just because you've upgraded those spells. Getting domain 2 from mountainreach then having to spend 40 MP to open domains in Draknor or elsewhere feels bad. Having to spend 9 mp on Belphegor's barrier fragments instead of 5 makes an already resource intensive day in to even more of one. Is there any real reason why we can't keep the lower tiers for when they're appropriate?

I think the main goal of replacing ranked spells rather than adding to them was to reduce bloat in the skill list. On a narrative level, you learn a more powerful version of the spell but it takes more out of you and that's now the base level you cast the spell at when you use it.

I see what you're saying, but if we changed how Open Domain works with ranks we'd have to do it with every spell to avoid confusion. And that would be a balancing nightmare.

It keeps the spell lists clean and makes it a tactical decision to delay or even deliberately avoid learning certain upgrades. Part of the game's thinking/optimizing your way to victory theme is knowing when to hold off on something you don't need.

Aamon, Moloch, and Kerberos are all considerably weaker than Belphegor, and absorbing the leftovers of their domains gives Aura more mana to tackle Mountainreach if the materials, gold, and skill books weren't reason enough to clear the non-Sathanas portions of Draknor first.

Belphegor's entire gambit is that Aura will need at least nine days to clear out the barrier fragments and confront him. It's supposed to be a resource-intensive process where miscalculating or being too lazy to prepare enough mana forces you to end the day. Also creates another use case for Aura blessing her own energy potions.

Overall, it feeling bad is healthy for the game. Same with fire II and bomb+.