell sends lightning arcing to several enemies.
  Tip: Arcs from the first target to nearby enemies. Use it when they are clustered, not spread out, or it turns into a single-target spell.
• Level 12 — Ability Improvement and 1 spell · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Charisma +1, Constitution +1)
  • Disintegrate — Enormous damage to one target: your hardest single-target spell.

Key equipment

• Circlet of Blasting (Act 1) — Casts a free Scorching Ray once a day, giving a Sorcerer extra damage early on without burning its scarce spell slots. Where: Act 1, Ebonlake Grotto in the Underdark — sold by the trader Blurg.
• Spellmight Gloves (Act 3) — Substantially increases your spell damage. Where: Circus of the Last Days — a reward from Lucretious for completing Find Dribbles the Clown.
• Potent Robe (Act 2) — Adds your Charisma bonus to cantrips and grants temporary health. Where: Act 2, Last Light Inn — a reward from Alfira for completing Rescue the Tieflings.
• Markoheshkir (Act 3) — A staff that raises your spell accuracy and damage across the board. Where: Act 3, Ramazith's Tower — inside a Globe of Invulnerability.
• Cloak of Displacement (Act 3) — Gives the first attack against you disadvantage. Where: Act 3, Wyrm's Crossing — sold by the merchant Danthelon.

Combat tips

• Quickened Spell lets you cast twice in one turn, which is how your biggest turns happen.
• Twin Haste and drop it on two allies at once.
• You can convert spell slots into Sorcery Points and back again.
• Your Charisma is high, so lead the conversations if there is no Bard.

Common mistakes

• Do not try to learn scrolls like a Wizard: the Sorcerer cannot learn spells from them.
• Your spell list is narrow, so choose carefully: changing your mind later is hard.
• Do not hoard Sorcery Points and never spend them: that is what they are for.

All twelve classes and the party picker