Tough call. Only a small number of "hits" actually inflict an injury. (HP is considered to represent a combination of your stamina, luck, and well-being. With only the latter being an injury.)
Spell description says any creature in contact takes the damage when you cast the spell. The arrow is not in contact with the enemy at that point, so I’d say no, though I’d probably make you make some kind of check to see if you hurt yourself accidentally. And it’s a leveled spell, so you couldn’t cast it (cast action) and release the arrow (attack action), unless you action surge, I suppose. As far as subsequent rounds goes, if you hit with it, I might make a roll to see if it’s stuck in them, and then let you trigger the damage with your bonus action. Seems like a lot of investment in actions to pull off the trick, and you might miss with your arrow. Instead of just targeting the armor or weapon like usual with the spell.
Within campaigns I've played, the DM has allowed casters to target arrows/javelins already embedded in creatures that don't wear armor or carry weapons as a viable target for Heat Metal, but I'm not sure how, exactly, it would work to cast Heat Metal on an arrowhead before it's even fired. I think if it was my campaign I wouldn't allow it and just state that doing so ignites the shaft of the arrow, but other DM's might allow some shenanigans with it.
Overall, though, it seems like a combination that would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt.
but I'm not sure how, exactly, it would work to cast Heat Metal on an arrowhead before it's even fired. I think if it was my campaign I wouldn't allow it and just state that doing so ignites the shaft of the arrow
this is a good point but i'd probably still allow it. red hot iron is around 900 degrees...combustion temperature of wood is around 300 degrees. i'd say there's plenty of time to fire the arrow though as wood still needs a few rounds to burn - i'd say it still has integrity for a round or two...it'd just be a flaming arrow - no need to dip it in oil or whatever. it'd make for a fun opening shot but probably doesn't make sense in the middle of combat.
...although not sure what drawing back a flaming red-hot arrow does to your bow.
If heat metal on the blade of an axe with a wooden handle still damages the wielder, then I think it would be just as reasonable to say heating the metal arrowhead of an arrow would burn the person who is about to fire it. Or did you mean casting the spell once the arrow is already stuck in the target? At that point I guess it is more of a matter of, "Can you see the target to cast on it?" Does cover (bring inside the target's body) still allow it to be a viable target for the spell?
Isn't the initial damage automatic and the following rounds require a bonus action to deal the damage?
If damage is automatic for the 1st round then no matter when the spell is cast it will probably break the arrowhead.
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If heat metal on the blade of an axe with a wooden handle still damages the wielder....
... which is an assumption that the spell text doesn't require, so don't worry about it. You cause the metal parts to glow red hot, and the wooden parts don't, problem solved.
The sticking point (ha) for this is not "can I cast Heat Metal on a metal arrow head?" (yes, explicitly RAW, because an arrow head is a manufactured metal object), but rather, "can my arrows stick in targets?" Nothing says that arrows work that way, so assuming that every arrow that hits stays physically stuck in the target is a bit of a leap... especially if you're going to try to weaponize that stuck arrow, though I as a DM would probably let arrows stick (see end of comment below).
The heated arrowhead is not going to do extra damage when it first strikes, because that's not how the spell works. If your DM lets the arrow stick, then you would be able to use your Bonus Action (on that round and future rounds) to do more damage, until the arrow is removed (which is probably nothing more than a free object interaction).
The player is using some pretty heavy resource investment for this setup (Round 1 cast Heat Metal, Round 2 (or Round 1 Action Surge) attack and hit with that arrow, use Bonus Action to do damage), and likely will only get one round of damage before the enemy pulls the arrow out. Let it happen.
I've seen old westerns where someone gets stuck with an arrow and they have to crack the shaft with the flight on it and shove the rest of the arrow all the way through.
So I guess it all depends on how you see arrows working (spoiler: arrows stick in things, sort of the whole point behind bow & arrows.)
But like has already been mentioned after one round of damage any monster would simply rip the arrow out even if it does a little damage to itself.
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"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
At level 15, etc., you’re much better off shooting 3 arrows than casting one spell so that if you hit on your next turn you can bonus action for a bit more damage.
Even at EK 18, it's hard to see what the attack rotation is that makes this work out:
Option 1: Use Improved War Magic for Heat Metal (2nd level spell slot) shots- Net about 50 damage over two rounds if enemy doesn't pull out arrow (25 DPR), or 40 if they do (20 DPR)
Turn 1 Action: Heat Metal on a piece of ammunition you're holding or which is at your feet or something
Turn 1 Bonus Action: Improved War Magic, attack with your bow against enemy using that arrow (hope that it hits) for 1d8+5 damage.
Enemy turn: hope that they don't remove the arrow, because no hands free?
Turn 2 Bonus Action: Heat Metal special bonus action, for 2d8 (or 3d8 if upcast as 3rd level) fire damage
Turn 2 Action: Attack with your bow for three 1d8+5 attacks
Enemy turn 2: they almost definitely remove the arrow, go back to repeat Turn 1
Option 2: Don't use Improved War Magic for Heat Metal shots-Net about 40 damage over two rounds (20 DPR)
Turn 1 Action: Heat Metal on a piece of ammunition
Turn 1 Bonus Action: waste it
Turn 2 Action: Attack with your bow for three 1d8+5 attacks, including one heated arrow (better hope it hits!)
Turn 2 Bonus Action: Heat Metal special bonus action, for 2d8 (or 3d8 if upcast as 3rd level) fire damage
Enemy turn 2: they almost definitely remove the arrow, go back to repeat Turn 1
Option 3: Normal attacks - Net about 60 damage over two rounds (30 DPR)
Turn 1 Action: Attack with your bow for three 1d8+5 attacks
Turn 2 Action: Attack with your bow for three 1d8+5 attacks
Option 4: Regular Cantrip War Magic with high intelligence - Net about 64 damage over two rounds (32 DPR)
Turn 2 Bonus Action: War Magic attack with bow for 1d8+5
Option 5: Regular Improved War Magic with Chromatic Orb (1st level slot) or Scorching Ray (2nd level slot) or Fireball (3rd level slot) with high Intelligence- Net about 48 damage over two rounds with 1st level slots (24 DPR), 62 over two rounds with 2nd level slots (31 DPR), or 76 over two rounds with 3rd level slots (38 DPR, but possible multiplied across multiple targets)
Turn 2 Bonus Action: Improved War Magic attack with bow for 1d8+5
Takeaways? Eldritch Knights do not really do better damage with their class features than they would just making normal attacks, unless they're burning 2nd or 3rd level spells to do AOE damage to multiple targets. Honestly, they're a fairly weak subclass. Trying to do a weird Heat Metal trick with your 2nd level spell slots? Drops their damage even lower, and makes them even weaker.
i'd allow it...but you're assuming the arrow sticks in your target, not through it. I'd say if you hit, there's a 50/50 chance it stuck in the person.
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Tough call. Only a small number of "hits" actually inflict an injury. (HP is considered to represent a combination of your stamina, luck, and well-being. With only the latter being an injury.)
Spell description says any creature in contact takes the damage when you cast the spell. The arrow is not in contact with the enemy at that point, so I’d say no, though I’d probably make you make some kind of check to see if you hurt yourself accidentally. And it’s a leveled spell, so you couldn’t cast it (cast action) and release the arrow (attack action), unless you action surge, I suppose.
As far as subsequent rounds goes, if you hit with it, I might make a roll to see if it’s stuck in them, and then let you trigger the damage with your bonus action.
Seems like a lot of investment in actions to pull off the trick, and you might miss with your arrow. Instead of just targeting the armor or weapon like usual with the spell.
Within campaigns I've played, the DM has allowed casters to target arrows/javelins already embedded in creatures that don't wear armor or carry weapons as a viable target for Heat Metal, but I'm not sure how, exactly, it would work to cast Heat Metal on an arrowhead before it's even fired. I think if it was my campaign I wouldn't allow it and just state that doing so ignites the shaft of the arrow, but other DM's might allow some shenanigans with it.
Overall, though, it seems like a combination that would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt.
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this is a good point but i'd probably still allow it. red hot iron is around 900 degrees...combustion temperature of wood is around 300 degrees. i'd say there's plenty of time to fire the arrow though as wood still needs a few rounds to burn - i'd say it still has integrity for a round or two...it'd just be a flaming arrow - no need to dip it in oil or whatever. it'd make for a fun opening shot but probably doesn't make sense in the middle of combat.
...although not sure what drawing back a flaming red-hot arrow does to your bow.
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If heat metal on the blade of an axe with a wooden handle still damages the wielder, then I think it would be just as reasonable to say heating the metal arrowhead of an arrow would burn the person who is about to fire it. Or did you mean casting the spell once the arrow is already stuck in the target? At that point I guess it is more of a matter of, "Can you see the target to cast on it?" Does cover (bring inside the target's body) still allow it to be a viable target for the spell?
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Isn't the initial damage automatic and the following rounds require a bonus action to deal the damage?
If damage is automatic for the 1st round then no matter when the spell is cast it will probably break the arrowhead.
... which is an assumption that the spell text doesn't require, so don't worry about it. You cause the metal parts to glow red hot, and the wooden parts don't, problem solved.
The sticking point (ha) for this is not "can I cast Heat Metal on a metal arrow head?" (yes, explicitly RAW, because an arrow head is a manufactured metal object), but rather, "can my arrows stick in targets?" Nothing says that arrows work that way, so assuming that every arrow that hits stays physically stuck in the target is a bit of a leap... especially if you're going to try to weaponize that stuck arrow, though I as a DM would probably let arrows stick (see end of comment below).
The heated arrowhead is not going to do extra damage when it first strikes, because that's not how the spell works. If your DM lets the arrow stick, then you would be able to use your Bonus Action (on that round and future rounds) to do more damage, until the arrow is removed (which is probably nothing more than a free object interaction).
The player is using some pretty heavy resource investment for this setup (Round 1 cast Heat Metal, Round 2 (or Round 1 Action Surge) attack and hit with that arrow, use Bonus Action to do damage), and likely will only get one round of damage before the enemy pulls the arrow out. Let it happen.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I've seen old westerns where someone gets stuck with an arrow and they have to crack the shaft with the flight on it and shove the rest of the arrow all the way through.
So I guess it all depends on how you see arrows working (spoiler: arrows stick in things, sort of the whole point behind bow & arrows.)
But like has already been mentioned after one round of damage any monster would simply rip the arrow out even if it does a little damage to itself.
nah, the point is to kill whatever it hits...not so that it has an object stuck in it
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At level 15, etc., you’re much better off shooting 3 arrows than casting one spell so that if you hit on your next turn you can bonus action for a bit more damage.
Even at EK 18, it's hard to see what the attack rotation is that makes this work out:
Takeaways? Eldritch Knights do not really do better damage with their class features than they would just making normal attacks, unless they're burning 2nd or 3rd level spells to do AOE damage to multiple targets. Honestly, they're a fairly weak subclass. Trying to do a weird Heat Metal trick with your 2nd level spell slots? Drops their damage even lower, and makes them even weaker.
Don't do this.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Chicken ‘...unless as an opening shot with prep time’ imo, it’d still make a fun first shot if you know a fight is coming.
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