Wizards are Fifth Edition's arcane magical generalists, capable of learning more spells than any other class. However, many D&D 5e wizard subclasses specialize in one area of magic, and the School of Transmutation Arcane Tradition, for example, focuses on the changeable properties of physical matter.
Transmutation wizards can alter physical objects or even living beings, gaining magical abilities that affect the objects around them. Wizards lack many abilities with direct combat applications in D&D 5e, but with the right build, a School of Transmutation wizard can be as effective as any other type of magic user.
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School Of Transmutation Wizard Build Summary
Ability Scores (In Order Of Importance) | Intelligence, Constitution, Dexterity, Wisdom, Charisma, Strength |
|---|---|
Race | Human/Custom Lineage, Fairy, Hobgoblin |
Background | Sage, Haunted One |
Feats | War Caster, Artificer Initiate, Metamagic Initiate |
Spells | Enhance Ability, Haste, Slow, Animate Objects, Disintegrate |
Multiclass | Artificer, Fighter |
Perks Of A Transmutation Wizard Build
Wizard Level | School of Transmutation Feature |
|---|---|
2 | Minor Alchemy, Transmutation Savant |
6 | Transmuter's Stone |
10 | Shapechanger |
14 | Master Transmuter |
are open-ended — very few have explicit mechanics or specific combat purposes. Instead, Transmutation abilities are broad and flexible additions to a wizard's immense toolkit. This versatility makes the School of Transmutation D&D 5e the best wizard subclass for players who enjoy creative problem-solving and want a chance to use their wits with a character's abilities.
Transmutation Savant is the standard ability for Player's Handbook wizard subclasses, and makes Transmutation spells cheaper and easier to copy into a spellbook. Minor Alchemy is a deceptively useful ability — it lets a wizard transmute commonplace materials like wood, stone, and gold into one another. This alchemical ability isn't useful in time sensitive circ*mstances, but canny players can use it for non-combat situations like conning people into accepting fake gold, dazzling NPCs with wealth, or smuggling objects past guards.
Transmuter's Stone is the closest thing the D&D 5e School of Transmutation wizard has to a central mechanic. The wizard can spend eight hours creating a stone that gives one benefit, including improved movement speed, Darkvision, damage typing, and Constitution saving throw proficiency (its most evergreen use). However, the ability to switch benefits when casting a Transmutation spell or giving the stone to another creature opens various possibilities.
Shapechanger lets a D&D 5e Transmutation wizard cast Polymorph for free as long as they turn themselves into a creature of CR1 or less. This is less valuable in combat, but opens possibilities for travel, stealth, and subterfuge. Shapechanger also teaches the wizard Polymorph, so the wizard can save the cost of transcribing it into their spellbook and choose another spell when they level up.
Master Transmuter builds on the Transmuter's Stone's immense potential. The wizard can destroy their stone to permanently transform a five-foot cube of material into a different type, cure every curse, poison, and illness affecting a creature, reduce a creature's age, or even raise the dead. Wizards can rebuild the stone every day, giving the player a regenerating source of immensely powerful abilities.
Best Stats For A School Of Transmutation Wizard Build
Intelligence is far and away the most . Few classes in the game rely on their spellcasting like the wizard, and Intelligence dictates how effective that spellcasting is. Wizards want their prepared spells, attack bonus, and saving throw DC to be as high as possible.
Constitution is also vital for the wizard because, with a d6 hit die, they are one of D&D 5e's most fragile classes — high Constitution makes them much more survivable in combat. In addition, many of the best wizard spells in D&D 5e require Concentration, which is challenged by a Constitution saving throw during encounters.
Dexterity is reasonably important for a wizard. Their lack of armor means they rely on the Mage Armor spell and high Dexterity for the Armor Class bonus. Wizards will never have very good AC, and they are best served avoiding danger altogether when they can. However, a high Initiative bonus lets a wizard use their best spells early in a fight, particularly area-of-effect spells against clumped-up foes.
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The Best Race & Background For A Transmutation Wizard
Transmutation wizards benefit as much from variant human and custom lineage as any other build in D&D 5e. An extra feat that some races grant is more than many builds can afford to pass up, both for its immediate benefits and to free up later Ability Score Improvements.
Fairy is another D&D 5e race with plenty of benefits for a Transmutation wizard. Flight typically requires magic items or a spell slot and Concentration, but a fairy's at-will flight is an immense boon for any character, particularly those who want to avoid melee combat. The fairy race's additional spellcasting can also take advantage of the wizard's immense Intelligence.
Hobgoblin is also an effective choice for a Transmutation wizard, because it's not a subclass with much use for its bonus action, so Fey Gift has plenty of potential. Furthermore, Fortune from the Many can further help pass Concentration saving throws alongside its general benefits.
Backgrounds should build on a D&D 5e wizard's high Intelligence first and foremost. Sage is a classic choice due to its proficiencies in Arcana and History, which turn the character into a knowledge powerhouse. Haunted One lets a wizard be more hands-on with Investigation as one of their options, along with Arcana and Religion.
Best 5e Feats For Transmutation Wizards
Wizard Level | Recommended Feat |
|---|---|
1 (Variant Human/Custom Lineage Only) | Fey Touched/War Caster |
4 | Ability Score Improvement: Intelligence |
8 | Ability Score Improvement: Intelligence |
12 | Metamagic Initiate/War Caster |
16 | Artificer Initiate |
19 | Telekinetic |
and Transmutation wizards benefit from it immensely in the heat of battle — although its weapon-focused feature does almost nothing for the subclass. Advantage on Concentration saving throws also synergizes well with the Transmuter's Stone's bonus. Transmutation wizards who plan to use a different Transmuter's Stone feature or give it to an ally may wish to consider Resilient: Constitution instead.
Metamagic Initiate is another stellar feat for any D&D 5e spellcaster build, and even a few Metamagic options and Sorcery Points open doors for a spellcaster. A Transmutation wizard can reduce a spell's casting time with Quickened Spell, or apply a powerful Concentration spell to two targets with Twinned Spell.
Artificer Initiate synergizes very well with the wizard's Intelligence spellcasting. In addition, the artificer spell list gives many options that a D&D 5e wizard doesn't get. Most significant are the Guidance cantrip and the Cure Wounds first-level spell, but these are by no means the only worthwhile choices.
Telekinesis also harnesses a wizard's high Intelligence score. Transmutation wizards usually don't have much use for bonus actions, but this free ranged shove can keep allies safe every turn, push dangerous enemies away from the wizard, or even knock enemies off cliffs or into environmental hazards.
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The Best Spells For A School Of Transmutation Wizard
The Transmutation Savant feature encourages a D&D 5e Transmutation wizard build to take as many Transmutation spells as possible. Feather Fall, Enhance Ability, Haste, Slow, Polymorph, and Animate Objects are top-tier Transmutation spells that all wizards should consider. At higher levels, this class also benefits from some of D&D's best spells like Disintegrate and True Polymorph.
Although the School of Transmutation might seem like the most obvious option for this build, other spell schools have equally valuable alternatives. Few D&D 5e wizards are complete without Shatter, Fireball, and Lightning Bolt to deal vicious area-of-effect damage when they need it. Absorb Elements, Counterspell, and Magic Missile are all valuable fire-and-forget spells to have in combat.
However, Transmutation wizards should try and have as many of as possible. The Transmuter's stone gives them great success with Concentration checks, making this subclass more effective with long-term buffs and debuffs than many other wizards. Hold Person, Hypnotic Pattern, Banishment, and Wall of Force can decimate enemies as long as a wizard maintains Concentration.
Spell Level | Recommended Spells |
|---|---|
1 | Absorb Elements, Feather Fall, Magic Missile, Shield |
2 | Enhance Ability, Shatter |
3 | Counterspell, Fireball, Haste, Slow |
4 | Banishment, Polymorph |
5 | Animate Objects, Bigby's Hand, Hold Monster |
6 | Disintegrate |
7 | Reverse Gravity |
8 | Dominate Monster |
9 | True Polymorph, Wish |
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Multiclassing A 5e Transmutation Wizard
The wizard is one of D&D 5e's best classes as a singleclassed build. Few multiclass builds give more than they take away in wizard spellcasting, but some players might want more than they get from wizard on its own.
. A single level gives the character proficiency in light armor, medium armor, and shields — a significant defensive buff that can be worth the loss in spell casting. Higher-level abilities like Infuse Item can bolster a Transmutation wizard's theme of creating and changing items. The artificer even loses the wizard fewer spell slots than other half-casters due to its unique rules and offers otherwise unavailable spells like Guidance and Cure Wounds.
Fighter is an unconventional D&D 5e wizard multiclass with one obvious benefit: at level 2, a wizard and fighter multiclass gets medium armor and shields, as well as an Action Surge. Due to D&D 5e's spellcasting rules, this lets a wizard cast two leveled spells without penalty and opens up significant tactical opportunities, including the ability to devastate enemies with two Fireballs in a single turn.
