Can a hexblade warlock wielding a one-handed weapon and a shield drop her/ his weapon to cast shield or counterspell (or any other reaction spell from warlock list) during opponent's turn ?
I know that at her / his next turn, the warlock will be able to pick up the dropped weapon by using her / his move and action (as clearly stated in the rules) but I was not able to find anything about the fact of dropping this same weapon during opponent's turn.
The object interactions are part of “other activity on your turn.” People play fast and loose with this stuff, but no I don’t think you can interact with (drop) an item outside of your turn.
RAW no. As mentioned, dropping items is part of the interactions with other items on your turn - you can't drop things on other character's turns. This is also why the warcaster feat exists - to allow you to cast spells with somatic components with both hands full (among other effects).
Also consider - if you could freely drop an item on another character's turn without requiring an action then you'd be able to drop Alchemist's fire, or holy water, or something else, possibly onto another creature. This type of interaction would normally require the character to use a Readied action.
"OTHER ACTIVITY ON YOUR TURN Your turn can include a variety of flourishes that require neither your action nor your move. You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn. You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions. The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge."
"REACTIONS Certain special abilities, spells, and situations allow you to take a special action called a reaction. A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack, described later in this chapter, is the most common type of reaction. When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
In addition, shield or counterspell are an "instant response to a trigger" - dropping an item BEFORE responding would tend to invalidate the word "instant".
The object interactions are part of “other activity on your turn.” People play fast and loose with this stuff, but no I don’t think you can interact with (drop) an item outside of your turn.
But there is an invocation that can help you.
Thank you for your quick answer. Which invocation are you thinking about ? I know "Improved Pact Weapon" but this is to replace spell components so materials components of the spell but, for example, neither shield nor counterspell require any component, they only have "somatic" and "verbal" components. And I see what you mean about interacting with objects but, for me, the point is, indeed, that dropping an object is not part of this list : picking up an object and drawing / sheating a weapon are in this list, indeed, but not dropping an item. And dropping something is a bit faster than picking it up, in my opinion.
If the spells you want to cast require no M component, then you’re looking at Warcaster then.
That list of other activity is not exhaustive, it is suggestive. If you could drop items outside of your turn, then there would be no penalty for not having the correct items in your hands — Warcaster definitely suggests that there should be, otherwise that particular bullet point wouldn’t fix any problem.
RAW no. As mentioned, dropping items is part of the interactions with other items on your turn - you can't drop things on other character's turns. This is also why the warcaster feat exists - to allow you to cast spells with somatic components with both hands full (among other effects).
Also consider - if you could freely drop an item on another character's turn without requiring an action then you'd be able to drop Alchemist's fire, or holy water, or something else, possibly onto another creature. This type of interaction would normally require the character to use a Readied action.
"OTHER ACTIVITY ON YOUR TURN Your turn can include a variety of flourishes that require neither your action nor your move. You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn. You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions. The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge."
"REACTIONS Certain special abilities, spells, and situations allow you to take a special action called a reaction. A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack, described later in this chapter, is the most common type of reaction. When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
In addition, shield or counterspell are an "instant response to a trigger" - dropping an item BEFORE responding would tend to invalidate the word "instant".
Thank you for your answer. When I was saying "dropping", I meant "dropping at my feet". Throwing alchemist's fire or holy water to an enemy means targeting this enemy and throwing the vial so that's a ranged attack. I doubt the enemy will be lying at my feet to receive the vial. :-)
Thank you for your answer. When I was saying "dropping", I meant "dropping at my feet". Throwing alchemist's fire or holy water to an enemy means targeting this enemy and throwing the vial so that's a ranged attack. I doubt the enemy will be lying at my feet to receive the vial. :-)
Depends on how good you are at Persuasion checks. ;)
Thank you for your answer. When I was saying "dropping", I meant "dropping at my feet". Throwing alchemist's fire or holy water to an enemy means targeting this enemy and throwing the vial so that's a ranged attack. I doubt the enemy will be lying at my feet to receive the vial. :-)
Depends on how good you are at Persuasion checks. ;)
Can a hexblade warlock wielding a one-handed weapon and a shield drop her/ his weapon to cast shield or counterspell (or any other reaction spell from warlock list) during opponent's turn ?
No. You have to make a choice.
Want to be better protected? Wield a shield. Want to be prepared to smack someone? Carry a weapon. Want to be prepared to cast a spell? Have an empty hand.
Choose two. Accept the consequences.
Alternatively, use a game feature (for example, the War Caster feat).
The rules don't explicitly address this. However, there's some precedent for allowing it:
The grappling rules let the grappler release their target at any time with no action required, even when it's not their turn.
An unconscious creature automatically drops held items.
Besides those two rules, I've never met anyone that would charge someone an object interaction to let go of something they're holding two-handed. E.g. If a fighter is holding a greatsword but wants to draw a dagger to throw it at a distant target, most people would agree that drawing the dagger takes an object interaction, but not taking their hand off the greatsword.
The rules don't explicitly address this. However, there's some precedent for allowing it:
The grappling rules let the grappler release their target at any time with no action required, even when it's not their turn.
An unconscious creature automatically drops held items.
Besides those two rules, I've never met anyone that would charge someone an object interaction to let go of something they're holding two-handed. E.g. If a fighter is holding a greatsword but wants to draw a dagger to throw it at a distant target, most people would agree that drawing the dagger takes an object interaction, but not taking their hand off the greatsword.
I don't think anyone has any issue with dropping things on the character's turn. The concern here is dropping things on another character's turn in order to enable the character to use a reaction like shield or counterspell when both their hands are full. A reaction is supposed to be "an instant response". I tend to think that if you have to move your hands to open them and allow a weapon to drop out of your way before you can perform the somatic components of a spell requiring your reaction (like shield) that it is no longer an "instant response".
In addition, one of the features of warcaster is to allow the casting of spells with a somatic component (and no material one) when both hands are full. Allowing casting like this as part of a reaction by dropping the weapon somewhat bypasses the need for warcaster. However, a character could certainly do this on their own turn - it is only when using a reaction that I don't think it is supported by the rules.
P.S. Also, in terms of dropping items not on your turn - I was thinking of a situation with a character in the rafters waiting until a target walks underneath them and dropping alchemists fire, holy water, a cauldron of oil or some other object. In this case, they are also just dropping it, as a reaction to a trigger of someone walking underneath. Does a character get to do this for free because they can drop things on another creature's turn for free at any time? I would say no - that a character would need to use a readied action in order to use their reaction to drop the item in this case. I would allow any character to drop something as a reaction triggered by a specified condition - I wouldn't allow them to drop things for free on someone else's turn and that includes dropping an item in order to free up a hand to perform the somatic components of a spell requiring a reaction to cast.
You could also just ask the DM to rule that you can make somatic gestures with your spell focus even if the spell has no material component. It's a dumb rule that encourages dumb things like dropping your weapon in the middle of combat.
Also, it's not even a rule at all, so extra dumb to go dropping weapons over it!
In case there's any confusion, this is the rule: "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components." There's a vocal contingent on the forums that likes to read this as NOT saying what it plainly says, all so that folks will be forced to take Warcaster as a mandatory feat tax.
Also, it's not even a rule at all, so extra dumb to go dropping weapons over it!
In case there's any confusion, this is the rule: "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components." There's a vocal contingent on the forums that likes to read this as NOT saying what it plainly says, all so that folks will be forced to take Warcaster as a mandatory feat tax.
I guess I'm one of those who doesn't get what you are saying with this quote either.
In the case of the Warlock, unless you have Pact of the Blade and Improved Pact Weapon, your weapon does not count as an arcane focus. You then would have to have said arcane focus held in order to cast a spell that has a material component ...period.
Material (M)
Casting some spells requires particular objects, specified in parentheses in the component entry. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5, “Equipment”) in place of the components specified for a spell.
Shield is verbal and somatic so, no dropping or arcane focus needed. Counterspell is somatic, no dropping or arcane focus required.
What War Caster does in respect to all of this:
You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
You can already do this with an arcane focus in your hand and now you can do this with other items in your hand as long as they count as an arcane focus or aren't a spell that requires a material component but, one that does require somatics.
You could also just ask the DM to rule that you can make somatic gestures with your spell focus even if the spell has no material component. It's a dumb rule that encourages dumb things like dropping your weapon in the middle of combat.
Exactly this. Mechanically, you can also give all casters an optional variation on Tools Required from Artificer, and this solves the problem as well: if any caster can choose to add their focus as a spell component to any spell, the ability to use their focus hand for S requirements is automatically granted.
Eh...dropping is universally considered not even an object interaction, and spells and abilities like heat metal and the Fighters Disarming Strike cause you to drop without using a reaction or any other turn resource, and both of those would most likely happen to you when it is not your turn. and as someone else said, Grappling can be released at any time on any turn without the use of turn resources. While not an object interaction, dropping prone uses no speed, so it can also be done without using any resources, and that is your whole body (though I would argue that dropping yourself prone on someone elses turn is not legal)
Logically, if you are having to somatic something (and assuming there is not material component to hold), opening your hand to do so would drop the held item naturally. I'd allow a held item to be dropped at any time in the spirit of those examples, especially since it is usually a detriment to the character to drop a held item. Though I admit I'm not going off of a specific rule that would allow it per RAW.
I would not allow a donned shield to be just dropped though. That would require doffing first, at the cost of one action.
It is generally accepted that you can let go of/drop anything at any time, but not universally excepted and never mentioned in RAW. Some people consider it a flourish, which is free (doesn't use interaction), but only on your turn.
And you would need war caster to not require an empty hand.
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Can a hexblade warlock wielding a one-handed weapon and a shield drop her/ his weapon to cast shield or counterspell (or any other reaction spell from warlock list) during opponent's turn ?
I know that at her / his next turn, the warlock will be able to pick up the dropped weapon by using her / his move and action (as clearly stated in the rules) but I was not able to find anything about the fact of dropping this same weapon during opponent's turn.
Thank you for any official statement/ rule.
best regards.
The object interactions are part of “other activity on your turn.” People play fast and loose with this stuff, but no I don’t think you can interact with (drop) an item outside of your turn.
But there is an invocation that can help you.
RAW no. As mentioned, dropping items is part of the interactions with other items on your turn - you can't drop things on other character's turns. This is also why the warcaster feat exists - to allow you to cast spells with somatic components with both hands full (among other effects).
Also consider - if you could freely drop an item on another character's turn without requiring an action then you'd be able to drop Alchemist's fire, or holy water, or something else, possibly onto another creature. This type of interaction would normally require the character to use a Readied action.
"OTHER ACTIVITY ON YOUR TURN
Your turn can include a variety of flourishes that require neither your action nor your move.
You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn. You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack. If you want to interact with a second object, you need to use your action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge."
"REACTIONS
Certain special abilities, spells, and situations allow you to take a special action called a reaction. A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack, described later in this chapter, is the most common type of reaction. When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
In addition, shield or counterspell are an "instant response to a trigger" - dropping an item BEFORE responding would tend to invalidate the word "instant".
Thank you for your quick answer. Which invocation are you thinking about ? I know "Improved Pact Weapon" but this is to replace spell components so materials components of the spell but, for example, neither shield nor counterspell require any component, they only have "somatic" and "verbal" components. And I see what you mean about interacting with objects but, for me, the point is, indeed, that dropping an object is not part of this list : picking up an object and drawing / sheating a weapon are in this list, indeed, but not dropping an item. And dropping something is a bit faster than picking it up, in my opinion.
If the spells you want to cast require no M component, then you’re looking at Warcaster then.
That list of other activity is not exhaustive, it is suggestive. If you could drop items outside of your turn, then there would be no penalty for not having the correct items in your hands — Warcaster definitely suggests that there should be, otherwise that particular bullet point wouldn’t fix any problem.
Thank you for your answer. When I was saying "dropping", I meant "dropping at my feet". Throwing alchemist's fire or holy water to an enemy means targeting this enemy and throwing the vial so that's a ranged attack. I doubt the enemy will be lying at my feet to receive the vial. :-)
Depends on how good you are at Persuasion checks. ;)
lol
No. You have to make a choice.
Want to be better protected? Wield a shield.
Want to be prepared to smack someone? Carry a weapon.
Want to be prepared to cast a spell? Have an empty hand.
Choose two. Accept the consequences.
Alternatively, use a game feature (for example, the War Caster feat).
The rules don't explicitly address this. However, there's some precedent for allowing it:
Besides those two rules, I've never met anyone that would charge someone an object interaction to let go of something they're holding two-handed. E.g. If a fighter is holding a greatsword but wants to draw a dagger to throw it at a distant target, most people would agree that drawing the dagger takes an object interaction, but not taking their hand off the greatsword.
Ultimately it's up to the DM to green-light it, but dropping something was never intended to require a significant effort and ruling otherwise creates an inconsistency in the rules.
I don't think anyone has any issue with dropping things on the character's turn. The concern here is dropping things on another character's turn in order to enable the character to use a reaction like shield or counterspell when both their hands are full. A reaction is supposed to be "an instant response". I tend to think that if you have to move your hands to open them and allow a weapon to drop out of your way before you can perform the somatic components of a spell requiring your reaction (like shield) that it is no longer an "instant response".
In addition, one of the features of warcaster is to allow the casting of spells with a somatic component (and no material one) when both hands are full. Allowing casting like this as part of a reaction by dropping the weapon somewhat bypasses the need for warcaster. However, a character could certainly do this on their own turn - it is only when using a reaction that I don't think it is supported by the rules.
P.S. Also, in terms of dropping items not on your turn - I was thinking of a situation with a character in the rafters waiting until a target walks underneath them and dropping alchemists fire, holy water, a cauldron of oil or some other object. In this case, they are also just dropping it, as a reaction to a trigger of someone walking underneath. Does a character get to do this for free because they can drop things on another creature's turn for free at any time? I would say no - that a character would need to use a readied action in order to use their reaction to drop the item in this case. I would allow any character to drop something as a reaction triggered by a specified condition - I wouldn't allow them to drop things for free on someone else's turn and that includes dropping an item in order to free up a hand to perform the somatic components of a spell requiring a reaction to cast.
You could also just ask the DM to rule that you can make somatic gestures with your spell focus even if the spell has no material component. It's a dumb rule that encourages dumb things like dropping your weapon in the middle of combat.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Also, it's not even a rule at all, so extra dumb to go dropping weapons over it!
In case there's any confusion, this is the rule: "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components." There's a vocal contingent on the forums that likes to read this as NOT saying what it plainly says, all so that folks will be forced to take Warcaster as a mandatory feat tax.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I guess I'm one of those who doesn't get what you are saying with this quote either.
In the case of the Warlock, unless you have Pact of the Blade and Improved Pact Weapon, your weapon does not count as an arcane focus. You then would have to have said arcane focus held in order to cast a spell that has a material component ...period.
Shield is verbal and somatic so, no dropping or arcane focus needed. Counterspell is somatic, no dropping or arcane focus required.
What War Caster does in respect to all of this:
You can already do this with an arcane focus in your hand and now you can do this with other items in your hand as long as they count as an arcane focus or aren't a spell that requires a material component but, one that does require somatics.
Exactly this. Mechanically, you can also give all casters an optional variation on Tools Required from Artificer, and this solves the problem as well: if any caster can choose to add their focus as a spell component to any spell, the ability to use their focus hand for S requirements is automatically granted.
Eh...dropping is universally considered not even an object interaction, and spells and abilities like heat metal and the Fighters Disarming Strike cause you to drop without using a reaction or any other turn resource, and both of those would most likely happen to you when it is not your turn. and as someone else said, Grappling can be released at any time on any turn without the use of turn resources. While not an object interaction, dropping prone uses no speed, so it can also be done without using any resources, and that is your whole body (though I would argue that dropping yourself prone on someone elses turn is not legal)
Logically, if you are having to somatic something (and assuming there is not material component to hold), opening your hand to do so would drop the held item naturally. I'd allow a held item to be dropped at any time in the spirit of those examples, especially since it is usually a detriment to the character to drop a held item. Though I admit I'm not going off of a specific rule that would allow it per RAW.
I would not allow a donned shield to be just dropped though. That would require doffing first, at the cost of one action.
It is generally accepted that you can let go of/drop anything at any time, but not universally excepted and never mentioned in RAW. Some people consider it a flourish, which is free (doesn't use interaction), but only on your turn.
And you would need war caster to not require an empty hand.