I see what you did here Mr Treantmonk. You are not really comparing them for a winner but contrasting them so that a player has a better idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of both after the Tasha really rebalanced things a bit. You are not going to say “it is always the Wizard. “ TM: “The Chronurger wins” Me: dang it.

I'm baited by the title. Sorcerer's make better kings because they can succeed at diplomacy checks.

Wizard speaking to Cleric while pointing at Divine Soul Sorcerer: "Look what they need just to mimic a fraction of our power!"

For anyone interested, the Divine Soul Sorcerer has the following spell options Cantrips: 36 ( +7) 1st: 41 (+ 13) 2nd: 49 (+9) 3rd: 45 (+13) 4th: 22 (+5) 5th: 33 (+13) 6th: 26 (+6) 7th: 18 (+5) 8th: 9 (+2) 9th: 11 (+3) For a total of 290 spells (or 59 spells less than wizard)

As someone who mains sorcerer, I am so grateful for the Tasha's sorcerer sub classes, playing aberrant mind and clockwork soul has been a blast, if not simply because I get to know more spells.

17:52 Aberrant Mind Sorcerers get access to Dissonant Whispers. Dissonant Whispers is a top-notch level 1 concentration-less control spell, which can do a lot of damage from opportunity attacks. It's even better when twinned. It's definitely something I'd love on my Wizard's list!

Important note regarding multiclassing spellcasters with Artificier. When calculating your spell caster level to determine your spell slots you take half of your artificer levels rounded up, not down. This is the only half caster to do this. Due to this, a single level dip into Artificer will not impact spell progression for an otherwise pure full caster. Not that this impacts the final result at all. I still think it’s quite interesting. Edit: should have said spell slot progression instead of spell progression as multiclassing will still impact which spells can be prepared (an artificer 1/wizard x will still have 3rd level slots at level 5, they will not be able to prepare spells higher than second level as they will only be a wizard 4 at this point)

"Which is king?" Immediately shows a wizard with a crown "Well that answers that"

I hope Treantmonk does a video of “Wizard vs X” for every class so we can refer people to those whenever they’re being ignorant and claiming anything other than “Wizard is King”

"Where are the bards ? " "Gods don't concern themselves with the affairs of puny mortals"

I think one of the discussion points that would be important could be magic items. The new magic items for sorcerers are by far stronger than the ones for wizards (disadvantage on all metamagic spells or a free misty step with each metamagices spells). If there is a significant chance to obtain these items (or you start at a higher level with magic items to begin with) I think sorcerer surpasses the wizard.

Great analysis, but you have omitted one key distinction: sorcerers are invariably sexier.

“There are a lot of really good wizard subclasses” but you can’t take them all at once. You can’t have the weapons of a blade singer, arcane ward of an abjuration, sculpt spells of an evoker, and the twin enchantments of an enchanted at the same time. You can take clockwork soul, a dip in Hexblade, and the appropriate metamagics to replicate all of those at once.

A few things, the reliance on war mage for initiative I think is slightly overblown especially because it negates your gish bladesinger, also Many of the wizard wins for subclasses were distributed, while the sorc ones were all condensed, the two new subclasses get ALL of the advantages, making either of them more powerful than any single wizard subclass. Then lastly the big one not accounted for is that a huge percentage of the game is social and cha dominates int in this category. With these in mind, in the narrow window that utilizes just these two sub classes, I think sorc takes the crown. This coming from someone who has mained many wizards in the past and loves wizards.

“To get armor agathys they need to take a feat” or play a mark of warding dwarf and become the arcane battle-rager, the merging of dwarven tradition and magical advancements! There’s magic in this beard!

I can't decide if I agree or not. I have never played in a campaign in the last 8 years where I have hit over level 14 so the Aberrant and Clockwork spell advantage along with the meta magic flexibility really speaks to me. Great video/analysis as always though!

Why did I watch this? The moment you said you were biased i knew who you were gonna choose lmbo; fun vid and very detailed overall! Thanks TM :D

Thanks for the video, awesome comparisons. As with many new subclasses, I hope the added spells known for Sorcerers continues, so they continue to be tailored to their particular flavor. The well-matched subclass abilities with new spells for Abberant Mind and Clockwork are awesome too, always Subtle Spell'ing Enchantment is ridiculous. Also... awesome Harry Dresden art.

I really like the shadow sorcerer too, although overall not better than clockwork and aberrant, you get to summon a direwolf that gives disadvantage on spell saving throws to your target, as a bonus action.

I love your videos so much Mr Treantmonk. My two favorite builds for Wizard and Sorcerer take them and make them into something different: a CBE SS Bladesinger with a dip in Fighter for Con saves and fighting style that utilizes Blur and Greater Invis for defense and Offense; and a Devotion Paladin 6 Clockwork Sorcerer X that is more focused on buffing up its melee capabilities to avoid damage and to output heavy damage. I love both of these classes so much and look forward to your video on cleric! Twilight ftw!

Talking about weapon attacks while it does cost lots of resources, it is possible to use booming blade as a quickened spell allowing 2 casts per turn as an early level extra attack

War Mage is really underrated IMO. Up to +5 Initiative is amazing.

Amazing breakdown! I agree with you despite the sorcerer being my favorite class. When it comes to utility, recovery, and spell-milage the wizard is on top. But I often find myself to even use all my spell slots at certain levels when playing a full caster. The sorcerer can just break the spell action economy in ways the wizard can't touch. Twin spell essentially doubles the effectiveness, chance of success, or halves the amount of turns a wizard would take depending on the spell. Subtle spell makes you immune to counter spell basically, and quicken spell is amazing for gish builds. If your typically adventuring day has less than 10 rounds of combat on average, than I think the sorcerer slightly edges out the wizard.

Gotta agree! Both are great. Depends a lot about party composition which one is needed the most.

Two things, one is that those really good class features would mean giving up in other area's where you were comparing certain sub-classes cant have portent and battle magic, the second is gear, I think Tasha's brought the sorcerer ahead on equipment with the blood vial vs arcane grimoire and the other tomes vs shards. I think both considerations are worth half a point each, in the first case as you said about defense vs attack you can't choose more than one so winning in any one category means loosing in others, and I'd say gear is only worth half a point because many games will have non standard gear.

For consistent arcane ward, you don’t need to burn a feat (which is not free) to get warlock’s armor of shadow. Just ritual cast alarm, an abjuration spell.

Those sorc subclasses can have more spells known for sure, but the fact that wizards can learn spells from spellbooks and scrolls make them really flexible in that area, and I think the difference is even narrower. One can argue that it is not certain that you will find spells to copy to your book during a campaign, but in my experience, even in low-magic settings and campaigns, scrolls and other wizards are still a thing =P So that's just to add more praise to the Wizard overall

Loving the Harry Dresden art at 20:12. :D

love the video as always. I guess the thing is wizards are more flexible at the end of the day in what they can do but sorcers are better at doing specific things. Flexibility usually wins when you take into account that a game is a range of encounters. However I just cant get over how powerful metamagic is and when you pointed out in video 1 that effective sorcerers can completely end an encounter with their use of metamagic while wizards normally wouldnt have as big impact on an encounter. It depends on who is playing the class and what role they are playing.

8:32 Two things: 1) you only gain the saving throw proficiencies of your first class, so you'd have to start your career as an artificer for that to work 2) with one level in artificer and one less level in wizard, you would have as many spell slots due to a quirk with artificer multiclassing not present in other half-casters. Still the highest level spell you can prepare as a wizard is stunted, so it is only really useful for upcasting

On the subject of mid tier to high tier subclass feature. I think it ties into the subjective desire of wanting something cool later down in the line. Hence why the topic of capstone abilities comes up more than a few times. And for that having a feature at 18 can give that sense when all wizards can look at after it is their spell list. And while the dead levels is a new spell level, the same treatment can't be said for clerics and bards, who has less of the dead levels.

TM: "Since most campaigns end at .." Me: "between 10 and 12, so it doesn't really matter" TM: "between 10 and 15" How convenient.

Great video. Same as it ever was. If you want to be a specialist in one or two things go sorcerer, if you prefer more generalization be a wizard.

Whelp, that was great! Just a great analysis!

Agree with most of it, BUT in the end you were combining every Wizard good feature on "one class" against CW and AB sorcerer. I mean, yeah Wizard have way more consistent and good features across there subclasses but picking one mean forfeiting others... While sorcerer it kind of have most of good aspects concentrated on Tasha's S.Classes.

You kinda forgot that. Wizards can get higher level spells outside of the leveling system. That’s HUGE.

I just can’t give up Metamagic. It’s too good for me.

Sorcs used to have a leg up when D&D still had a vancian magic system, but alas

Feats are not free... so in the last video where the wizard took a feat for not having con proficiency? Love youuuuuuuuu

Tashas 5th level optional feature for sorcerer has been really strong in my campaign. Sorcerers are just better at counter spell and dispel magic. This was not brought up in this analysis. Getting to re roll a counter spell or dispel magic is huge for one sorcery point. Aberrant mind sorcerer feature psionic casting is so powerful. You can cast these spells so cheaply and so often at high levels. I often find that the aberrant mind sorcerer can cast more often per day than the wizard. At mid to high levels they can trade spell slots to spell points so efficiently. Plus you can add another metamagic on top of that. Combine this with Bloodwell Vial and or God forbid a Shadowfell Shard and your character is monster. These new Sorcerer sub classes and optional features are a ton of fun. loved the Video and the analysis. It was well thought out and presented. One thing about the Aberrant mind Sorcerer that is not clear is can you up cast Psionic spells with spell points. They way i read feature description i think you can.

Very comprehensive. I love it. But I'd like to add another point in the Wizard's favor: player friendliness. Because a Wizard learns far more spells than they can ever prepare simultaneously, and can add any number of additional spells to their spellbook when given the opportunity by the DM, they remain far more flexible than any Sorcerer, regardless of which sourcebooks are allowed. An inexperienced player can quite easily build and play a Wizard that is fun and effective, even with a fair few bad decisions, because they can experiment with different spells and choose to stop preparing the bad ones. In fact, IMO, Wizards are the third *easiest* character for a novice player to make, after a Rogue or Barbarian. And a Sorcerer is perhaps the most complicated and challenging class to build effectively, or at least it's in contention with the Warlock and Artificer.

I'd just like to point out that if you are really focusing on a sorcerer who wields a weapon, take the quickened spell option. It lets you do basically what blade singers can, but at a cost of sorcery points. It's not exactly ideal at lower levels since you run out of sorcery points quick and then have to spend a bonus action transferring your spell slots into sorcery points and well then you're loosing out on casting and a bonus action, but it is considerably less of a problem at higher levels. If you really wanna play a warrior sorcerer consider talking to your DM about making the font of magic spell slots to sorcery points a free action (as i feel like it should already be in base game), it definitely cranks this up in power just a bit. Hope this helps anyone trying to build a fighting sorcerer.

Awesome video, wizard supremacy was a thing for almost all of DnD 5e! The 33 minute note on classes and subclasses which are broken at low level: just ignore them. This is incredibly sage advice, because "broken" at level 5 is not the same as "broken" at level 17.

Loving the Harry Dresden art!

I don't know if it's the kind of thing you do but could you do a video talking about the difference between Wizards and Sorcerers from a lore perspective? I know that Sorcerers have a more natural inclination to magic because of being descended from a powerful magical being and that Wizards have to put more study into using their power but that's about it. I think it'd be a pretty interesting video talking about their typical roles in both the party or world building (like in societies), personality inclinations, how they interact with each other, whether someone can do both (in lore at least), and so on. As far as I know no one's done a video in their lore beyond "wizards are old and sorcerers aren't, let's get into the stats" so it would be both really cool and really helpful to have a more lore focused video for it. (Or if anyone knows a video like that that's just gone under my radar that'd be nice to know about too).

This is a very vary interesting video... but, but! When you'll release the next part on the rankings for all subclassed in dnd? I'm so curious xD

Without a doubt, my Divine Soul Sorcerer with 2 level Hexblade dip has been my favorite character to play

You've said it best. Sorcerer comes REALLY close thanks to the new Tasha's subs. The sorcerer subs can't be given much more power than they already have or they would be too strong for a sub class, but they add enough to bridge the gap to wizards. It's just some wizard subclasses get that little extra touch on top that makes them better. Especially portent. Personally not a fan of divination wizard though. Portent is insane, but the class itself doesn't really add a lot of fun things to the class other than a numerical advantage.

A Fire Draconic Sorcerer/Light Domain Cleric with Twinned Spell and Quickened Spell would be great. You gain the ability to use your Metamagic on your cleric spells. Plus you get a good amount of fire spells. Also getting proficiency with Light and Medium Armor. And the ability to prepare Cleric spells. It seems great in theory. Can't wait to play one.

I think you overlooked a key feature of wizards in general and the Order of Scribes subclass, and that is the wizards ability to expand the spells in their spell books and write scrolls. That means that potentially that 100+ advantage in spells on the list could wind up in the spell book. The Master Scrivener feature also makes writing spell scrolls an advantageous way to spend downtime. Casting spells through the Manifest Mind at 6th level could add up to 300 feet to your range on attacks, enable you to cast spells around corners, or even send it in through a window and Fireball a room without even entering the building! Sorcerers got nothing that comes close to that!

I'd love to see this video but with Bards. I always saw them as a close second to Wizards so I am curious if they are now better of worse then the sorcerer. Or how much worse then the Wizard they really are.

You also forgot about the shadow sorc. They are extreamly strong frontliners between thier hound and their darkness. You got competition. They can cast in total darkness and with their hound using the help action or even just as a distraction. It all works really well.

I think one of your subclass ranking videos which includes both of these classes together would show the point more succinctly. Yes, the Tasha's subclasses for Sorcerer do shore up a lot of the problems that people have complained about over the years, which is good, but the power of the Wizard base class still dominates over all of the other Sorcerer subclasses.

32:04 "So where does that leave us?" With me hoping you'll do an update of your War Mage build so I can see whether you'd go Artificer now or stick with your Gith Battlemaster. =)

Matt Mercer artificially accelerated the power creep in 5e with the Chronurgist and his other broken munchkin shit.

I think something that needs to be factored in is this: the wizard’s ability to copy more spells into their spellbook, as well as the fact that the aberrant mind and clockwork soul get a bunch of pre-determined subclass spells that they can only swap out slowly for the spells they might actually want, whereas wizards have a more flexibility because they get to pick all their spells from the get-go (except additional found ones). Maybe also worth mentioning: sorcerers get more cantrips early on, which can be nice.

You can of course do a mark of warding dwarf ab-wizard. Get good con, good int, get armor of aggy, and alarm the can be cast as a ritual. I did play a melee mage with this build up of. This plus heavy armor master (thank you one level cleric-could go fighter for one ac and con saves). At low levels I was even casting “blade ward” and letting stuff die trying to kill me. ( we did get a bonus level 1 feat-so that helped), but was still working at level 5 so in theory would be find w/o.

Not exactly on topic but I'm definitely dipping my Ghostslayer bloodhunter into war mage for 2 levels. All kinds of insane goodness just from that

I want to see more class comparisons. It real shows the flaws of the classes in play. Which is much different than on paper.

If WotC put out an errata adding origin spells to previous Sorcerer subclasses, this might have had a different outcome. But god knows they love to keep their pet class on top, not giving Sorcerers any exclusive spells of their own... Hell, makes me think that the only way someone at WotC managed to give these boosts to sorcerers via the Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul subclasses was by arguing that "it won't actually threaten the wizard's monopoly, let them have more spell and one summoning option."

I noticed that you talked about how aspects of the war mage subclass keeps up with aspects of clockwork soul and abberent mind but at the end went waffling on about how the other Wizard subclasses have powerful features. So in order to take those powerful features from other Wizard subclasses youd have to essentially forfeit points to the CS and AM sorc in categories of AC and Initiative which by your own metrics would result in a overall win for the Sorcerer.

Not having ritual casting is a big downside IMO. Being able to cast detect magic (in particular), without using a spell slot is a BIG deal, at least in the campaigns that I've played in. There are days where I'll use detect magic 3 to 4 times, and I wouldn't feel as though that would really be an option playing a sorcerer. Not to mention leomund's tiny hut, rary's telepathic bond, comprehend languages, unseen servant, phantom steed, and the occasional water breathing...Being able to cast ALL of these spells without using a spell slot or a spell preparation is a big goddamn deal in my eyes, and it directly impacts my appreciation of my character as a spell caster from an RP perspective. YES, you can take the ritual caster feat, but then you're devoting a fair number of your spells known to replicating the baseline wizard, and as Treantmonk said, "feats aren't free." I would go so far as to add the entirety of the wizard ritual spell list in some way shape or form to the column for wizard's prepared spells. Granted, not all of these spells are particularly useful, but those that are tend to be VERY useful often enough to warrant mention. I do agree however that clockwork soul and aberrant mind are VAST improvements over the baseline sorcerer, so much so that in some areas they can excel over the wizard, particularly in combat due to metamagic being very powerful. Which is a point Treantmonk made in his first video, just wanted to point this out because it's a point worth repeating.

Metamagic and sorcerer spells affect each other in odd ways. Since it's more cost effective to use SorceryPoints(SP) on metamagic than on slots, But the (usually 2) metamagics will rarely work with most of your few spells known from your smaller spell selection. So if you aren't using your SP for metamagic (and chosing spells that qualify), Than you are using your SP for slots(only upto 5th) at a higher cost and with a bonus action per slot created/converted. Sorcery points, metamagic, and font of magic are all really tricky things to balance with spells known, spells available, and possible multiclassing (cause of how far the features are, and how much you have to focus on what you cast/learn to even use metamagic a couple of times per Long rest)

I wish Divine Soul got extra spells like the two new ones 😢

Sorcerers can quicken and twin booming/green flame blade. And if you are a fire based dragon sorcerer you can add cha damage to green flame blade

another vid let's go!

It's hard to say for me, even after such a great breakdown. I haven't played either in 5e yet, but I have rolled up a couple of each for fun. They both fill different needs for playstyle. I think if you lack battlefield control or buffs, wizard is the better pick. If you desire more of a blaster, I find sorcerer more fitting. Divine soul sorcerer is my favorite subclass out of all the 2 classes options. But I'm a cleric main, and am bias to the bone. Great video Treantmonk!!!

you missed an important detail when a wizard multiclasses into artificer. if you take just one level of artificer you dont lose any spellcaster levels, because of the way it is computed. and you also gain THE ENTIRE artificer spell list, which includes not too many but some rather nice spells. you dont need to learn artificer spells. you already know ALL OF THEM.....all you need to do is prepare them if you have the slots of the appropriate level.

I’m excited for the bard run down.

The overall power and usefulness of the Sorcerer as the party member will depend greatly on how important the social pillar of DnD is in your campaign. If the DM tends to minimize/ignore it in favor of combat and exploration, Sorcerer's Charisma skills are a nonfactor, while Wizards with their more prepared spells and ritual casting can actually contribute to exploration, something that Sorcerers aren't meant to do. I agree about Clockwork Soul and Aberrant Mind now being objectively the best Sorcerer subclasses. Divine Soul is still there, the Cleric's list of spells is so potent, but you have to make sacrifices when learning spells - you can't have everything that you want, you have to pick and choose what to specialize in. For example, I often ditch Dispel Magic in favor of Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians or now Spirit Shroud. Also, you gotta get Aid and Heal and that leaves little room to take things like Mirror Image, Misty Step, Shatter, Disintegrate, Chain Lightning. You can't have all of those, you have to choose.

I would say that a Sorcerer Quickening full spells and leaving an open action to make full melee attacks makes that weapon use category more close than originally graded. You could quicken the concentration spell and still attack. and then next round keep attacking and quicken a blast spell while still holding your concentration. Works better with multiclass but still strong solo if you make a melee build

I also feel like Clockwork's Restore Balance is in the same ballpark for power as Divination's Portent. Portent is more certain but gets fewer uses (half as many by 20th level), though it is also less circumstantial (doesn't require advantage/disadvantage). I think Portent is better, but not by a huge margin.

feats are definitely not free, but you can technically pick up a couple of limited meta magic options as a wizard once or twice per long rest you won't be twinning power word kill or something, but like, even just one quickened spell per long rest, or subtle spell for when you are fighting another wizard, or empowered spell for doing like 25% more damage, could be really useful options at later levels, you may gain access to something like this at level 16 after you've already finished most wizard stuff, but, even by then it's a unique ability that you couldn't do before

For initiative I think some DMs may allow a Sorcerer to use Magical guidance at lv 5 for a reroll on initiative

Just wanna give a quick shout-out to people not wanting to Multiclass and choosing draconic sorcerer Level 1 they can get natural Mage armor (AC 13+Dex) due to their class feature. It's not enough to keep up with medium armor sure, but still neat!

Hmm seems a bit off at the end. Certain wizard subclasses out do clockwork sorcerer in some aspects but as you said you can't play multiple subclasses. Seemed like at the end when considering the variety of subclasses that could beat certain aspects of the sorcerer you would have had to remove points from the wizard to add them back with a different subclass but you didn't.

Wizards can also get metamagiuc now with the feat in tasha's. Subtle and extend spell are incredible. Immune to counterspell 2/day when you REALLY need that clutch spell to go off, and the ability to counterspell at 120 ft is great. Enemy mage thinks they are safe casting magic at beyond 60 feet, and they get a nasty surprise!

A single level dip into artificer will only halt spels known not spell slots. And the draconic sorcerer youst has permanent mage armor and an elemental resistance.

If a was going to argue for sorcerer over wizard I wouldn't pick Metamagic as my main argument, but rather being able to multiclass with Warlock. Your pact of the Tome Sorloc now gets spell slots the refresh on a short rest which can be cheesy, they get Eldritch Blast and Armor of Agathys, three cantrips from any list they want, plus a powerful patron. The synergy here really seems to put this one option above any other multi-class choice either class might have available to them.

Sorcerers have charisma, which someone already made the joke about hitting Diplomacy checks, but that charisma also makes them better for multi-classing. Bard, Paladin maybe even Warlock could all benefit from Sorcerer. Wizards are not easily effectively MC'ed. Pure class, Wizard of course.

On a more serious note, when I just got 5th Edition and saw that Wizards could now separated their spells prepared from spells per day, I was like “Well, it’s GG, Wizards win” (I hold a personal grudge against full casters since the days of 3rd Edition, it’s only personal, don’t judge me)

In an actuall campaign, ur probably gonna find some spells in scrolls or books. Its a nice boost

Perhaps I missed it, which wizard is better than clockwork soul sorcerer from levels 1-20? you mention several times that you can't pick multiple subclasses, but don't tie yourself down to one wizard subclass the way you did with sorcerer.

FEATS ARE NOT FREE FEATS ARE NOT FREE FEATS ARE NOT FREE FREE ARE NOT FEATS

This is how I would rate them: ----------------------------------------------- Spell Quality: - Near equal (Shield, Absorb Elements, Mirror Image, Hypnotic Pattern, Wall of Force) Armor Class: - Equal (Mage Armor + Shield spell, multiclass or feats to get more) Saving Throw Constitution: - Clockwork Sorcerer Initiative: - Chronurgy Wizard (Temporal Awareness, Arcane Recovery + Gift of Alacrity) Ritual Casting: - Chronurgy Wizard (Find Familiar + Arcane Abeyance, Phantom Steed) Metamagic: - Clockwork Sorcerer (Subtle Spell, Twinned Spell, Quickened Spell) Subclass Features: - Chronurgy Wizard (Chronal Shift, Momentary Stasis, Arcane Abeyance) Multiclassing: - Clockwork Sorcerer (Hexblade Warlock) ----------------------------------------------- Conclusion: Straight class > Chronurgy Wizard Multiclass > Clockwork Sorlock Both make good battlefield control casters.

I think it has to depend a little bit by level range. Clockwork Soul I think there's a pretty good argument is ahead of all wizard subclasses levels 1-9, which is the levels where I do most of my playing. Even their spell selection keeps up reasonably well in this level range, with access to wall of force, aid, armor of agathys etc. But then Wizards get their 10th level class feature, sorcerers don't, and then we get into 6th, 7th, and 8th level spell selections, which are still incredibly mediocre for Sorcerer (especially 7th and 8th level spells). Just...all in all, so many of wizard's advantages here don't come until 10th+ level. Better spell selection? Yes, but not really felt below 11th level. More class features at several levels of play? Yes, but only after 10th level (tied below that).

Wizards the masters of planning verses Sorcerers the masters of improvision. Since the classes are so close to each other ranking wise, best is a matter of preference. Players that prefer to improvise might have more fun with the Sorcerer class while players that prefer a class that offers more things to do during prep time might prefer the Wizard class.

Sorcerer are flat out more powerful in and out of Combat. The Librarian can't get a spell off while Subtle spell ensures every spells is cast.

Big Fan, but one minor point I wanted to make regarding the Abjuration Wizard. You mentioned picking up the Eldritch Adept feat for Armor of Shadows. It's actually far easier. Alarm is a 1st level ritual spell that is an abjuration. The Arcane Ward lasts 24 hours. So spend 66 seconds after you wake up, throw up an alarm and you've got your ward up, without a feat investment.

One thing I will say is, depending on the dm, wild magic sorcerer is one of the most fun subclasses I have ever played with

Let’s have a duel between an optimized but single-class Sorcerer and Wizard at each play tier, with no magic items!

I beg to differ on the extra attack. Sorcerer doesn't need the extra attack. You can turn an action into a bonus action spell with metamagic. So you can use booming blade twice in one turn, effectively giving you two spells and two attacks. Blade singer can only do two attacks and one spell with their extra attack if they attack and then use booming blade. That gives the advantage to the sorcerer. Granted this requires the use of sorcery points, but they have a higher upper limit. Even more so if you include the charisma bonus from a single level dip into hexblade.

Hexblade warlock level 2, divine soul sorcerer for 18 more. That AC makes a HUGE difference, and Eldritch Blast is a really big deal, especially when you can quicken it. Use the warlock spell slots for more metamagic. Divine Soul so someone does NOT need to be a cleric. If you've got two decent damage dealing melee characters in the party, twin haste on them as the routine opening to any major encounter, then fireball or eldritch blast. Plenty of spell slots available for cleric spells. Hard to go wrong.

I think you're a little generous to Wizards here. You correctly noted that you couldn't get all the advantages for attacks without missing out on other stuff, and so discounted that as a point for wizards, but you didn't do the same for the defences. And I think that's very important, given the most defensive wizards, abjurers, war mages, and bladesingers, have less effective additional subclass features. (Not that any of them are bad, just, in your list of extra good stuff wizard subclasses get, none of their stuff was mentioned). Meanwhile, the best wizard subclass features in divination and illusion don't come with the defensive boost. I'd also say you were a little generous to wizards on spell selection. With Clockwork soul I really don't think there's more than 1 or 2 spells you really want that you can't get. Plus, as sorcerers can replace old spells on a level up, and wizards can't, wizards have to make a difficult choice at a lot of levels of whether they take good spells now or good spells later. And that is a disadvantage. A really cool video though!

I think where the Wizard really takes over is in the 11-16 range. Their spell list in the 6-8 range is insane, getting Contingency, Otto's Irresistable Dance, Forcecage, Clone, Maze, and Simulacrum. Before that, they're pretty on par with modern Sorcerers.

Interesting if we were to make composite sorc vs composite wizard who comes out on top at each level range.

If sorcs take a feat to get something - "you pay a price" - but when wizards are said to have a lot of meta features, but it's one school only here and there, I don't see a similar proviso. Hmm. Honestly, it's so hard to compare classes and say one is "best", especially when campaigns vary so much in style. If I'm playing one with limited rests and many fights a day, I don't want to be stuck firebolting or tolling dead - I want to be a sorlock - at lvl 5, a firebolt is 11 average damage if it hits - toll is 13. A sorlock w/ agonizing blast and keepig a hex going (it lasts a while and can be used over multiple fights), is averaging 11 + 7 + 8 or 26 damage a round when cantripping. Twice that if he quickens, but that will be rare. Given 5e action economy, even tho class features come later for sorc, w/ meta magic, sorc is very strong early on and mid game, when most of us are playing. Where wizards pull away is lvl 14 or so - forcecage - sorc doesn't get it. But until then, the versatility offered to sorc by meta is so powerful - I find many players don't understand how to do this. Feats - yeah yeah - but take the feat where you get 2 more meta magics, wow. The flexibility of this sorc, early game, is amazing. TM, sorcadin - especially in AL - is so imba I consider it broken. Yes, the sorc part is weaker, but allowing the sorcadin to have multiple nova rounds smiting is awesome.

Great analysis! To be more inclusive, you might want to add Queen to the title... 🤴👍👸👍

I really think that the wizards' spellbook should've also been a factor here. The new Sorc subs sure have more spells known, but I think wizard can be more prepared and versatile.

Considering that you can now take Sorc and Warlock class features as feats on Wizard, I wish you could do the same for 2nd level wizard subclass features. Enchanters or illusionist class abilities would fit a warlock nicely. Then again, portent is kinda broken feature to be available as a feat...