Greetings D&D Beyond and Community,

As the Illrigger Class is new to DDB, but I know it has been around for a while, I'm hoping that someone that understands the class, and specifically the Architect of Ruin Subclass can answer this question on their attacks.

At level 3 when you gain the Architect of Ruin Subclass, you get two different Invoke Hell options, one of which is called Spellblade that states the following:
"You can use an action to both make a melee weapon attack and cast an illrigger spell you know that has a casting time of one action."
So this 3rd level feature allows the character to make a Melee Weapon Attack AND Cast a Spell on their turn.

The Base Illrigger gains an Extra Attack at 5th Level.
So with the Invoke Hell: Spellblade feature mentioned above, the character can now:
-Make a Weapon Attack AND Cast a Spell (Spellblade)
-Make a Melee Weapon Attack (2nd Attack)

Now, at 7th Level, the Architect of Ruin gains an ability called Hellish Versatility that states the following:
"Once on each of your turns, you can cast one of your illrigger cantrips in place of one of your attacks granted by your Extra Attack feature."

I want to make sure that I understand what I am reading correctly, so combining the 3rd, 5th & 7th level features, a single turn could look like this:

• Make a Weapon Attack AND Cast a Spell (Spellblade)
• Make a Melee Weapon Attack (2nd Attack) OR Cast a Cantrip Spell (Hellish Versatility 2nd Attack)

Am I understanding how these features are supposed to work correctly?

Let me know :)

So, the way I'm reading it from your description (Don't have the class.) the Invoke Hell ability is a separate action from the Attack action. So anything that works off the Attack Action, such as Extra Attack, is not triggered by using it. Making a melee attack is not the same thing as taking the Attack Action. (Yes, this is confusing.)

So, at 5th level, you can either take two attacks from Extra Attack if you take the Attack Action, or you can make a melee weapon attack and cast a spell, but you can't attack twice and cast a spell, because they're separate actions.

Now, at 7th level, you can take the Attack Action, make an attack, and cast a cantrip. Except for a few edge cases (ranged weapons, other features that key off the Attack Action), I can't see why you'd do that over Invoke Hell.

But, as I said, I don't have the class. so can only go on what you've shared here.

Sadly I didn't (and won't) buy the class or I'd be happy to help.  I will check back to see what others have to say, if or when the class becomes part of the PHB.

Invoke Hell is only usable once per short rest. Aside from that, jl8e is right that they don't stack.

I am also wondering what the difference between Spellblade and Hellish Versatility is.  Or perhaps put differently, what is the point of the 7th level ability Hellish Versatility?  HV would appear to be redundant.  This is poorly put together; very surprised it made it through what must be an extensive editing process.

Se the post right above yours for the difference.

Ah yes I see it now.

Quote from Ceane >>

Invoke Hell is only usable once per short rest. Aside from that, jl8e is right that they don't stack.

 Thank you Ceane,

I didn't realize this as there is no mention of Long or Short rests in the description under the Subclass.
Invoke Hell under the main Class is where it mentions the Short Rest, and I overlooked this.