Magic is a tricky and difficult force to master in any fantasy setting. This is why there is always a dedicated Wizards group that can harness the magic's full potential. The Wizard class is practically ingrained into the essence of Dungeons and Dragons. Any fantasy setting has some version of the studious wizard that lives eons to understand the nature of magic more and more. So it is not a surprise that the company Wizards of The Coast put much time and care into making the Wizard class a dynamic and optimal class for practicing magic.
Though Wizards may have a hard time competing with Bards, one would not think that the Bard class would be close competitors with Wizards. However, the multifaceted Bards are extremely well-rounded. This helps aid them in mastering magic over Wizards.
10 Bards: Song Of Rest- Having Bards As The Healer To Add To Their Repertoire
An early ability Bards receive that is grossly underused. During Short rests, if the Bard plays a performance that allows allies who are healing with hit dice to receive a 1d6 to their healing. The dice increases as they level, and the Bard can do this any time the party takes a short rest.
Having access to an innate healing ability makes the Bard an optimal caster to have in any party. The healing may not be as robust as a healing spell, but being able to do it, every short rest, is an incredible bonus to have.
9 Wizards: Massive List of Spells- Having More Options Adds For Greater Versatility
It should come as no surprise that Wizards has the largest list of spells out of any other class. Though Wizards have to go through a long process of obtaining spells, accessing a large catalog of spells makes them premier spellcasters.
This also allows the Wizard to be much more dynamic in their roleplay. Choosing which spells to access and use helps flesh out character options making them a great class to experiment with.
8 Bards: Expertise- Having This Makes Bards Optimal In the Right Conditions
Not necessarily a magical ability, but this feature aids Bards in mastering their magical prowess. All expertise does is double Bard's proficiency bonus on several skills.
Simple, but if the Bard Chooses to have their double proficiency in Arcana, that makes the Bards always better at Arcana than the Wizard could ever achieve. While Wizards are proficient in Arcana, they will never have double proficiency with the rules as written. Making Bards the ideal spellcasters.
7 Wizards: Arcane Recovery- Allowing Wizards To Keep Fighting Battle After Battle
A simple but effective ability Wizards utilize. Arcane Recovery allows Wizards to regain some spell slots determined by their level every short rest.
Noting too spectacular about this ability, but it demonstrates why Wizards are expert spellcasters. Their understanding of magic and how it works within themselves to the point where they can gain back their spell slots from each short rest makes Wizard a strong candidate for the optimal spellcasters.
6 Bards: Optimal Subclasses- The True Prowess Of A Bard Comes From The College They Study Under
The bards have a solid roster of Subclasses. Ranging from unique evil-inspired Bards with the College of Shadows to combat-focused Bards with the College of Swords. This is all well and good for making the Bard a well-rounded class, but how does this enhance their magical ability?
Quite a bit. Each subclass is very distinct and optimized for more magical abilities. The most recent Bard Subclass, the College of Spirits, allows the Bard to communicate with the spirits from beyond and tap into the magic from the supernatural realm. This is just one subclass example the exemplifies Bard's spellcasting mastery.
5 Wizards: Dynamic Subclasses- A Well Rounded Wizard Is A Powerful One
While Bards have strong subclasses, The Wizard has access to a larger variety of Subclass options for spellcasting optimization. The Wizard started with subclasses tied to the original 7 schools of magic, then expanded to a growing list of subclasses focusing on bladesinging, to the art of war.
All of these options show how Wizards have a stronger understanding of magic. These specific focuses on the different schools provide the Wizards a slew of expert spellcasting abilities.
4 Bards: Magical Secrets- Bards Have A Little Bit From Each Class
The Magical Secrets feature a prime example of Bard's spellcasting ability. This feature is first accessed at the 10th level, the 14th level, and the 18th level. It allows the Bard to take two spells from any class to add to their list of known spells.
This means Bards can have access to every spell in the game. They may not know as much as Wizards or Clerics can, but this feature makes it so they can pull from every spellcasting class.
3 Wizards: Spell Mastery- Putting Wizards On Par With Legendary Creatures
This feature may not be available to Wizards until the 18th level, but it shows just how powerful Wizards can be. This feature allows Wizards to cast either one 1st and one 2nd level spell without expending a spell slot. This is expanded at the 20th level to have a single 3rd level spell cast with no spell slots.
This means Wizards can cast stronger magic at will. This ability is found in almost any expert spellcaster enemy in the game. Having this powerful ability makes Wizards experts in the chosen field of magic.
2 Bards: Inspiration- The Defining Feature Of Every Bard
When Players think of the Bard Class, this is one of the first things players think about. This feature starts as granting an ally a 1d6 dice to be used on one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This feature levels up with time with increasing dice and the number of inspirations a Bard can carry.
Each subclass has a unique expansion on each magical inspiration providing more distinct abilities to their allies or themselves. The flexibility and versatility of inspiration demonstrate that Bards are exceptional at utilizing magic to their ability.
1 Wizards: Spellbooks- Cannot Have A Wizard Without Their Spellbook
Wizards have to undergo a lot of prep work when working with magic. They have to prepare spells each day and make sure to maintain their growing list of known spells. To aid them in this, Wizards use their Spellbook to keep a daily track of their spells.
The spellbook not only contains a list of their known/prepared spells for the day, but it allows them to copy in more spells the Wizard may not know. If the Wizard is diligent enough, they can learn as many spells as they desire. Soon enough, they will master almost every magical spell obtainable to them.