So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is an existing magic weapon you bound as your pact weapon, then the answer is yes, because realistically any magic weapon is worth much more than 1 SP.
I am going to disagree with wagnarokkr on the summoned pact blade aspect. The summoned pact blade imo is worth whatever the weapon you are mimicking is worth. Would you be cheating people if you sold it, sure, would it be hard to pull off also sure. IMO you are summoning a weapon with all its stats including its value.
So, I think RAW, wagnarokkr is right, but practically, the value requirement is a hack to prevent people using GFB and its kin with a component pouch/focus and no weapon, so there's a reasonable cast to be made to one's DM that it ought to work.
The other possibility is that it's supposed to disallow conjured weapons, but it doesn't make it clear enough and, frankly, I don't see any balance issues with it, even with the higher-powered weapon-conjuring spells like shadow blade.
So, I think RAW, wagnarokkr is right, but practically, the value requirement is a hack to prevent people using GFB and its kin with a component pouch/focus and no weapon, so there's a reasonable cast to be made to one's DM that it ought to work.
The other possibility is that it's supposed to disallow conjured weapons, but it doesn't make it clear enough and, frankly, I don't see any balance issues with it, even with the higher-powered weapon-conjuring spells like shadow blade.
The RAW about pact of the blade is just this, "As a Bonus Action, you can conjure a pact weapon in your hand—a Simple or Martial Melee weapon of your choice with which you bond" If you conjure a great sword, it actually is a great sword its not a spectral construct the vaguely resembles one, its a great sword. And what is its value in the PH, 50GP. That is more than 1 SP. I personally would have preferred if pact of the blade created something more akin to a green lanterns force constructs, allow it to look like whatever you want, not modeled on specific weapons but some kind of template you could modify up a bit. But oh well.
That being said I still think the material component part is just a dumb add, who cares if they cast green flame blade without a weapon. Let someone punch with it if they want, unless its a monk build they will do less damage than if they had used a weapon. They have so many stupid you can only have fun the way we intended rules in the game its kind of insane.
So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
I would support this interpretation on the conjured weapon. I'd lean towards worth as in "What would a normal person, who wants this item, fully in knowledge of its properties and capabilities, but without any immediate pressing need for it, be willing to pay for it?"
And a conjured greatsword that is going to disappear in one minute is not going to be worth 50gp for a typical greatsword buyer. If I don't have an immediate pressing need for a greatsword, I'd argue it isn't even worth 1 SP.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
I would support this interpretation on the conjured weapon. I'd lean towards worth as in "What would a normal person, who wants this item, fully in knowledge of its properties and capabilities, but without any immediate pressing need for it, be willing to pay for it?"
And a conjured greatsword that is going to disappear in one minute is not going to be worth 50gp for a typical greatsword buyer. If I don't have an immediate pressing need for a greatsword, I'd argue it isn't even worth 1 SP.
100%
If you cannot convert the item to currency (like say via sale) it has no financial value.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
I would support this interpretation on the conjured weapon. I'd lean towards worth as in "What would a normal person, who wants this item, fully in knowledge of its properties and capabilities, but without any immediate pressing need for it, be willing to pay for it?"
And a conjured greatsword that is going to disappear in one minute is not going to be worth 50gp for a typical greatsword buyer. If I don't have an immediate pressing need for a greatsword, I'd argue it isn't even worth 1 SP.
Even if you use that logic then no sword has any value if I don't need it, but when I need it whether its temporary or not its value is infinite.
So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
I would support this interpretation on the conjured weapon. I'd lean towards worth as in "What would a normal person, who wants this item, fully in knowledge of its properties and capabilities, but without any immediate pressing need for it, be willing to pay for it?"
And a conjured greatsword that is going to disappear in one minute is not going to be worth 50gp for a typical greatsword buyer. If I don't have an immediate pressing need for a greatsword, I'd argue it isn't even worth 1 SP.
Even if you use that logic then no sword has any value if I don't need it, but when I need it whether its temporary or not its value is infinite.
That would be why I included the stipulations "a normal person who wants the item", and "does not have an immediate pressing need for the item" in the post you quoted.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
In the material component of green-flame blade it says it requires "a melee weapon worth at least 1sp".
Can I use my pact weapon as both the spellcasting focus and the material component for the cantrip?
So, first things first — for spells that have a material component with a cost listed like this, you cannot use a spellcasting focus. You have to actually have the material component listed.
But if you're asking whether you can use a pact weapon as the material component for something like this, the answer is that it depends on what you mean by "pact weapon". Pact of the Blade allows you to do two things: conjure a weapon out of nothing to be your pact weapon, or bind an existing magic weapon to be your pact weapon.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is a weapon you've conjured out of nothing, then the answer is no, because it's not a "real" weapon and isn't worth anything, so it doesn't meet the material component requirement.
If the pact weapon you're talking about is an existing magic weapon you bound as your pact weapon, then the answer is yes, because realistically any magic weapon is worth much more than 1 SP.
pronouns: he/she/they
I am going to disagree with wagnarokkr on the summoned pact blade aspect. The summoned pact blade imo is worth whatever the weapon you are mimicking is worth. Would you be cheating people if you sold it, sure, would it be hard to pull off also sure. IMO you are summoning a weapon with all its stats including its value.
So, I think RAW, wagnarokkr is right, but practically, the value requirement is a hack to prevent people using GFB and its kin with a component pouch/focus and no weapon, so there's a reasonable cast to be made to one's DM that it ought to work.
The other possibility is that it's supposed to disallow conjured weapons, but it doesn't make it clear enough and, frankly, I don't see any balance issues with it, even with the higher-powered weapon-conjuring spells like shadow blade.
The RAW about pact of the blade is just this, "As a Bonus Action, you can conjure a pact weapon in your hand—a Simple or Martial Melee weapon of your choice with which you bond" If you conjure a great sword, it actually is a great sword its not a spectral construct the vaguely resembles one, its a great sword. And what is its value in the PH, 50GP. That is more than 1 SP. I personally would have preferred if pact of the blade created something more akin to a green lanterns force constructs, allow it to look like whatever you want, not modeled on specific weapons but some kind of template you could modify up a bit. But oh well.
That being said I still think the material component part is just a dumb add, who cares if they cast green flame blade without a weapon. Let someone punch with it if they want, unless its a monk build they will do less damage than if they had used a weapon. They have so many stupid you can only have fun the way we intended rules in the game its kind of insane.
To sum it up, it's basically up to the DM on how to understand it.
I would lean towards
I would support this interpretation on the conjured weapon. I'd lean towards worth as in "What would a normal person, who wants this item, fully in knowledge of its properties and capabilities, but without any immediate pressing need for it, be willing to pay for it?"
And a conjured greatsword that is going to disappear in one minute is not going to be worth 50gp for a typical greatsword buyer. If I don't have an immediate pressing need for a greatsword, I'd argue it isn't even worth 1 SP.
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage
100%
If you cannot convert the item to currency (like say via sale) it has no financial value.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Even if you use that logic then no sword has any value if I don't need it, but when I need it whether its temporary or not its value is infinite.
That would be why I included the stipulations "a normal person who wants the item", and "does not have an immediate pressing need for the item" in the post you quoted.
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage