Arcane Foci are purposely vague so that the player can be unique with each one, so I honestly don't see why not. However, I'm assuming that your player is casting a spell and then using their bonus action to do an off-hand attack? If this is true, that bit isn't correct. Off-hand attacks must be made after the Attack action is taken.
I totally agree with this statement, that's why I allowed the Warlock of my party that has the Pact of the Blade Boon to use his pact blade as his arcane focus, since he uses his arcane energy to create it.
One of the features of the Improved Pact Weapon invocation in Xanathars is that it explicitly allows the warlock to use their pact weapon as an arcane focus for their spells. I'm not sure about allowing a warlock without that invocation to use their pact weapon as an arcane focus (but it is fine as a homebrew rule).
To the OP, I don't see any reason why the arcane focus can't be incorporated into a weapon or worn as part of a specifically designed piece of clothing ... glove, necklace etc.
The rules of spell casting leave out exactly how an arcane focus is used when casting a spell. It doesn't state whether it needs to be manipulated or otherwise handled. As far as I know the minimum requirement is the ability to come in contact with the focus ... not even necessarily touched or manipulated by hands. So there is certainly a lot of leeway.
Also, from a balance perspective, I don't think it makes much difference. A character will still need warcaster to cast spells when both hands are full. Allowing a weapon or other object to be the material component just simplifies juggling things a bit. It also means the character is required to have that particular item in one of their hands. There is also a precedent for it with both clerics and paladins and warlocks with the improved pact weapon invocation.
The rules of spell casting leave out exactly how an arcane focus is used when casting a spell. It doesn't state whether it needs to be manipulated or otherwise handled. As far as I know the minimum requirement is the ability to come in contact with the focus ... not even necessarily touched or manipulated by hands. So there is certainly a lot of leeway.
Also, from a balance perspective, I don't think it makes much difference. A character will still need warcaster to cast spells when both hands are full. Allowing a weapon or other object to be the material component just simplifies juggling things a bit. It also means the character is required to have that particular item in one of their hands. There is also a precedent for it with both clerics and paladins and warlocks with the improved pact weapon invocation.
Based on the quote in post #20 in this very thread, the material OR the focus needs to be handled to cast the spell, which means you need a free hand.
The rules of spell casting leave out exactly how an arcane focus is used when casting a spell. It doesn't state whether it needs to be manipulated or otherwise handled. As far as I know the minimum requirement is the ability to come in contact with the focus ... not even necessarily touched or manipulated by hands. So there is certainly a lot of leeway.
Also, from a balance perspective, I don't think it makes much difference. A character will still need warcaster to cast spells when both hands are full. Allowing a weapon or other object to be the material component just simplifies juggling things a bit. It also means the character is required to have that particular item in one of their hands. There is also a precedent for it with both clerics and paladins and warlocks with the improved pact weapon invocation.
Based on the quote in post #20 in this very thread, the material OR the focus needs to be handled to cast the spell, which means you need a free hand.
Unless the focus is itself either the object you are already holding or an accessible part of said object, in which case you would be handling it just by holding it (similar to a cleric or paladin with the focus symbol on their shield).
However, just for clarity here are the actual rules citations:
"Arcane Focus. An arcane focus is a special item—an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10."
"A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield."
"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) in place of the components specified for a spell. But if a cost is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell. lf a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component For each casting of the spell. A spellcaster must have a hand free to access these components, but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components."
1) An arcane focus can be any item designed to channel magical energy " or some similar item". There is no prohibition that the item used as arcane focus could not also be a weapon of some sort (in the case of staves this is explicitly stated). Nor is there any indication that an arcane focus can not be part of some other object. These are both DM decisions.
2) Clerics and paladins can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus ... "the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield." A shield, a weapon with a holy symbol or a visibly worn amulet would all appear to qualify here.
3) " A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus " .. they can use a component pouch or a spell casting focus to supply the material component of the spell.
5) "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access these components" .. this is the only quote I could find on "handling" the material component for the spell. In this case, it appears to specifically refers to components and what is more it states "access" not "handle". This could be interpreted to mean that a free hand is required to access components in a component pouch or take an arcane focus out of a pocket or other storage. However, it does not say that the component or arcane focus must actually be "handled" as part of casting the spell. In addition, if you already have an item in hand that incorporates an arcane focus then you do not need a free hand to "access" it since it is already accessible.
So - to summarize - it is up to the DM what objects may be used as an arcane focus since the text explicitly states similar items are possible and since some of the existing items can explicitly be used as weapons then weapons may be an option. The rules for holy symbols for spellcasting foci allow for items that can be worn or held in addition to shields and so a weapon with a holy symbol might well be an acceptable spellcasting focus for a cleric/paladin. Finally, the rules state that a free hand is needed to "access" the component, not to "handle" it, not to do something fancy with it .. anything more than "access" is up to the DM interpretation .. and any spellcasting focus that is either held or openly worn is already accessible and does not require a free hand to access it.
Caveat: :) ... I didn't go through the entire rulebook scouring it for references so I might have missed something but based on RAW, I don't really see any objection to a variety of items potentially being used as an arcane focus.
I've thought long and hard about these darned spellcasting focus rules and mostly just get more and more annoyed. My final decisions are as follows:
A focus can be pretty much whatever, within reason, except only a cleric/paladin can use a holy shield. No weapon stronger than a staff would be allowed without the ruby or other special rule. Any appropriate magic item like a Wand of Fireballs can also be used as a focus. All focuses are not easily concealable during a search, and are visibly "magical" to an intelligent creature, so they are always at risk of being taken when captured.
When you have an empty hand to access your pouch/focus or are holding in hand a focus that is neither a weapon nor shield then you are able to cast any spell with S or M components. Even specific gold-value materials in your inventory are assumed to be summoned or channeled through such a focus. When holding a focus that is a weapon or shield you may cast M or SM spells, but not S spells; Bless yes, Cure Wounds no. War Caster negates this.
Otherwise a focus is identical to a component pouch.
What’s the amount of interaction needed to use a spellcasting focus? Does it have to be included in the somatic component?
If a spell has a material component, you need to handle that component when you cast the spell (PH, 203). The same rule applies if you’re using a spellcasting focus as the material component.
If a spell has a somatic component, you can use the hand that performs the somatic component to also handle the material component. For example, a wizard who uses an orb as a spellcasting focus could hold a quarterstaff in one hand and the orb in the other, and he could cast lightning bolt by using the orb as the spell’s material component and the orb hand to perform the spell’s somatic component.
Another example: a cleric’s holy symbol is emblazoned on her shield. She likes to wade into melee combat with a mace in one hand and a shield in the other. She uses the holy symbol as her spellcasting focus, so she needs to have the shield in hand when she casts a cleric spell that has a material component. If the spell, such as aid, also has a somatic component, she can perform that component with the shield hand and keep holding the mace in the other.
If the same cleric casts cure wounds, she needs to put the mace or the shield away, because that spell doesn’t have a material component but does have a somatic component. She’s going to need a free hand to make the spell’s gestures. If she had the War Caster feat, she could ignore this restriction.
There are also several references to using other objects as spellcasting foci, some of which were mentioned before; all of which coincidentally can be found in Xanathar's Guide.
Bard: College of Lore "If you're proficient with a simple or martial melee weapon, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells."
Warlock Eldritch Invocation: Improved Pact Weapon "You can use any weapon you summon with your Pact of the Blade feature as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells."
Common Magic Items
Dark Shard Amulet "You can use the amulet as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells."
Hat of Wizardry "You can use the hat as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells."
Ruby of the War Mage "Etched with eldritch runes, this 1-inch-diameter ruby allows you to use a simple or martial weapon as a spellcasting focus for your spells."
Something else I would like to note, is that all of these magic item foci do require attunement to use.
I think that it also says somewhere in Xanathar's that the common magic items can also be used as "minor enchantments" using the rules for magic items in the DMG, so the "this can be used as a focus for your spells" thing could be added to a magic item as a minor enchantment.
One more item for GIx3612's very thorough list: Blood Hunters of the Order of the Profane Soul have the Rite Focus class feature, which allows them to use their weapon as an arcane focus.
The balance concerns being raised in this thread really confuse me.
Are my tables just weird and dual wielding wizards are actually super oppressive in most games or something? Because even taken at its absolute most permissive and letting any weapon serve as an arcane focus with no caveats all you've really done is let Wizards use something other than a quarterstaff, which seems like a pretty minor mechanical buff (all of +1 damage if you can get a longsword to work for you) compared to the roleplaying advantages of not having every wizard lug around a quarterstaff.
But that doesn't seem to jive with people in this thread claiming that such a change would make it so Wizards never have to make meaningful choices again or how it would create a power gap between spellcasters and non-spellcasters.
So what am I missing here?
As an aside, I'm kind of disappointed that those magic items in Xanathar's all require attunement. That seems like a pretty heavy price to pay for, again, what seems like a mostly flavorful boon.
I don't think it's about damage, or necessarily about Wizards as a class. For Eldritch Knights and Blade Pact Warlocks, there's the issue of action economy, and how to juggle your melee weapon, shield, and arcane focus all at once when you're in combat, fighting and casting spells. Having a weapon that doubles as an arcane focus really makes this a lot easier, and I'm glad that my character has this option. The Improved Pact Weapon Invocation is my very best friend.
IMO, because she took the Warcaster feat, so long as she has them on her person, or even is willing to embed them in a weapon, more power to her! The whole point of the feat is to be able to cast all your spells while armed.
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Playtesting Fugare Draconis, an epic tale of adventure, loss, and redemption
There are exactly 8 spells (out of 475) that require material components but not somatic components. Allowing a character using their weapon as an arcane focus breaks nothing in practise, they will need a free hand to do the somatic part of the spell anyway. If you were planing on using your weapon as an arcane focus to be fully geared and capable of casting spells at the same time, that's not possible (unless your gear doesn't include a shield).
But holding a focus allows you to cast any spell with a material component, *including* if it also has a Somatic. So it's the difference between casting only V spells, and casting any V, M, VM, or VSM (with only S or VS off Limits). That's a whole lot of spells.
You need a free hand to do the somatic component, and you can use that free hand to hold the focus or access the components pouch as well. If your sword is your focus, your still need a free hand for the somatic part, therefore, you need another free hand for the somatic components. That means that using your weapon (or shield) as a focus will only change how VM and M spells work. That's 8 spells.
This is the wording:
If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures. [...] 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.
EDIT:
I will correct myself. Apparently there's Sage Advise in this regard and they explicitly allow for the shield hand to be used to perform the somatic part of the spell. So I assume you can do the same with a sword focus. That's definitely not what the RAW say, but if that was the intention of the rule I'd allow it.
AS a bladesinger it's important to note both Shield and Absorb Elements are Somatic only and a dual wielding Bladesinger wouldn't be able to cast with both weapons in his hand without the feat.....A bladesinger build using point buy or standard array will have a hard time affording all the feats to be a true dual wielder ...better off building up Dex and Intelligence.
AS a bladesinger it's important to note both Shield and Absorb Elements are Somatic only and a dual wielding Bladesinger wouldn't be able to cast with both weapons in his hand without the feat.....A bladesinger build using point buy or standard array will have a hard time affording all the feats to be a true dual wielder ...better off building up Dex and Intelligence.
A rolled character may have more options.....
You do not need to pump your main stats in 5e. The "need" to do so is an illusion. You can afford to take feats.
If your sword is your focus, your still need a free hand for the somatic part
You only need a free hand if the spell has S components but not M components. As RegentCorreon mentioned, the rules for M components let you hold them using the same hand that's performing the S components, so you can cast any spell that has M components with a hand that's holding a focus.
If your sword is your focus, your still need a free hand for the somatic part
You only need a free hand if the spell has S components but not M components. As RegentCorreon mentioned, the rules for M components let you hold them using the same hand that's performing the S components, so you can cast any spell that has M components with a hand that's holding a focus.
Actually, as far as casting spells with somatic components only go, you have two options that make the whole "must have a free hand" thing obsolete. One way would be to sheath the weapon with your one free item interaction per turn, cast the spell, and then redraw it next turn for free before attacking. The other way would be to drop your weapon for free, cast the spell, and then still pick the weapon back up with your free interaction. The second option lets you stay armed between turns so you can make opportunity attacks, keep the AC bonus from dual wielder, or attack and cast a spell as a bonus action in the same turn.
It's not until you have to use that interaction to take out a material component or focus that it causes problems.
"MATERIAL (M)
I've thought long and hard about these darned spellcasting focus rules and mostly just get more and more annoyed. My final decisions are as follows:
A focus can be pretty much whatever, within reason, except only a cleric/paladin can use a holy shield. No weapon stronger than a staff would be allowed without the ruby or other special rule. Any appropriate magic item like a Wand of Fireballs can also be used as a focus. All focuses are not easily concealable during a search, and are visibly "magical" to an intelligent creature, so they are always at risk of being taken when captured.
When you have an empty hand to access your pouch/focus or are holding in hand a focus that is neither a weapon nor shield then you are able to cast any spell with S or M components. Even specific gold-value materials in your inventory are assumed to be summoned or channeled through such a focus. When holding a focus that is a weapon or shield you may cast M or SM spells, but not S spells; Bless yes, Cure Wounds no. War Caster negates this.
Otherwise a focus is identical to a component pouch.
Doesn't the Common magic item "Ruby of the War Mage" fix this whole thing?
We do bones, motherf***ker!
The Bard College of Swords "If you're proficient with a simple or martial melee weapon, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells."
Long time nerd, first time DM.
I know this thread is old, but I just wanted to add a few quotes to help anyone else looking into this or similar subjects.
There are also several references to using other objects as spellcasting foci, some of which were mentioned before; all of which coincidentally can be found in Xanathar's Guide.
Something else I would like to note, is that all of these magic item foci do require attunement to use.
Nice compilation!
I think that it also says somewhere in Xanathar's that the common magic items can also be used as "minor enchantments" using the rules for magic items in the DMG, so the "this can be used as a focus for your spells" thing could be added to a magic item as a minor enchantment.
We do bones, motherf***ker!
One more item for GIx3612's very thorough list: Blood Hunters of the Order of the Profane Soul have the Rite Focus class feature, which allows them to use their weapon as an arcane focus.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
The balance concerns being raised in this thread really confuse me.
Are my tables just weird and dual wielding wizards are actually super oppressive in most games or something? Because even taken at its absolute most permissive and letting any weapon serve as an arcane focus with no caveats all you've really done is let Wizards use something other than a quarterstaff, which seems like a pretty minor mechanical buff (all of +1 damage if you can get a longsword to work for you) compared to the roleplaying advantages of not having every wizard lug around a quarterstaff.
But that doesn't seem to jive with people in this thread claiming that such a change would make it so Wizards never have to make meaningful choices again or how it would create a power gap between spellcasters and non-spellcasters.
So what am I missing here?
As an aside, I'm kind of disappointed that those magic items in Xanathar's all require attunement. That seems like a pretty heavy price to pay for, again, what seems like a mostly flavorful boon.
I don't think it's about damage, or necessarily about Wizards as a class. For Eldritch Knights and Blade Pact Warlocks, there's the issue of action economy, and how to juggle your melee weapon, shield, and arcane focus all at once when you're in combat, fighting and casting spells. Having a weapon that doubles as an arcane focus really makes this a lot easier, and I'm glad that my character has this option. The Improved Pact Weapon Invocation is my very best friend.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
IMO, because she took the Warcaster feat, so long as she has them on her person, or even is willing to embed them in a weapon, more power to her! The whole point of the feat is to be able to cast all your spells while armed.
Playtesting Fugare Draconis, an epic tale of adventure, loss, and redemption
There are exactly 8 spells (out of 475) that require material components but not somatic components. Allowing a character using their weapon as an arcane focus breaks nothing in practise, they will need a free hand to do the somatic part of the spell anyway. If you were planing on using your weapon as an arcane focus to be fully geared and capable of casting spells at the same time, that's not possible (unless your gear doesn't include a shield).
But holding a focus allows you to cast any spell with a material component, *including* if it also has a Somatic. So it's the difference between casting only V spells, and casting any V, M, VM, or VSM (with only S or VS off Limits). That's a whole lot of spells.
You need a free hand to do the somatic component, and you can use that free hand to hold the focus or access the components pouch as well. If your sword is your focus, your still need a free hand for the somatic part, therefore, you need another free hand for the somatic components. That means that using your weapon (or shield) as a focus will only change how VM and M spells work. That's 8 spells.
This is the wording:
EDIT:
I will correct myself. Apparently there's Sage Advise in this regard and they explicitly allow for the shield hand to be used to perform the somatic part of the spell. So I assume you can do the same with a sword focus. That's definitely not what the RAW say, but if that was the intention of the rule I'd allow it.
AS a bladesinger it's important to note both Shield and Absorb Elements are Somatic only and a dual wielding Bladesinger wouldn't be able to cast with both weapons in his hand without the feat.....A bladesinger build using point buy or standard array will have a hard time affording all the feats to be a true dual wielder ...better off building up Dex and Intelligence.
A rolled character may have more options.....
You do not need to pump your main stats in 5e. The "need" to do so is an illusion. You can afford to take feats.
We do bones, motherf***ker!
You only need a free hand if the spell has S components but not M components. As RegentCorreon mentioned, the rules for M components let you hold them using the same hand that's performing the S components, so you can cast any spell that has M components with a hand that's holding a focus.
Actually, as far as casting spells with somatic components only go, you have two options that make the whole "must have a free hand" thing obsolete. One way would be to sheath the weapon with your one free item interaction per turn, cast the spell, and then redraw it next turn for free before attacking. The other way would be to drop your weapon for free, cast the spell, and then still pick the weapon back up with your free interaction. The second option lets you stay armed between turns so you can make opportunity attacks, keep the AC bonus from dual wielder, or attack and cast a spell as a bonus action in the same turn.
It's not until you have to use that interaction to take out a material component or focus that it causes problems.
I guess.... Sure.