About summoning magic:

[Magepunk]

Well, i just understood, that i've never actually used that.

Is that lvl 5 phoenix good?

[Shauku]

Very good for Wizards who can do a trick or 2 with Summonig Magic the rest depends.

Summoning can be effective, but it needs to be leveled to expert asap. Necromancers can use Summoning to a great extent, and I actually pick it quite often. Not only for Raise Dead, but it does become one heck of a spell .

Then there is Warlock... sadly for Dungeon - Destructive is just too effective to really use other schools other than supportive magic. It's not bad though. A Phoenix of a Warlock is an utterly frightning sight! Summoning can be a source of fun and effective combos. Like Deep Hydras + Arcane Armor + Armageddon. A Warlocks Irresistible magic works with summoning spells as well - like Wasp Swarm. A Guaranteed initiative reduction there. In combination with a Shadow Witches/Matriarchs spell slow, you can render a stack completely immobile.

Dirael can use Rain of Arrows + Wasp Swarm, thats about it. But Wall of Fog is great though!

PS. Don't underestimate Fire Trap, its one of the best spells on level 1!

[Elvin]

Later in the game though the phoenix can die easily to charging paladins or other units and it dies instantly to pitlords or wraiths. Or cold death.
Better to exploit its power early when the enemy is still weak.
Note that arcane armor can make it a monster whose hp can be replenished with raise dead for a mere -20% hp reduction. It may become too hard to kill

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

Summon Phoenix is good early, as has been said. But my favorite summoning spells are wasp swarm and Phantom Forces. Both can be used with mark of the wizard. Fire trap is a great boon early against walkers when your summoning and sorcery is expert.

GOW

[Orfinn]

PS. Don't underestimate Fire Trap, its one of the best spells on level 1!

Oh I know, I love laying layers of those mines all over the battlefield. Poor walkers, though golems are the guys who often ruin my mine field plans

[Magepunk]

Wasp swarm? WTF?

[Orfinn]

Yeah, tis actually quite useful, since it reduces initiative. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Its a weak offensive spell indeed but reducing intiative helps in dire times and if you dont have enough mana points for other spells.