Im a first time DM and one of players is an high elf fighter. As her elven cantrip she took booming Blade and now wants to use it with every attack she makes. As far as I know this doesn't technically break any rules but it seems overpowered because she's essentially doubling her damage on every attack. Is this okay?
It takes an action to cast booming blade so she is forgoing her extra attacks to use it.
To use the fighters extra attack ability they have to use the attack action. Using the action to cast cantrip is not the same. *edited for more clarification*
it is an action. so yes it becomes part of that attack. but in case of a multi-attack that you get later on. it only applies to the first attack, not all consecutive ones part of the multi-attack. but this gets balanced out by Booming Blade doing more damage.
so yes. damage output basically gets doubled. that's why Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade are such highly advised cantrips to take.
it is an action. so yes it becomes part of that attack. but in case of a multi-attack that you get later on. it only applies to the first attack, not all consecutive ones part of the multi-attack. but this gets balanced out by Booming Blade doing more damage.
so yes. damage output basically gets doubled. that's why Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade are such highly advised cantrips to take.
That's not quite right. If you cast booming blade than you only get 1 attack with it period. The way you have it written sounds like it gets the rest of the extra attacks which it doesn't. If that's not what you meant I misunderstood.
Yeah looked at it closer. Must've been more tired than I realized and made a mistake :P
1. Booming Blade is an action and part of the spell attack action. So you get weapon + Booming Blade damage. Which is nice early on for extra damage. 2. Booming Blade doesn't work with Extra Attacks/Multi-Attacks. To compensate this Booming Blade does add a damage die every few levels. Meaning you won't be doing double damage at all. Just your normal damage amount with 1 additional damage die. This is because Booming Blade uses Cast a Spell Action not the Attack Action. This aspect is in line with normal damage output. 3. Bonus is that the target takes additional damage if it moves. But how often will this apply is the real question. If that PC gets in close enough for melee their opponent wouldn't really move willingly. and if you as DM want to counter it have some of your creatures be able to switch places with the one Booming Blade got applied to. 4. The extra 1d8 thunder damage, later on a max of 4d8 is nice and not game breaking OP.
Some quotes I looked up to make sure I don't make another mistake here.
Is booming blade an attack action? No, You cannot combine attacks with booming blade. ... Action surge gives you another whole action, which you can use to cast a spell, like Booming Blade which will give you one more attack, or if you just use a regular attack action, extra attack and two weapon fighting could apply. Mar 9, 2017
Does booming blade work with extra attack? neither green-flame blade nor booming blade works with Extra Attack or any other feature that requires the Attack action. Like other spells, these cantrips require the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action, and they can't be used to make an opportunity attack, unless a special feature allows you to do so. Apr 18, 2016
I never understood GFB and Booming for classes that get Extra Attack. Your forgoing another hit for a chance at a different damage type. Honestly I feel they are a bit overrated.
Im a first time DM and one of players is an high elf fighter. As her elven cantrip she took booming Blade and now wants to use it with every attack she makes. As far as I know this doesn't technically break any rules but it seems overpowered because she's essentially doubling her damage on every attack. Is this okay?
In addition to what has already been said, if the fighter is an Eldritch Knight, there is an ability that lets the EK attack as a bonus action after casting a cantrip. This would be the same damage as the first extra attack plus booming blade damage. Depending on the weapon, it can be comparable to the first extra attack damage, though the bigger weapons will likely out perform it with the 3rd extra attack and the 2nd attack outpaces it without the movement damage. However, booming blade can act as crowd control on smarter/wiser creatures since they would realize after a while that they can't move if they want to not get hit. You could even say that they stay for a few rounds if they are only average for fear of getting struck. It depends on how you would want to interpret the phenomena described in the spell for those creatures.
People already answered this but just a little tip/warning: Green-Glame Blade & Booming Blade both require you to take the action "Cast a spell". Extra attack doesn't help with this as it requires the attack action.
BUT:
If the elven fighter is an eldritch knight then at level 7 she can attack as a bonus action after casting a cantrip. Not using extra attack of course, but she can make two strikes there, one booming blade & 1 regular.
The rogue in my group is level 6 and he uses booming blade for just about every attack and has done so since the beginning of the campaign. If the campaign runs to level 20, I expect he will still be doing it for just about every attack. My advice is to make peace with it.
The rogue in my group is level 6 and he uses booming blade for just about every attack and has done so since the beginning of the campaign. If the campaign runs to level 20, I expect he will still be doing it for just about every attack. My advice is to make peace with it.
This really isn't a case of "making peace with it", though. Casting Booming Blade uses the "Cast a Spell" action, not the Attack Action. It is only "as part of the action used to cast this spell" do you get 1 melee attack, which is not the same as taking the Attack Action.
Booming Blade does not work with Two-Weapon Fighting or with the Extra Attack feature that certain classes receive.
Also remember that the extra damage provided by booming blade is thunder damage. If you're ready to announce your presence to the entire area, go right ahead but booming blade is not really compatible with stealth.
I'm a half orc eldritch knight. I have greenflame and I'm taking booming blade later. She can only attack once of she uses booming blade. No mutli attack. Just one and done. If she were an eldritch knight that would change at level 7 allowing her to attack with booming blade and a normal attack. If she's anything other than eldritch knight only way she should be able to make a normal attack after using booming blade would be to action surge. Pleade correct me if i got anything wrong. I'm still learning a lot.
In my experience, the most optimal use of Booming Blade is for characters that take the War Caster feat. As a cantrip it is still considered a spell and it has a casting time of 1 action. So you can use your reaction to cast it when an opponent provokes an opportunity attack in order to add the full damage instantly on a hit. At level 11, that's 5d8 thunder damage. That's the same amount of radiant damage a Divine Smite for an 11th level Paladin can do using their highest spell slot with their Improved Divine Smite class feat.
There was a long conversation on another thread regarding whetherbooming blade and war caster on a moving target applies the initial damage as well as the movement damage. A consensus was not reached.
There was a long conversation on another thread regarding whetherbooming blade and war caster on a moving target applies the initial damage as well as the movement damage. A consensus was not reached.
The enemy's declaration of leaving your reach is what allows for the opportunity attack. The attack, by RAW, occurs before the enemy leaves the five foot range. Whether that is 4' or 4'11", the following movement to get to 5' away would fall under "willful movement" and the extra damage would apply.
I'd even rule that once you announce the intentions of moving, the movenent has to be carried out regardless of the opportunity attack's consequences. That would almost be like declaring a spell and then retconning the spell after the enemy counterspells it.
Im a first time DM and one of players is an high elf fighter. As her elven cantrip she took booming Blade and now wants to use it with every attack she makes. As far as I know this doesn't technically break any rules but it seems overpowered because she's essentially doubling her damage on every attack. Is this okay?
It takes an action to cast booming blade so she is forgoing her extra attacks to use it.
To use the fighters extra attack ability they have to use the attack action. Using the action to cast cantrip is not the same. *edited for more clarification*
Casting Booming Blade requires the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action. Extra Attack can be used only with the Attack Action.
it is an action. so yes it becomes part of that attack. but in case of a multi-attack that you get later on. it only applies to the first attack, not all consecutive ones part of the multi-attack. but this gets balanced out by Booming Blade doing more damage.
so yes. damage output basically gets doubled. that's why Green Flame Blade and Booming Blade are such highly advised cantrips to take.
That's not quite right. If you cast booming blade than you only get 1 attack with it period. The way you have it written sounds like it gets the rest of the extra attacks which it doesn't. If that's not what you meant I misunderstood.
Yeah looked at it closer. Must've been more tired than I realized and made a mistake :P
1. Booming Blade is an action and part of the spell attack action. So you get weapon + Booming Blade damage. Which is nice early on for extra damage.
2. Booming Blade doesn't work with Extra Attacks/Multi-Attacks. To compensate this Booming Blade does add a damage die every few levels. Meaning you won't be doing double damage at all. Just your normal damage amount with 1 additional damage die. This is because Booming Blade uses Cast a Spell Action not the Attack Action. This aspect is in line with normal damage output.
3. Bonus is that the target takes additional damage if it moves. But how often will this apply is the real question. If that PC gets in close enough for melee their opponent wouldn't really move willingly. and if you as DM want to counter it have some of your creatures be able to switch places with the one Booming Blade got applied to.
4. The extra 1d8 thunder damage, later on a max of 4d8 is nice and not game breaking OP.
Some quotes I looked up to make sure I don't make another mistake here.
I never understood GFB and Booming for classes that get Extra Attack. Your forgoing another hit for a chance at a different damage type. Honestly I feel they are a bit overrated.
In addition to what has already been said, if the fighter is an Eldritch Knight, there is an ability that lets the EK attack as a bonus action after casting a cantrip. This would be the same damage as the first extra attack plus booming blade damage. Depending on the weapon, it can be comparable to the first extra attack damage, though the bigger weapons will likely out perform it with the 3rd extra attack and the 2nd attack outpaces it without the movement damage. However, booming blade can act as crowd control on smarter/wiser creatures since they would realize after a while that they can't move if they want to not get hit. You could even say that they stay for a few rounds if they are only average for fear of getting struck. It depends on how you would want to interpret the phenomena described in the spell for those creatures.
People already answered this but just a little tip/warning:
Green-Glame Blade & Booming Blade both require you to take the action "Cast a spell".
Extra attack doesn't help with this as it requires the attack action.
BUT:
If the elven fighter is an eldritch knight then at level 7 she can attack as a bonus action after casting a cantrip. Not using extra attack of course, but she can make two strikes there, one booming blade & 1 regular.
The rogue in my group is level 6 and he uses booming blade for just about every attack and has done so since the beginning of the campaign. If the campaign runs to level 20, I expect he will still be doing it for just about every attack. My advice is to make peace with it.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
This really isn't a case of "making peace with it", though. Casting Booming Blade uses the "Cast a Spell" action, not the Attack Action. It is only "as part of the action used to cast this spell" do you get 1 melee attack, which is not the same as taking the Attack Action.
Booming Blade does not work with Two-Weapon Fighting or with the Extra Attack feature that certain classes receive.
I think maybe you meant to reply to someone else. I never said the thing you are disagreeing with.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
But it is still a weapon attack, so it works with Sneak Attack .
Also remember that the extra damage provided by booming blade is thunder damage. If you're ready to announce your presence to the entire area, go right ahead but booming blade is not really compatible with stealth.
I'm a half orc eldritch knight. I have greenflame and I'm taking booming blade later. She can only attack once of she uses booming blade. No mutli attack. Just one and done. If she were an eldritch knight that would change at level 7 allowing her to attack with booming blade and a normal attack. If she's anything other than eldritch knight only way she should be able to make a normal attack after using booming blade would be to action surge. Pleade correct me if i got anything wrong. I'm still learning a lot.
You've got it.
In my experience, the most optimal use of Booming Blade is for characters that take the War Caster feat. As a cantrip it is still considered a spell and it has a casting time of 1 action. So you can use your reaction to cast it when an opponent provokes an opportunity attack in order to add the full damage instantly on a hit. At level 11, that's 5d8 thunder damage. That's the same amount of radiant damage a Divine Smite for an 11th level Paladin can do using their highest spell slot with their Improved Divine Smite class feat.
There was a long conversation on another thread regarding whetherbooming blade and war caster on a moving target applies the initial damage as well as the movement damage. A consensus was not reached.
EDIT: Rather than repeat that conversation or split it between two threads, I will just link it here for your perusal.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
A (possibly not complete) list of things that do not work with the two SCAG cantrips.
They are pretty good (especially for certain Bards and Wizards), but not always the best choice.
It 100% triggers the movement damage.
The enemy's declaration of leaving your reach is what allows for the opportunity attack. The attack, by RAW, occurs before the enemy leaves the five foot range. Whether that is 4' or 4'11", the following movement to get to 5' away would fall under "willful movement" and the extra damage would apply.
I'd even rule that once you announce the intentions of moving, the movenent has to be carried out regardless of the opportunity attack's consequences. That would almost be like declaring a spell and then retconning the spell after the enemy counterspells it.