How does a character draw a weapon when not taking the Attack action, eg when they’re casting True Strike?
Some relevant texts here include the Attack action in the rules glossary:
Equipping and Unequipping Weapons. You can either equip or unequip one weapon when you make an attack as part of this action. You do so either before or after the attack. If you equip a weapon before an attack, you don’t need to use it for that attack. Equipping a weapon includes drawing it from a sheath or picking it up. Unequipping a weapon includes sheathing, stowing, or dropping it.
And from the Utilize action:
You normally interact with an object while doing something else, such as when you draw a sword as part of the Attack action. When an object requires an action for its use, you take the Utilize action.
And from material components:
A Material component is a particular material used in a spell’s casting ... The spellcaster must have a hand free to access them, but it can be the same hand used to perform Somatic components, if any.
And from True Strike (just the relevant parts):
Components: S, M (a weapon with which you have proficiency and that is worth 1+ CP)
Guided by a flash of magical insight, you make one attack with the weapon used in the spell’s casting.
To me, it reads that when casting True Strike, you can’t draw or stow a weapon in the normal way as you would during the Attack action. However that doesn’t matter. If your weapon is stowed at the start of your turn, you need a free hand to access the material component (ie the weapon). You make an attack with it, which means if the weapon has the two-handed property you in fact need two free hands to cast True Strike, as that is true for any attack not just for Attack actions.
At the end of the Magic Action your hands are free again, so effectively the character drew the weapon, attacked with it, and stowed it in that action, which suggests the spell allows faster weapon handling than the normal Attack action would.
Do you agree? Also, is it otherwise possible to draw or stow a weapon while taking another non-Attack action, like Dodge, say?
When time is short, such as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize action, as explained in “Combat” later in this chapter.
Interacting with Things.You can interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe.
If you want to interact with a second object, you need to take the Utilize action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
It would be treated the same way the table treats accessing a material component. The spell lists the material component as
* - (a weapon with which you have proficiency and that is worth 1+ CP)
So however your table rules a spellcaster accessing a component pouch, focus, or just the raw material component for casting the spell. My interpretation would be that it is part casing the spell; no different than using a free hand to access the spell's material component. Now if you do not have a free hand then you cannot cast on that turn.
If your weapon is stowed at the start of your turn, you need a free hand to access the material component (ie the weapon). You make an attack with it, which means if the weapon has the two-handed property you in fact need two free hands to cast True Strike, as that is true for any attack not just for Attack actions.
This is an assumption that might not necessarily be true if we are following all of the rules to the letter. A material component only requires a free hand to interact with it. So, you might end up holding a two-handed weapon in one hand. You might even have a shield strapped to your other arm, making the other hand unavailable for wielding a weapon. However, spells do what they say. It says that you make one attack with the weapon . . . so you do. It's magic.
At the end of the Magic Action your hands are free again
This is also an assumption that might not necessarily be true in this case (or in any case . . . where is the rule that says that this is generally true?).
When time is short, such as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize action, as explained in “Combat” later in this chapter.
Interacting with Things.You can interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe.
If you want to interact with a second object, you need to take the Utilize action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
Ah, thanks! Yes those are both relevant! I was struggling to find the successor to the free interaction rule of 2014.
Though if you were taking the Attack action I don’t think the draw/stow would be in addition to a free interaction. That would make the Quick Draw feature of Dual Wielder unnecessary.
In which case I guess it’s a little odd if drawing/stowing is a free interaction with any other action, but with an Attack action can only be done as part of that action.
This is an assumption that might not necessarily be true if we are following all of the rules to the letter. A material component only requires a free hand to interact with it. So, you might end up holding a two-handed weapon in one hand. You might even have a shield strapped to your other arm, making the other hand unavailable for wielding a weapon. However, spells do what they say. It says that you make one attack with the weapon . . . so you do. It's magic.
I can see that as an interpretation, but I think I’d take the two-handed property as still applying to attacks made as part of a spell. Otherwise how would you know if True Strike with a versatile weapon was dealing two-handed damage or one-handed damage, if the number of hands holding it was irrelevant?
This is also an assumption that might not necessarily be true in this case (or in any case . . . where is the rule that says that this is generally true?).
Would you say that after casting, say, Identify, you’d be left with a pearl in one hand? I’d never have thought that to be the case, which means your M-handling hand is generally free at the end of the spell.
This is also an assumption that might not necessarily be true in this case (or in any case . . . where is the rule that says that this is generally true?).
Would you say that after casting, say, Identify, you’d be left with a pearl in one hand? I’d never have thought that to be the case, which means your M-handling hand is generally free at the end of the spell.
You need to access the pearl, not hold it. What happens to the material component is up to you. If you want to cast fireball and end up holding bat guano, you do you. If you have a greatsword in hand and cast True Strike, do you drop it afterwards so you have free hands?
If your weapon is stowed at the start of your turn, you need a free hand to access the material component (ie the weapon). You make an attack with it, which means if the weapon has the two-handed property you in fact need two free hands to cast True Strike, as that is true for any attack not just for Attack actions.
This is an assumption that might not necessarily be true if we are following all of the rules to the letter. A material component only requires a free hand to interact with it. So, you might end up holding a two-handed weapon in one hand. You might even have a shield strapped to your other arm, making the other hand unavailable for wielding a weapon. However, spells do what they say. It says that you make one attack with the weapon . . . so you do. It's magic.
True Strike has a weapon that you are proficient in with a value over 1 CP (to prevent spell component pouch and focus shenanigans) as a material component. You then make an attack with the weapon used in the spells casting. The rules to the letter are that you make an attack with the weapon, except that you use your spell casting ability modifier and you can choose to deal radiant damage. No other exceptions are mentioned, no other exceptions are made. All of the other weapon properties apply, a two-handed weapon requires two hands, Weapon Masteries apply if you have access to them, ranged attacks follow their ranged profiles, and reach weapons increase your reach by 5 ft, a heavy weapon requires a 13 Strength (melee) or 13 Dexterity (ranged) or suffer disadvantage on the attack roll, etc.
When time is short, such as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize action, as explained in “Combat” later in this chapter.
Interacting with Things.You can interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe.
If you want to interact with a second object, you need to take the Utilize action. Some magic items and other special objects always require an action to use, as stated in their descriptions.
Ah, thanks! Yes those are both relevant! I was struggling to find the successor to the free interaction rule of 2014.
Though if you were taking the Attack action I don’t think the draw/stow would be in addition to a free interaction. That would make the Quick Draw feature of Dual Wielder unnecessary.
In which case I guess it’s a little odd if drawing/stowing is a free interaction with any other action, but with an Attack action can only be done as part of that action.
Well, those rules I posted are in addition to the rules on Equipping and Unequipping weapons included in the Attack action. The scenario on the PHB, p. 30, is an example of how both sets of rules can be combined.
There are some related posts about the same topic:
Would you say that after casting, say, Identify, you’d be left with a pearl in one hand? I’d never have thought that to be the case, which means your M-handling hand is generally free at the end of the spell.
I think that this is actually a very good question that I don't think I've seen asked on these forums before.
As always, for the purposes of this forum it's important to try avoid any argument that basically amounts to "well this is how everyone does it" and instead we should make the effort to look at what the text actually says on the subject. I'm well aware of how we all currently run this interaction.
So, what do the rules say?
A Material component is a particular material used in a spell’s casting, as specified in parentheses in the Components entry. These materials aren’t consumed by the spell unless the spell’s description states otherwise. The spellcaster must have a hand free to access them
So, this isn't well defined. It seems that it's not a requirement to actually hold the material in the hand, but the hand must be free nonetheless to meet the requirement. There is also no mention in this general rule that more than one free hand is ever required. Is it possible that an individual spell description might explicitly require more than one free hand to access the material? Possibly. Does True Strike explicitly require two hands just to access a two-handed weapon? In my opinion, it does not. After all, it's somewhat common knowledge that it only requires one hand to hold (not wield, but just to hold) a two-handed weapon (citation needed, but that's getting beyond the scope).
So, how much "interaction" with the material is actually allowed as part of the spellcasting process? Am I ONLY allowed to touch it and use it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it and drop it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it and stow it? What if the material is currently stored in my backpack or on a nearby cart? How much "interaction" is actually included as part of the Magic action? Again, that's not well defined.
When you take the Magic action, you cast a spell that has a casting time of an action
Does interacting with things ever require a separate action?
When time is short, such as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize action
So, for example, if I am a sword-and-board character and my sword is currently stowed, and I am holding a spellcasting focus in my hand in order to cast a spell (assume that I am a character that is required to use an arcane focus, not a holy symbol) . . . can I then stow my spellcasting focus and draw my sword to be ready to make an opportunity attack with my sword? I only get one free interaction per turn. Is stowing my focus "free" as a part of the spellcasting process? Where is the rule which says this?
What if I am required to access a pearl instead of holding a focus? Assuming that I never actually hold the pearl, after I am done "using" the pearl, is my hand now automatically free "for free" such that I can now draw my sword? Or is taking my hand away from the pearl the same action economy usage as stowing my focus -- whatever that usage is actually determined to be?
Lastly, what if I "reach into" a Component Pouch? Am I able to "unreach" out of the pouch "for free" after using the material?
Keep in mind also that the above rule applies to objects as defined by the game. Something like "sand" is not considered to be an object.
Based on how all of these rules interact, any time you go from not holding an object to holding an object, that's an item interaction beyond what is "included" with the spellcasting process. And any time you go from holding an object to not holding an object, that's also an item interaction beyond what is "included" with the spellcasting process.
Returning to the True Strike spell now and the possibility of using a two-handed weapon such as a Greatsword or a Longbow as the material component for the spell:
Is there anything within the general rules or within the spell description that would require two free hands to "access" this material component in order to cast the spell? In my opinion, no, there is no such text. If a sword-and-board character casts this spell while wielding a shield that occupies one hand and while the other hand is free, I think that it is an unreasonable ruling to tell the player that that spell cannot be cast at all in the first place if you are attempting to access a two-handed weapon. Accessing and even holding a two-handed weapon only requires one hand.
Now, can the character simply "access" this weapon or must it be held in order for the rest of the spell description to occur? It's a little weird for the character to be able to just touch the sword that's sitting in his scabbard and have the spell cause him to somehow "make one attack with the weapon" unless we just chalk this up to spells do what they say, and this is a magical effect. However, it's troubling that this is not even described as a "spell attack", even though the attack uses the spellcasting ability modifier. It's probably equally weird for the character to be able to hold a longbow in one hand while also wielding a shield and still be able to attack with it. But again, spells do what they say.
However, I would rule that if the character was holding the weapon instead of just accessing it then he would not be allowed to automatically drop or stow the weapon "for free" after the spell is resolved without using the 1 free object interaction to do so. You do not end up with a free hand after casting the spell in this manner.
I cannot find any text anywhere that would lead to a different ruling. A DM would pretty much have to decide that you need two free hands to even be able to cast the spell, but there is no basis in the text for such a ruling.
As a DM, I would likely house rule this spell to actually require two free hands when using a two-handed weapon as the material component because that just makes a lot more sense. This spell should probably be changed via errata to reflect this but I'm not holding my breath on this one.
To me, it reads that when casting True Strike, you can’t draw or stow a weapon in the normal way as you would during the Attack action.
I think the weapon is drawn as part of casting True Strike actually, because the weapon is a material component you must provide during the casting and use during the effect.
Using a free hand to do gestures while. holding the weapon has for effect to make one attack with the weapon used in True Strike ’s casting, even ignoring mundane physical laws.
Effects: The effects of a spell are detailed after its duration entry. Those details present exactly what the spell does, which ignores mundane physical laws; any outcomes beyond those effects are under the DM’s purview.
If a spell has a material component, you need to handle that component when you cast the spell. The same rule applies if you’re using a spellcasting focus as the material component. [...]
If you hold a Two Handed weapon in one hand and attack with it this way it could count as an Improvised Weapons wielded in a way contrary to its design
If you hold a Two Handed weapon in one hand and attack with it this way it could count as an Improvised Weapons wielded in a way contrary to its design
Would tavern brawler fix that since it gives you proficiency in improvised weapons?
I get that the authors are trying for natural language in their rules, but I feel that there are a few places where more specificity would really help.
If you hold a Two Handed weapon in one hand and attack with it this way it could count as an Improvised Weapons wielded in a way contrary to its design
Would tavern brawler fix that since it gives you proficiency in improvised weapons?
Indeed Tavern Brawler have proficiency with improvised weapons.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
How does a character draw a weapon when not taking the Attack action, eg when they’re casting True Strike?
Some relevant texts here include the Attack action in the rules glossary:
And from the Utilize action:
And from material components:
And from True Strike (just the relevant parts):
To me, it reads that when casting True Strike, you can’t draw or stow a weapon in the normal way as you would during the Attack action. However that doesn’t matter. If your weapon is stowed at the start of your turn, you need a free hand to access the material component (ie the weapon). You make an attack with it, which means if the weapon has the two-handed property you in fact need two free hands to cast True Strike, as that is true for any attack not just for Attack actions.
At the end of the Magic Action your hands are free again, so effectively the character drew the weapon, attacked with it, and stowed it in that action, which suggests the spell allows faster weapon handling than the normal Attack action would.
Do you agree? Also, is it otherwise possible to draw or stow a weapon while taking another non-Attack action, like Dodge, say?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
You could also use the following rules to draw the weapon before casting True Strike:
It would be treated the same way the table treats accessing a material component. The spell lists the material component as
So however your table rules a spellcaster accessing a component pouch, focus, or just the raw material component for casting the spell. My interpretation would be that it is part casing the spell; no different than using a free hand to access the spell's material component. Now if you do not have a free hand then you cannot cast on that turn.
This is an assumption that might not necessarily be true if we are following all of the rules to the letter. A material component only requires a free hand to interact with it. So, you might end up holding a two-handed weapon in one hand. You might even have a shield strapped to your other arm, making the other hand unavailable for wielding a weapon. However, spells do what they say. It says that you make one attack with the weapon . . . so you do. It's magic.
This is also an assumption that might not necessarily be true in this case (or in any case . . . where is the rule that says that this is generally true?).
Ah, thanks! Yes those are both relevant! I was struggling to find the successor to the free interaction rule of 2014.
Though if you were taking the Attack action I don’t think the draw/stow would be in addition to a free interaction. That would make the Quick Draw feature of Dual Wielder unnecessary.
In which case I guess it’s a little odd if drawing/stowing is a free interaction with any other action, but with an Attack action can only be done as part of that action.
I can see that as an interpretation, but I think I’d take the two-handed property as still applying to attacks made as part of a spell. Otherwise how would you know if True Strike with a versatile weapon was dealing two-handed damage or one-handed damage, if the number of hands holding it was irrelevant?
Would you say that after casting, say, Identify, you’d be left with a pearl in one hand? I’d never have thought that to be the case, which means your M-handling hand is generally free at the end of the spell.
You need to access the pearl, not hold it. What happens to the material component is up to you. If you want to cast fireball and end up holding bat guano, you do you. If you have a greatsword in hand and cast True Strike, do you drop it afterwards so you have free hands?
True Strike has a weapon that you are proficient in with a value over 1 CP (to prevent spell component pouch and focus shenanigans) as a material component. You then make an attack with the weapon used in the spells casting. The rules to the letter are that you make an attack with the weapon, except that you use your spell casting ability modifier and you can choose to deal radiant damage. No other exceptions are mentioned, no other exceptions are made. All of the other weapon properties apply, a two-handed weapon requires two hands, Weapon Masteries apply if you have access to them, ranged attacks follow their ranged profiles, and reach weapons increase your reach by 5 ft, a heavy weapon requires a 13 Strength (melee) or 13 Dexterity (ranged) or suffer disadvantage on the attack roll, etc.
Well, those rules I posted are in addition to the rules on Equipping and Unequipping weapons included in the Attack action. The scenario on the PHB, p. 30, is an example of how both sets of rules can be combined.
There are some related posts about the same topic:
I think that this is actually a very good question that I don't think I've seen asked on these forums before.
As always, for the purposes of this forum it's important to try avoid any argument that basically amounts to "well this is how everyone does it" and instead we should make the effort to look at what the text actually says on the subject. I'm well aware of how we all currently run this interaction.
So, what do the rules say?
So, this isn't well defined. It seems that it's not a requirement to actually hold the material in the hand, but the hand must be free nonetheless to meet the requirement. There is also no mention in this general rule that more than one free hand is ever required. Is it possible that an individual spell description might explicitly require more than one free hand to access the material? Possibly. Does True Strike explicitly require two hands just to access a two-handed weapon? In my opinion, it does not. After all, it's somewhat common knowledge that it only requires one hand to hold (not wield, but just to hold) a two-handed weapon (citation needed, but that's getting beyond the scope).
So, how much "interaction" with the material is actually allowed as part of the spellcasting process? Am I ONLY allowed to touch it and use it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it and drop it? Am I allowed to pick it up and hold it and use it and stow it? What if the material is currently stored in my backpack or on a nearby cart? How much "interaction" is actually included as part of the Magic action? Again, that's not well defined.
Does interacting with things ever require a separate action?
So, for example, if I am a sword-and-board character and my sword is currently stowed, and I am holding a spellcasting focus in my hand in order to cast a spell (assume that I am a character that is required to use an arcane focus, not a holy symbol) . . . can I then stow my spellcasting focus and draw my sword to be ready to make an opportunity attack with my sword? I only get one free interaction per turn. Is stowing my focus "free" as a part of the spellcasting process? Where is the rule which says this?
What if I am required to access a pearl instead of holding a focus? Assuming that I never actually hold the pearl, after I am done "using" the pearl, is my hand now automatically free "for free" such that I can now draw my sword? Or is taking my hand away from the pearl the same action economy usage as stowing my focus -- whatever that usage is actually determined to be?
Lastly, what if I "reach into" a Component Pouch? Am I able to "unreach" out of the pouch "for free" after using the material?
Keep in mind also that the above rule applies to objects as defined by the game. Something like "sand" is not considered to be an object.
Based on how all of these rules interact, any time you go from not holding an object to holding an object, that's an item interaction beyond what is "included" with the spellcasting process. And any time you go from holding an object to not holding an object, that's also an item interaction beyond what is "included" with the spellcasting process.
Returning to the True Strike spell now and the possibility of using a two-handed weapon such as a Greatsword or a Longbow as the material component for the spell:
Is there anything within the general rules or within the spell description that would require two free hands to "access" this material component in order to cast the spell? In my opinion, no, there is no such text. If a sword-and-board character casts this spell while wielding a shield that occupies one hand and while the other hand is free, I think that it is an unreasonable ruling to tell the player that that spell cannot be cast at all in the first place if you are attempting to access a two-handed weapon. Accessing and even holding a two-handed weapon only requires one hand.
Now, can the character simply "access" this weapon or must it be held in order for the rest of the spell description to occur? It's a little weird for the character to be able to just touch the sword that's sitting in his scabbard and have the spell cause him to somehow "make one attack with the weapon" unless we just chalk this up to spells do what they say, and this is a magical effect. However, it's troubling that this is not even described as a "spell attack", even though the attack uses the spellcasting ability modifier. It's probably equally weird for the character to be able to hold a longbow in one hand while also wielding a shield and still be able to attack with it. But again, spells do what they say.
However, I would rule that if the character was holding the weapon instead of just accessing it then he would not be allowed to automatically drop or stow the weapon "for free" after the spell is resolved without using the 1 free object interaction to do so. You do not end up with a free hand after casting the spell in this manner.
I cannot find any text anywhere that would lead to a different ruling. A DM would pretty much have to decide that you need two free hands to even be able to cast the spell, but there is no basis in the text for such a ruling.
As a DM, I would likely house rule this spell to actually require two free hands when using a two-handed weapon as the material component because that just makes a lot more sense. This spell should probably be changed via errata to reflect this but I'm not holding my breath on this one.
I think the weapon is drawn as part of casting True Strike actually, because the weapon is a material component you must provide during the casting and use during the effect.
Using a free hand to do gestures while. holding the weapon has for effect to make one attack with the weapon used in True Strike ’s casting, even ignoring mundane physical laws.
If it's useful for the thread, we had this in the Sage Advice Compendium:
Thanks up2ng for your detailed thoughts on the matter.
I can at least offer a citation for a two-handed weapon only needing one hand to hold:
https://x.com/jeremyecrawford/status/516978109342445569?s=46&t=VEqWLO22VlbTFjwxKoRtcQ
If you hold a Two Handed weapon in one hand and attack with it this way it could count as an Improvised Weapons wielded in a way contrary to its design
Would tavern brawler fix that since it gives you proficiency in improvised weapons?
I get that the authors are trying for natural language in their rules, but I feel that there are a few places where more specificity would really help.
Indeed Tavern Brawler have proficiency with improvised weapons.