Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Subclasses and Races versus Level Increase

In past editions wizs have a lot of "save or suck" spells. You fail the save, you die. No refunds. Some of them were even area spells (wail of the banshee, horrid wilting, circle of death, etc) so wizs and casters in general were (luckily for players) toned down in 5e.
They had more variation on defensive spells, some of them astoundingly effective (Mantle, protection from magic weapons, spell trap, simulacrum, stoneskin, Absolute immunity, plane shift, etc).

Also all mages had access to different types of metamagic, not only sorcerers, and metamagic were not limited by your sorcery points, you can cast them as long as you have spell slots. You also had "spell sequencer" and "contingency" spells you can prepare before the combat.

They are still arcane powerhouses, but a little less than they use to be. I do not say that´s necessarily bad tho.