How do you play a Wizard?

Playing a Wizard well is mostly about preparation and spell selection. The class can know an enormous number of spells. It still cannot prepare all of them at once. The player should therefore decide which problems need answers today.

Prioritise Intelligence

Intelligence powers Wizard spell attacks and spell save DCs.

It also determines how many spells can be prepared in the 2014 rules.

A high Intelligence score therefore improves both power and flexibility.

Constitution and Dexterity are the usual secondary priorities.

Build the spellbook broadly

A Wizard should value new spells as treasure.

The best additions are not always the highest-damage spell available.

A spellbook becomes more useful when it contains different kinds of answers:

defense;
movement;
control;
rituals;
information;
area damage;
single-target pressure;
utility;
environmental solutions.

A broad spellbook gives future preparation more options.

Prepare for the day

The prepared list should change when the expected adventure changes.

A social investigation may reward very different spells from a dungeon full of undead.

A dangerous wilderness journey may reward mobility and utility.

A major boss fight may reward control, defense, and counter-magic.

Do not treat the spellbook as a static known-spells list.

Use rituals to preserve prepared capacity

Wizard ritual casting is exceptionally valuable because ritual spells in the spellbook do not need to be prepared.

A Wizard can therefore collect ritual utility without filling every prepared slot.

The ritual still takes additional casting time.

That makes rituals excellent when time is available and poor when immediate action is required.

Protect concentration

Many of the strongest Wizard spells require concentration.

The Wizard has a d6 Hit Die and no base armor proficiency.

Good positioning matters.

Use distance, cover, defensive spells, terrain, and allies.

The best control spell in the game provides little value if concentration ends immediately.

Do not spend every slot on damage

Wizard spellcasting can directly deal large amounts of damage.

It can also prevent enemy turns, split encounters, protect allies, reveal information, reshape terrain, or solve an objective without combat.

A control spell that prevents several enemy actions may outperform a damage spell.

A defensive spell that preserves concentration may be more valuable than another attack.

Think about encounter impact rather than only damage totals.

Use Arcane Recovery deliberately

Arcane Recovery can restore lower-level slots once per day after a short rest.

Use it to recover slots that match the expected remainder of the adventuring day.

Do not forget it until the day is already over.

It is especially useful for restoring frequently used low- and mid-level resources.

Let the Tradition shape, not restrict, the Wizard

An Evocation Wizard is still allowed to cast control spells.

A Divination Wizard can still cast fireball.

A Bladesinger can still solve problems with rituals.

The Arcane Tradition provides specialisation.

It does not shrink the Wizard spell list to one school or combat style.

Common mistakes

Common Wizard mistakes include:

confusing spellbook spells with prepared spells;
assuming prepared spells are each usable only once;
forgetting ritual casting;
failing to copy useful spells when opportunities appear;
preparing too many spells that solve the same problem;
standing in exposed positions;
ignoring concentration;
forgetting Arcane Recovery;
believing the Arcane Tradition forbids other schools of magic.

A strong Wizard's greatest resource is not one spell.

It is having the correct spell available when a problem appears.