Mirror Image interactions with area-of-effect spells
Area of effect (AOE) spells, such as Fireball or Lightning Bolt, target an area rather than a specific creature, making them particularly effective against groups of enemies. However, Mirror Image’s duplicates are designed to protect the caster from targeted attacks, not AOE spells. As such, when the caster is subjected to an AOE spell, although the duplicates are not destroyed, they do not offer any additional defence either.
This limitation against AOE spells leaves the caster vulnerable in certain situations. Astute enemies may recognise this weakness and opt to use AOE spells to bypass the duplicates and damage the caster directly. This makes it crucial for the caster to be aware of their positioning and potential threats from enemy spellcasters during combat.
Strategic use against AOE spellcasters
Mirror Image can still be useful against opponents who rely heavily on AOE spells. Since these spells often require the caster to expend higher-level spell slots, forcing enemies to use their powerful AOE spells to deal with your illusions can help deplete their resources. Additionally, the threat of your duplicates may encourage enemy spellcasters to target you with single-target spells, which are more easily mitigated by Mirror Image’s effects.