Hi all! I’m quite new to DnD, so I’m just looking for some guidance :)
I have picked up the “True Strike” Cantrip on my Warlock, and notice that it has a range of Self. I’ve got Pact of the Blade, and I’ve chosen Whip as my weapon of choice. The Whip has a 10ft range for combat. So, when I cast True Strike, is the range Self or 10ft? Does it depend on my weapon? And is it a Cantrip that I can pair Eldritch Spar with?
True Strike can be used with Ranged or Thrown weapons just fine. If you throw a whip, it'll almost certainly count as an improvised weapon. (True Strike doesn't make it not-improvised, though, so no proficiency bonus to hit and the die is 1d4...)
Hi all! I’m quite new to DnD, so I’m just looking for some guidance :)
I have picked up the “True Strike” Cantrip on my Warlock, and notice that it has a range of Self. I’ve got Pact of the Blade, and I’ve chosen Whip as my weapon of choice. The Whip has a 10ft range for combat. So, when I cast True Strike, is the range Self or 10ft? Does it depend on my weapon? And is it a Cantrip that I can pair Eldritch Spar with?
One other thing that's worth pointing out, in addition to what kenclary said, is that True Strike is not super useful for Warlocks with Pact of the Blade, because Pact of the Blade already provides most of the benefits of using True Strike (letting you use Charisma for the attack and damage rolls, and giving it a better damage type). Until you reach level 5 (where True Strike provides a damage bonus too) you're not gaining anything over just making a normal attack. And once you reach level 5, you may be better off taking the Eldritch Invocations that let you make multiple attacks with your Pact weapon instead.
True Strike is more useful for spellcaster characters who want to use weapons but don't already have something like Pact of the Blade to make it easier.
True Strike can be used with Ranged or Thrown weapons just fine. If you throw a whip, it'll almost certainly count as an improvised weapon. (True Strike doesn't make it not-improvised, though, so no proficiency bonus to hit and the die is 1d4...)
Would True Strike even work at all for throwing a whip if you don't have Proficiency with Improvised Weapons?
One of the requirements of True Strike's components is that you have Proficiency with the weapon.
Since the original character had Pact of the Blade, so the relatively-easy End-run is "I conjure a throwable whip, " but then there's also "I conjure an actual weapon meant for throwing." in that situation.
That said, I kind of think True Strike doesn't have much to offer to a Single-Classed Warlock with Pact of the Blade as a general cantrip, especially since Warlocks don't get that many Cantrip choices to begin with.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Hi all! I’m quite new to DnD, so I’m just looking for some guidance :)
I have picked up the “True Strike” Cantrip on my Warlock, and notice that it has a range of Self. I’ve got Pact of the Blade, and I’ve chosen Whip as my weapon of choice. The Whip has a 10ft range for combat. So, when I cast True Strike, is the range Self or 10ft? Does it depend on my weapon? And is it a Cantrip that I can pair Eldritch Spar with?
One other thing that's worth pointing out, in addition to what kenclary said, is that True Strike is not super useful for Warlocks with Pact of the Blade, because Pact of the Blade already provides most of the benefits of using True Strike (letting you use Charisma for the attack and damage rolls, and giving it a better damage type). Until you reach level 5 (where True Strike provides a damage bonus too) you're not gaining anything over just making a normal attack. And once you reach level 5, you may be better off taking the Eldritch Invocations that let you make multiple attacks with your Pact weapon instead. [...]
Or even Eldritch Smite, if it's the extra damage you enjoy from True Strike.
Hi all! I’m quite new to DnD, so I’m just looking for some guidance :)
I have picked up the “True Strike” Cantrip on my Warlock, and notice that it has a range of Self. I’ve got Pact of the Blade, and I’ve chosen Whip as my weapon of choice. The Whip has a 10ft range for combat. So, when I cast True Strike, is the range Self or 10ft? Does it depend on my weapon? And is it a Cantrip that I can pair Eldritch Spar with?
The range is self. You are affected by the spell which then allows you to make a weapon attack, modified per the spell. The target of the spell is the caster. The target of the weapon attack is separate and follows the normal range restrictions for the weapon, in this case, 10 feet instead of 5 feet.
Would True Strike even work at all for throwing a whip if you don't have Proficiency with Improvised Weapons?
I would say that it fails. It's a bit of a chicken or the egg problem, but the material component is a weapon you are proficient with and the spell effect is making an attack with that weapon. If you use a weapon in a method that you are not proficient, it is no longer the weapon you are proficient with and that you used in the casting of the spell.
However, a Pact of the Blade Warlock will always be proficient with their Pact Weapon, which might include using them as an improvised weapon.
True Strike is a waste of time on a Warlock, sadly, as unlike other GIShs, neither Thirsting Blade, nor the Devouring Blade invocation does let you swap one of your attacks for a cantrip (Much like the Valour Bard, or the Bladesinger Wizard). If you acquired True Strike via Magic Initiate Wizard, then maybe ask if you can trade it for Magic Initiate Druid, as you can get more mileage out of Shillelagh long term. Works with club, and staff only, though.
If you wanna do Pact of the Blade, either grab a one-handed weapon at the beginning until you get a magic Two-Handed or Ranged weapon.
Personally, at early stages I'd grab a minion via Pact of the Chain. The Sphinx of Wonders is a great combat pet for the first 4 levels, even better with Investments of the Chain Master.
The Sphinx has a +5 to hit roll, which is in line with most starting characters, and deals 1d4+2d6+3 radiant damage (investment of the Chain Master let's you turn the slashing damage into radiant). IMHO, you'll get way more mileage out of that than with a weapon, or Eldritch Blast at low levels. With the potential to attacks twice in one round (once in your turn, once in it's own turn) even more so.
Pact of the Chain "...when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one attack with its reaction."
Investment of the Chain Master "As a Bonus Action, you can command the familiar to take the Attack action"
The Sphinx has got low AC (13), but solid health (24) for low levels, and you can grant it resistance to the damage of one attack via your reaction. It has a decent flight speed, thus giving you a better range, than with your whip. And on top of it the Sphinx has Magic Resistance and Burst of Ingenuity.
If you have the Alert origin feat, you can swap Initiative with your Sphinx of Wonder to let it act before you. It can then move up to a target, and if it does not kill it in it's own turn, it'll get a second shot on your turn. Plus you technically got two initiative rolls. You can grab Alert via the "Lessons from the First Ones" invocation.
[...] The Sphinx has a +5 to hit roll, which is in line with most starting characters, and deals 1d4+2d6+3 radiant damage (investment of the Chain Master let's you turn the slashing damage into radiant). IMHO, you'll get way more mileage out of that than with a weapon, or Eldritch Blast at low levels. With the potential to attacks twice in one round (once in your turn, once in it's own turn) even more so. [...]
Just for fairness, the timing for Quick Attack was discussed in Questions about Investment of the Chain Master. In my opinion, the familiar takes the Attack action during your turn, immediately after you take your Bonus Action, but the wording can be read the way you said as well.
True Strike can be used with Ranged or Thrown weapons just fine. If you throw a whip, it'll almost certainly count as an improvised weapon. (True Strike doesn't make it not-improvised, though, so no proficiency bonus to hit and the die is 1d4...)
Would True Strike even work at all for throwing a whip if you don't have Proficiency with Improvised Weapons?
The provision of any material component is separate from, and precedes, any attack that would bring about the spell’s effect.
Wether you throw a whip as part of True Strike effect doesn't invalidate the fact you were proficient with it at the moment of providing material component before the spell taking effect and actually making an attack in any way, shape or form.
Order of operations while you cast True Strike should be;
You provide forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures with 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.
Make a ranged attack with a whip* as an improvised weapon.
You can use your Charisma modifier for the attack and damage rolls instead of using Dexterity.
On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM thinks is appropriate for the object.
You can cause the weapon to deal Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage or its normal damage type.
Whether you deal Radiant damage or the weapon’s normal damage type, the attack deals extra Radiant damage when you reach levels 5 (1d6), 11 (2d6), and 17 (3d6).
True Strike is a waste of time on a Warlock, sadly, as unlike other GIShs, neither Thirsting Blade, nor the Devouring Blade invocation does let you swap one of your attacks for a cantrip (Much like the Valour Bard, or the Bladesinger Wizard).
I believe the last Hexblade subclass in UA lets you make an attack as a Bonus Action when you cast a one action spell. It's not quite the same, but 2 attacks plus a multi-attack Eldritch Blast would be problematic.
The Pact of the Chain is not relevant to the True Strike conversation. True Strike does not have a range of Touch and thus has no interaction with familiars. It would be cool though if you could still copy a spell onto your familiar like in 3.x days.
You can use your Charisma modifier for the attack and damage rolls instead of using Dexterity.
On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM thinks is appropriate for the object.
You can cause the weapon to deal Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage or its normal damage type.
Whether you deal Radiant damage or the weapon’s normal damage type, the attack deals extra Radiant damage when you reach levels 5 (1d6), 11 (2d6), and 17 (3d6).
For the last bullet, would you allow dealing Necrotic or Psychic damage from Pact of the Blade, and the extra Radiant damage from True Strike at higher levels (5+)?
[...] The Sphinx has a +5 to hit roll, which is in line with most starting characters, and deals 1d4+2d6+3 radiant damage (investment of the Chain Master let's you turn the slashing damage into radiant). IMHO, you'll get way more mileage out of that than with a weapon, or Eldritch Blast at low levels. With the potential to attacks twice in one round (once in your turn, once in it's own turn) even more so. [...]
Just for fairness, the timing for Quick Attack was discussed in Questions about Investment of the Chain Master. In my opinion, the familiar takes the Attack action during your turn, immediately after you take your Bonus Action, but the wording can be read the way you said as well.
Please read more carefully. I wrote it can attack twice in one round, not twice in your turn. One attack happens in your turn, as you forgo one of your attacks, respectively take your attack action to make the familiar attack as a reaction (Pact of the Chain), and the other happens outside of your turn as a result of you spending your bonus action (Investment of the Chain Master). Still, that's potentially 2 attacks in one round.
[...] The Sphinx has a +5 to hit roll, which is in line with most starting characters, and deals 1d4+2d6+3 radiant damage (investment of the Chain Master let's you turn the slashing damage into radiant). IMHO, you'll get way more mileage out of that than with a weapon, or Eldritch Blast at low levels. With the potential to attacks twice in one round (once in your turn, once in it's own turn) even more so. [...]
Just for fairness, the timing for Quick Attack was discussed in Questions about Investment of the Chain Master. In my opinion, the familiar takes the Attack action during your turn, immediately after you take your Bonus Action, but the wording can be read the way you said as well.
Please read more carefully. I wrote it can attack twice in one round, not twice in your turn. One attack happens in your turn, as you forgo one of your attacks to make it attack as a reaction, and the other happens outside of your turn as a result of you spending your bonus action.
Every character has the potential to attack once on their turn and once as a reaction. This is nothing unique the Pact of the Chain familiars. It is unique to Pact of the Chain familiars versus standard familiars, but not "most starting characters". The raw damage is barely better than a raging barbarian with a greatsword. The cost for this is one of your attacks and the familiar's Reaction. It's probably worth it at low levels, but it doesn't scale.
The timing of the attack is disputed, per the thread TarodNet linked.
By contrast, True Strike will scale with character level.
To be fair about Pact of the Blade not getting cantrip weaving, they already have a much stronger base Gish setup since they're using their casting stat for the weapon attacks, plus they get a lot more weapon support as they level, and finally since EB is functionally equivalent to ranged weapon attacks with AB, it'd be a bit broken to always cast it plus an extra weapon attack or two.
I believe the last Hexblade subclass in UA lets you make an attack as a Bonus Action when you cast a one action spell. It's not quite the same, but 2 attacks plus a multi-attack Eldritch Blast would be problematic.
The Pact of the Chain is not relevant to the True Strike conversation. True Strike does not have a range of Touch and thus has no interaction with familiars. It would be cool though if you could still copy a spell onto your familiar like in 3.x days.
Harrowing Hex only works with 1+ spells, not cantrips. How do you do 2 attacks with only one bonus action, when your (magic) action is taken by Eldritch Blast? Afaik, Nick does not work with bonus actions.
What is relevant, and what is not is not yours to decide. I only showed the OP a way to get around easier at low tier. He can still swap to a whip, or etc. later in his career.
Hi all! I’m quite new to DnD, so I’m just looking for some guidance :)
I have picked up the “True Strike” Cantrip on my Warlock, and notice that it has a range of Self. I’ve got Pact of the Blade, and I’ve chosen Whip as my weapon of choice. The Whip has a 10ft range for combat. So, when I cast True Strike, is the range Self or 10ft? Does it depend on my weapon? And is it a Cantrip that I can pair Eldritch Spar with?
"Range: Self" means the spells originates from the caster. The range of the attack is the range of the weapon.
Since the range of the spell is "self" it is not eligible for Eldritch Spear.
If you throw the whip, you do not get the true strike damage, if you hold on to the end and hit with the tip, you get the damage.
True Strike can be used with Ranged or Thrown weapons just fine. If you throw a whip, it'll almost certainly count as an improvised weapon. (True Strike doesn't make it not-improvised, though, so no proficiency bonus to hit and the die is 1d4...)
One other thing that's worth pointing out, in addition to what kenclary said, is that True Strike is not super useful for Warlocks with Pact of the Blade, because Pact of the Blade already provides most of the benefits of using True Strike (letting you use Charisma for the attack and damage rolls, and giving it a better damage type). Until you reach level 5 (where True Strike provides a damage bonus too) you're not gaining anything over just making a normal attack. And once you reach level 5, you may be better off taking the Eldritch Invocations that let you make multiple attacks with your Pact weapon instead.
True Strike is more useful for spellcaster characters who want to use weapons but don't already have something like Pact of the Blade to make it easier.
pronouns: he/she/they
Would True Strike even work at all for throwing a whip if you don't have Proficiency with Improvised Weapons?
One of the requirements of True Strike's components is that you have Proficiency with the weapon.
Since the original character had Pact of the Blade, so the relatively-easy End-run is "I conjure a throwable whip, " but then there's also "I conjure an actual weapon meant for throwing." in that situation.
That said, I kind of think True Strike doesn't have much to offer to a Single-Classed Warlock with Pact of the Blade as a general cantrip, especially since Warlocks don't get that many Cantrip choices to begin with.
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage
Or even Eldritch Smite, if it's the extra damage you enjoy from True Strike.
The range is self. You are affected by the spell which then allows you to make a weapon attack, modified per the spell. The target of the spell is the caster. The target of the weapon attack is separate and follows the normal range restrictions for the weapon, in this case, 10 feet instead of 5 feet.
This has been disputed in other threads.
I would say that it fails. It's a bit of a chicken or the egg problem, but the material component is a weapon you are proficient with and the spell effect is making an attack with that weapon. If you use a weapon in a method that you are not proficient, it is no longer the weapon you are proficient with and that you used in the casting of the spell.
However, a Pact of the Blade Warlock will always be proficient with their Pact Weapon, which might include using them as an improvised weapon.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
True Strike is a waste of time on a Warlock, sadly, as unlike other GIShs, neither Thirsting Blade, nor the Devouring Blade invocation does let you swap one of your attacks for a cantrip (Much like the Valour Bard, or the Bladesinger Wizard). If you acquired True Strike via Magic Initiate Wizard, then maybe ask if you can trade it for Magic Initiate Druid, as you can get more mileage out of Shillelagh long term. Works with club, and staff only, though.
If you wanna do Pact of the Blade, either grab a one-handed weapon at the beginning until you get a magic Two-Handed or Ranged weapon.
Personally, at early stages I'd grab a minion via Pact of the Chain. The Sphinx of Wonders is a great combat pet for the first 4 levels, even better with Investments of the Chain Master.
The Sphinx has a +5 to hit roll, which is in line with most starting characters, and deals 1d4+2d6+3 radiant damage (investment of the Chain Master let's you turn the slashing damage into radiant). IMHO, you'll get way more mileage out of that than with a weapon, or Eldritch Blast at low levels. With the potential to attacks twice in one round (once in your turn, once in it's own turn) even more so.
Pact of the Chain "...when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one attack with its reaction."
Investment of the Chain Master "As a Bonus Action, you can command the familiar to take the Attack action"
The Sphinx has got low AC (13), but solid health (24) for low levels, and you can grant it resistance to the damage of one attack via your reaction. It has a decent flight speed, thus giving you a better range, than with your whip. And on top of it the Sphinx has Magic Resistance and Burst of Ingenuity.
If you have the Alert origin feat, you can swap Initiative with your Sphinx of Wonder to let it act before you. It can then move up to a target, and if it does not kill it in it's own turn, it'll get a second shot on your turn. Plus you technically got two initiative rolls. You can grab Alert via the "Lessons from the First Ones" invocation.
Just for fairness, the timing for Quick Attack was discussed in Questions about Investment of the Chain Master. In my opinion, the familiar takes the Attack action during your turn, immediately after you take your Bonus Action, but the wording can be read the way you said as well.
The provision of any material component is separate from, and precedes, any attack that would bring about the spell’s effect.
Wether you throw a whip as part of True Strike effect doesn't invalidate the fact you were proficient with it at the moment of providing material component before the spell taking effect and actually making an attack in any way, shape or form.
Order of operations while you cast True Strike should be;
Result of making a ranged attack with your Pact of the Blade Whip as an Improvised Weapons as part of True Strike effect;
I believe the last Hexblade subclass in UA lets you make an attack as a Bonus Action when you cast a one action spell. It's not quite the same, but 2 attacks plus a multi-attack Eldritch Blast would be problematic.
The Pact of the Chain is not relevant to the True Strike conversation. True Strike does not have a range of Touch and thus has no interaction with familiars. It would be cool though if you could still copy a spell onto your familiar like in 3.x days.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
For the last bullet, would you allow dealing Necrotic or Psychic damage from Pact of the Blade, and the extra Radiant damage from True Strike at higher levels (5+)?
(I think this thread has a similar interaction: DAMAGE TYPES of True Strike and Shillelagh 2024 combo)
How on earth did this question turn into a discussion about throwing a Whip??? (o_O)
Every thread eventually becomes an argument about weapon juggling if it goes on long enough.
pronouns: he/she/they
Please read more carefully. I wrote it can attack twice in one round, not twice in your turn. One attack happens in your turn, as you forgo one of your attacks, respectively take your attack action to make the familiar attack as a reaction (Pact of the Chain), and the other happens outside of your turn as a result of you spending your bonus action (Investment of the Chain Master). Still, that's potentially 2 attacks in one round.
Every character has the potential to attack once on their turn and once as a reaction. This is nothing unique the Pact of the Chain familiars. It is unique to Pact of the Chain familiars versus standard familiars, but not "most starting characters". The raw damage is barely better than a raging barbarian with a greatsword. The cost for this is one of your attacks and the familiar's Reaction. It's probably worth it at low levels, but it doesn't scale.
The timing of the attack is disputed, per the thread TarodNet linked.
By contrast, True Strike will scale with character level.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
To be fair about Pact of the Blade not getting cantrip weaving, they already have a much stronger base Gish setup since they're using their casting stat for the weapon attacks, plus they get a lot more weapon support as they level, and finally since EB is functionally equivalent to ranged weapon attacks with AB, it'd be a bit broken to always cast it plus an extra weapon attack or two.
Harrowing Hex only works with 1+ spells, not cantrips. How do you do 2 attacks with only one bonus action, when your (magic) action is taken by Eldritch Blast? Afaik, Nick does not work with bonus actions.
What is relevant, and what is not is not yours to decide. I only showed the OP a way to get around easier at low tier. He can still swap to a whip, or etc. later in his career.