Chronurgy Magic Wizard Guide for Beginners: Mastering Time Magic in D&D 5e

The Chronurgy Magic Wizard is a master of time manipulation, bending reality to their will by controlling initiative, delaying spells, and forcing rerolls. Introduced in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, this subclass is perfect for players who want to wield the power of time itself, ensuring their allies act first, their enemies fail key rolls, and the battlefield unfolds exactly as they plan.

Unlike other Wizards, Chronurgy Wizards specialize in altering turn order, delaying spells for maximum impact, and denying enemies critical actions, making them one of the best control-based Wizard subclasses in D&D 5e. If you love the idea of rewinding time, controlling fate, and bending reality to your will, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Chronurgy Magic Wizard?

Key Benefits

• Best Wizard for Battlefield Control & Initiative Manipulation – Act first, delay enemies, and ensure allies take key turns early.
• Force Enemies to Reroll with Chronal Shift – Make opponents fail at crucial moments.
• Delay Spells for Maximum Effect with Temporal Awareness – Hold powerful spells until the perfect moment.
• Excels at Both Combat & Roleplay Utility – Manipulate dice rolls, slow enemies, and alter initiative.
• Perfect for Players Who Love Tactical Play – Play as a time-warping master who predicts and alters fate.

Compared to other Wizards, Chronurgy Wizards offer the best mix of battlefield control, tactical foresight, and probability manipulation.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Chronal Shift (Level 2)

• When a creature (enemy or ally) within 30 feet makes an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, use your reaction to force them to reroll.
• They must use the new roll.
• Example: Force an enemy to reroll a successful attack or ensure an ally passes an important save!

Temporal Awareness (Level 2)

• Add your Intelligence modifier to your initiative rolls.
• Example: Act first in battle, ensuring your control spells land before enemies can react.

Momentary Stasis (Level 6)

• As an action, force one creature to make a Constitution save or become incapacitated (unable to act) until the end of your next turn.
• Can use this ability a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier per long rest.
• Example: Completely shut down a boss or dangerous enemy for a round, giving your party time to act!

Arcane Abeyance (Level 10)

• Store a spell of 4th level or lower into a magical bead for 1 hour.
• An ally can use their action to unleash the spell, effectively allowing you to “pre-cast” spells.
• Example: Hand a prepped Fireball to your Rogue so they can unleash it mid-fight, or store a Counterspell for emergency use!

Convergent Future (Level 14)

• When you or another creature within 60 feet makes an attack, ability check, or saving throw, you can dictate whether the roll succeeds or fails.
• Example: Ensure a boss fails a key save against a Hold Monster spell or guarantee an ally’s critical hit lands.
• After using this, take 1 level of exhaustion, preventing overuse.

These abilities make Chronurgy Wizards one of the most strategic subclasses, capable of dictating the flow of battle with unparalleled precision.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Intelligence – Boosts spellcasting and initiative.
• Secondary: Dexterity – Improves AC and initiative for quicker reactions.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Helps with survivability and Concentration saves.

Recommended Races

Since Chronurgy Wizards rely on Intelligence, Dexterity, and precise timing, the best races include:

1. High Elf – Bonus Intelligence and an extra cantrip.
2. Gnome (Rock or Forest) – Superior Intelligence bonus and resistance to magic effects.
3. Human (Variant) – Start with a feat like Lucky or Alert.
4. Kenku – Excellent for intelligence gathering and deception.
5. Githzerai – Bonus Intelligence and mental resilience.

Playing as a Chronurgy Magic Wizard

Role in a Party

• Primary Battlefield Controller & Tactical Spellcaster – Ensure enemies miss and allies act first.
• Manipulates Rolls & Actions – Force rerolls and shut down key enemy turns.
• Strong Control & Utility Spells – Use pre-cast spells and Convergent Future for game-changing moments.

Compared to other Wizards, Chronurgy Wizards are the best at tactical spellcasting, ensuring every round unfolds in their favor.

Tips for New Players

• Use Chronal Shift on crucial enemy rolls – Force failures when it matters most.
• Momentary Stasis is perfect for locking down key enemies – Use it to stall dangerous foes while allies reposition.
• Arcane Abeyance allows you to delegate spells – Hand Fireball or Counterspell to an ally for strategic advantage.
• Convergent Future is your ace in the hole – Save it for life-or-death rolls, ensuring success or failure at the perfect moment.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons & Arcane Focus

• Staff of the Magi – Boosts spellcasting and provides defensive abilities.
• Hourglass of Fate – Enhances time-related spells and rerolls.

Armor & Defensive Items

• Cloak of Protection – Increases AC and saving throws.
• Ring of Mind Shielding – Prevents psychic intrusions and mind control.

Magic Items

• Pearl of Power – Recover a spell slot in emergencies.
• Tome of Clear Thought – Boosts Intelligence permanently.
• Amulet of Temporal Mastery – Enhances initiative and time-based abilities.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your time-manipulating character's gameplay with these thematic dice sets:

• Chrono Mage Dice Set: For hues representing the manipulation of time, the Purple Gemstone Amethyst DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Handcrafted from genuine amethyst, these dice showcase deep purple tones, capturing the essence of temporal energies harnessed by a Chrono Mage.

• Timeweaver Dice Set: To embody the precision of a timekeeper with soft gold and silver hues, the Gold Resin DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Meticulously crafted from shimmering gold resin, these dice reflect the meticulous nature of a Timeweaver.
• Temporal Shift Dice Set: For iridescent colors perfect for a master of time, the Silver Glitter Liquid Core Sharp Edge Resin DND Dice Set offers a mesmerizing display of dynamic liquid cores with silver glitter, capturing the essence of temporal manipulation.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for a Chronurgy Wizard

1. Lucky – Gain extra dice rerolls, stacking with Chronal Shift for ultimate control.
2. Alert – Ensures you act first in combat, maximizing your battlefield manipulation.
3. Metamagic Adept – Use Quickened Spell to cast spells faster.
4. Resilient (Constitution) – Boosts Concentration saves for maintaining spells like Hold Monster.
5. War Caster – Maintain Concentration while casting defensive spells.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Chronurgy Wizard 5 / Bard (College of Lore) 15 – The Fateweaver

   • Best for: Enhancing battlefield control with Bardic Inspiration.
   • Strategy: Stack Portent with Cutting Words to completely dominate enemy rolls.

2. Chronurgy Wizard 6 / Cleric (Grave Domain) 14 – The Timekeeper

   • Best for: Manipulating life and death through divination magic.
   • Strategy: Combine Convergent Future with Spare the Dying and Death Ward for ultimate battlefield control.

3. Chronurgy Wizard 10 / Sorcerer (Divine Soul) 10 – The Time-Warping Oracle

   • Best for: Gaining Metamagic for even greater spellcasting flexibility.
   • Strategy: Use Twinned Spell to double cast crucial reroll-based magic.

The Chronurgy Magic Wizard is one of the most tactical, foresight-driven, and control-based Wizard subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at shaping turn order, manipulating dice rolls, and ensuring the battlefield unfolds exactly as they plan.