Introduced in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide , the green-flame blade and booming blade spells pose a number of questions, because they each do something unusual: require you to make a melee attack with a weapon as part of the spell’s casting.
First, each of these spells involves a normal melee weapon attack, not a spell attack, so you use whatever ability modifier you normally use with the weapon. (A spell tells you if it includes a spell attack, and neither of these spells do.) For example, if you use a longsword with green-flame blade, you use your Strength modifier for the weapon’s attack and damage rolls.
Second, neither green-flame blade nor booming blade works with Extra Attack or any other feature that requires the Attack action. Like other spells, these cantrips require the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action, and they can’t be used to make an opportunity attack, unless a special feature allows you to do so.
Third, these weapon attacks work with Sneak Attack if they fulfill the normal requirements for that feature. For example, if you have the Sneak Attack feature and cast green-flame blade with a finesse weapon, you can deal Sneak Attack damage to the target of the weapon attack if you have advantage on the attack roll and hit.
And to add more from my perspective, one important thing to remember is that in the 2024 PHB, spells no longer use the "Range: Self (X radius, line, etc.)" notation used in the 2014 PHB. They've been updated to just "Range: Self".
So, you can't tell what the spell targets without reading the Effect of a spell.
You are a fountain of knowledge. I know you've been heavily involved in the discussion surrounding the topic, so I appreciate your input and the comprehensive references and evidence you've provided.
There are many debates about True Strike because it doesn't specify what target (creature, object or something else) or attack type (melee or ranged) as part of its effect.
Generally it is accepted that True Strike and Booming Blade work with Warcaster, Green Flame-Blade doesn't if it affects a second creature, Eldritch Blast also raises a few questions as it's capable of being targeted at multiple creatures but can also just be targeted at one.
There are many debates about True Strike because it doesn't specify what target (creature, object or something else) or attack type (melee or ranged) as part of its effect.
I tried commenting that earlier but seems D&D beyond didn't accept it. True Strike really leaves the question of target too open and warcaster really could have been worded better.
You are a fountain of knowledge. I know you've been heavily involved in the discussion surrounding the topic, so I appreciate your input and the comprehensive references and evidence you've provided.
Thank you
No problem at all, friend. Thanks for your kind words!
My personal take, when rules interactions aren't crystal clear, is to stay consistent in the games. And in this specific case, as mentioned earlier, I feel TS draws inspiration from BB or GFB.
If not and I'm wrong, you can say the fountain's Poisoned :D
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Does the wording of War Caster prohibit the use of True Strike and other "Self" targeting attack spells?
In my opinion, True Strike does interact with War Caster because the target of True Strike is the creature, not you.
For me, True Strike is similar to green-flame blade and booming blade in terms of targeting and attack type, and there is an entry in the Sage Advice Compendium: Can you use green-flame blade and booming blade with Extra Attack, opportunity attacks, Sneak Attack, and other weapon attack options?:
To be fair, just to add there's no consensus on the attack type (weapon or spell?) or Range (you, your weapon or a creature?):
And to add more from my perspective, one important thing to remember is that in the 2024 PHB, spells no longer use the "Range: Self (X radius, line, etc.)" notation used in the 2014 PHB. They've been updated to just "Range: Self".
So, you can't tell what the spell targets without reading the Effect of a spell.
You are a fountain of knowledge. I know you've been heavily involved in the discussion surrounding the topic, so I appreciate your input and the comprehensive references and evidence you've provided.
Thank you
There are many debates about True Strike because it doesn't specify what target (creature, object or something else) or attack type (melee or ranged) as part of its effect.
Generally it is accepted that True Strike and Booming Blade work with Warcaster, Green Flame-Blade doesn't if it affects a second creature, Eldritch Blast also raises a few questions as it's capable of being targeted at multiple creatures but can also just be targeted at one.
I tried commenting that earlier but seems D&D beyond didn't accept it. True Strike really leaves the question of target too open and warcaster really could have been worded better.
No problem at all, friend. Thanks for your kind words!
My personal take, when rules interactions aren't crystal clear, is to stay consistent in the games. And in this specific case, as mentioned earlier, I feel TS draws inspiration from BB or GFB.
If not and I'm wrong, you can say the fountain's Poisoned :D