I am a new DM, just having run a game around 10 to 15 times. I have an experienced player, and he plays as wizard.
He is casting animate objects so that he can attack my mage or weakling. He moves 20 feet, and he casts animate objects on 10 coins. And the coins can then move a further 30 feet. He said it can, and yes I already checked it. My mage enemy didn't have counterspell, dispel magic or fireball (AoE).
That why I am asking: Is the animate objects spell a bit overpowered?
Since they can summon 10 of them (coins), and they have a speed of 30 feet, attack bonus, HP, and attack opportunity?
Best Answer
It's not overpowered, this is just its niche.
First, keep spell level in mind. Animate Objects is a 5th-level spell. Comparing it directly to counterspell, dispel magic, or fireball, all 3rd-level spells, is already a lopsided comparison (and the specific spells make it worse, but I'll cover that later).
Spells are also extremely situational. Even looking purely at those designed for combat, which one does best depends on many factors - number of foes, positioning, expected duration of combat, freedom to concentrate, etc.
In this instance, the objects have only one target, and can direct their full 10d4+40 damage at them. Assuming they all hit, that's average 65 damage. It seems like a lot, but consider these:
Finally, the spells you bring up that your mage doesn't have are very common for spellcasters to have - so much that this mage not having them isn't really a fair comparison, and does more to highlight the weaknesses of Animate Objects than the strengths.
Put in a different situation, Animate Objects won't be as powerful as it is here.