Is it just me, or is Mage Hand useless? Like, impressively useless.

I’m new to DnD (and DnD-like games) so I could be in the wrong here, but every time I think of something that Mage Hand should be able to do, it just doesn’t.

Want to pick up an unreachable item and carry it to me? No.

Want to loot an otherwise unreachable body? No.

Want to pickpocket someone without being caught? No. (Okay, I get that this one would be pretty broken, even in normal DnD this is sometimes disallowed)

Want to fly a few feet up and light an overhead brazier? No.

Want to do literally anything useful? No.

Want to squeeze through a small hole to see a room you’ve already looted? Sure!

I’m at the point where instead of trying to think creatively about how to use it, I just immediately write it off because it probably can’t do whatever I’m thinking of. I am genuinely surprised when I find out Mage Hand can do something, and that’s not a good thing.

The only idea I had that actually worked was using it to stealth the early phase spider section by just throwing the gem at the end backwards, then moving the hand in the opposite direction to draw aggro. That’s literally the only “useful” thing I’ve done with it, and I’ve still not found a use for the gem.

So I ask, what have you done with Mage Hand that’s actually useful?

  • 🇰 🔵 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️English
    22•9 months ago

    I used it to

    • Steal the idol of Sylvanus from the Emerald Grove without starting a fight.
    • Open doors attached to levers on the other side of gates or rooms I could otherwise see into, but not enter.
    • An extra bit of damage in combat; or to shove someone off a cliff from a distance.
    • Grabbing objects that for whatever reason was out of reach of my character (often something on the top of a high shelf).
    • Throwing things I can’t reach.
    • @[email protected]English
      2•9 months ago

      We tried to use it to steal the idol from Sylvanus and they still attacked us. Not sure what we did wrong

      • 🇰 🔵 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️English
        7•9 months ago

        Make sure no one is looking directly at it. I had to use minor image to cause a distraction first then had the invisible mage hand just throw the idol down toward Astarion who was hiding in the middle canyon area that leads down to a bear by the water.

          • 🇰 🔵 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️English
            2•9 months ago

            Yeah, it took some fanagling and I went through all sorts of other things I tried before I found the mage hand method. Knowing they just lose their shit the moment they notice the statue is gone was a crucial discovery lol.

            You gotta be fast, too. The distraction doesn’t work too long and they will initiate combat (even if they can’t see a target) as soon as they see the statue isn’t on the pedestal. But if done right, you can toss it to your character, grab it and then just go directly to your camp and then fast travel elsewhere.

      • @[email protected]English
        2•9 months ago

        I just cast from top of the elevator by the tree. Fly the hand so it is on the idol. Throw idol down the hill. Pick up if out of site. Throw again if necessary.