The relevant text is: "The spellcaster must have a hand free to access them, but it can be the same hand used to perform Somatic components, if any."
"To use a Component Pouch, you must have a hand free to reach into it, and to use a Spellcasting Focus, you must hold it unless its description says otherwise."
This gives us three options:
Regular spell components. You need a free hand, which you can use to grab your components and perform Somatic components.
Component Pouch. The same as regular spell components: you need a free hand, which can also be used for Somatic components.
Spellcasting Focus. One of your hands is occupied holding the Spellcasting Focus (unless its description says otherwise), so your other hand must be free to perform Somatic components.
So, from rules a spellcasting focus is used instead of a non-priced M component. And when you use the focus, you do the S components with it.
My question is: When can i use a spellcasting focus? only for spells with M component or for every spell, bypassing the S components?
You use a Spellcasting Focus only for spells with material components. If a spell has nothing but Somatic and/or Verbal components, then there's no use for it.
Spellcasting Focus
A Spellcasting Focus is an object that certain creatures can use in place of a spell’s Material components if those materials aren’t consumed by the spell and don’t have a cost specified. Some classes allow its members to use certain types of Spellcasting Focuses.
You cannot bypass the S components (except with the subtle spell metamagic). Technically, you only need to use the focus for M spells. I guess if you wanted to flavor your casting as shooting spells out of your wand or what have you even if they don’t have an M component, you could do that, but run it by your DM first.
An important note, if a spell has an M component with a gold piece value, the focus cannot substitute for those. You must acquire those components separately. Depending on the spell, they may or may not be consumed in the casting. The spell description explains if they are or not.
You cannot bypass the S components (except with the subtle spell metamagic). Technically, you only need to use the focus for M spells. I guess if you wanted to flavor your casting as shooting spells out of your wand or what have you even if they don’t have an M component, you could do that, but run it by your DM first.
An important note, if a spell has an M component with a gold piece value, the focus cannot substitute for those. You must acquire those components separately. Depending on the spell, they may or may not be consumed in the casting. The spell description explains if they are or not.
Xalthu's next answer is one of the best summaries on the network:
This was something I’d really hoped they’d clean up in the rules update. I’ll take a stab at it. If a spell has both an M and S component and you are using a focus, you’re good. The hand holding the M can also do the S part.
The tricky thing is when a spell has an S but no M (cure wounds for example). In that case, you need a free hand or warcaster.
You cannot bypass the S components (except with the subtle spell metamagic). Technically, you only need to use the focus for M spells. I guess if you wanted to flavor your casting as shooting spells out of your wand or what have you even if they don’t have an M component, you could do that, but run it by your DM first.
An important note, if a spell has an M component with a gold piece value, the focus cannot substitute for those. You must acquire those components separately. Depending on the spell, they may or may not be consumed in the casting. The spell description explains if they are or not.
Xalthu's next answer is one of the best summaries on the network:
This was something I’d really hoped they’d clean up in the rules update. I’ll take a stab at it. If a spell has both an M and S component and you are using a focus, you’re good. The hand holding the M can also do the S part.
The tricky thing is when a spell has an S but no M (cure wounds for example). In that case, you need a free hand or warcaster.
I don’t know if I should feel flattered or stalked. 🙂 I’ll go with the former.
Flattered, for sure! xD It was just that I remembered that thread in the General subforum, and coming back to it, I read your reply, and it's a very good summary, honestly! :)
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So, from rules a spellcasting focus is used instead of a non-priced M component. And when you use the focus, you do the S components with it.
My question is: When can i use a spellcasting focus? only for spells with M component or for every spell, bypassing the S components?
The relevant text is: "The spellcaster must have a hand free to access them, but it can be the same hand used to perform Somatic components, if any."
"To use a Component Pouch, you must have a hand free to reach into it, and to use a Spellcasting Focus, you must hold it unless its description says otherwise."
This gives us three options:
You use a Spellcasting Focus only for spells with material components. If a spell has nothing but Somatic and/or Verbal components, then there's no use for it.
You cannot bypass the S components (except with the subtle spell metamagic).
Technically, you only need to use the focus for M spells. I guess if you wanted to flavor your casting as shooting spells out of your wand or what have you even if they don’t have an M component, you could do that, but run it by your DM first.
An important note, if a spell has an M component with a gold piece value, the focus cannot substitute for those. You must acquire those components separately. Depending on the spell, they may or may not be consumed in the casting. The spell description explains if they are or not.
Xalthu's next answer is one of the best summaries on the network:
I don’t know if I should feel flattered or stalked. 🙂 I’ll go with the former.
Flattered, for sure! xD It was just that I remembered that thread in the General subforum, and coming back to it, I read your reply, and it's a very good summary, honestly! :)