So, I'm having a heated discussion with my player about whether Shillelagh actually adds the +Wis to damage to all attacks with the enchanted club.
My stance is that it doesn't specifically say that the spells deal any damage, only changes the damage type and die of the weapon, while he insists that the cantrip does all the damage and not the weapon itself, thus it applies.
I'd love to hear your answers and maybe I'll even add a poll.
The might of the elements flows through you. You gain one of the following options of your choice.
Potent Spellcasting. Add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you deal with any Druid cantrip.
Primal Strike. Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with an attack roll using a weapon or a Beast form’s attack in Wild Shape, you can cause the target to take an extra 1d8 Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Thunder damage (choose when you hit).
A Club or Quarterstaff you are holding is imbued with nature’s power. For the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of melee attacks using that weapon, and the weapon’s damage die becomes a d8. If the attack deals damage, it can be Force damage or the weapon’s normal damage type (your choice).
The spell ends early if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.
Cantrip Upgrade. The damage die changes when you reach levels 5 (d10), 11 (d12), and 17 (2d6).
Shillelagh affects the weapon, changing the weapon die, weapon damage type, and attribute used. The Cantrip never deals damage. And Potent Spellcasting does not apply.
While Shillelagh is in effect, you can make a weapon attack and choose to use Wisdom or Strength for the attack and damage rolls. On a hit, the weapon will deal damage depending on the caster's character level, and the damage will be either Bludgeoning or Force (chosen with each strike). Once per turn, the Druid can use Primal Strike with the club to add 1D8 or 2D8 to the damage. This will be approximately the same damage on average or more for many levels, depending on the Druid's feat choices, unless the Druid somehow has access to Extra Attack.
TLDR; You are correct. You player is incorrect but has another option.
I agree with SmiteMakesRight_3_5. The damage from Shillelagh doesn't come from the cantrip itself but from the weapon attack made after casting it.
There are also a few threads in this subforum if you want to read more opinions on this topic, or related ones involving Potent Cantrip, Potent Spellcasting, or Radiant Soul, as well as Agonizing Blast and the (in)famous True Strike (and other weapon cantrips).
A quarterstaff would normally do 1d6+strmod for damage
Shillelagh says "you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength"
so I would read that as doing 1d8+spellmod(*) damage.
without needing potent spellcasting.
(*) spellmod is probably wismod, but if you take the GUIDE origin feat, you can select magic initiate/druid and select any spellcasting ability for your modifier. So if you want your warlock to use charisma with shillelagh, you could do it.
A quarterstaff would normally do 1d6+strmod for damage
Shillelagh says "you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength"
so I would read that as doing 1d8+spellmod(*) damage.
without needing potent spellcasting.
(*) spellmod is probably wismod, but if you take the GUIDE origin feat, you can select magic initiate/druid and select any spellcasting ability for your modifier. So if you want your warlock to use charisma with shillelagh, you could do it.
Potent Spellcasting is a Druid Class Feature so it is safe to assume Wisdom. With Potent Spellcasting (Level 7 Class Feature), that would be 1D10 + Wis + Wis damage. That will probably be a +4 Wisdom Modifier for level 7 and +5 from levels 8+. Primal Strike will make that 1D10 + Wis and 1D8 (Average 4.5) extra damage. At level 15, the Primal Strike increases that extra damage to 2D8 (average 9) damage.
So, I'm having a heated discussion with my player about whether Shillelagh actually adds the +Wis to damage to all attacks with the enchanted club.
My stance is that it doesn't specifically say that the spells deal any damage, only changes the damage type and die of the weapon, while he insists that the cantrip does all the damage and not the weapon itself, thus it applies.
I'd love to hear your answers and maybe I'll even add a poll.
Shillelagh affects the weapon, changing the weapon die, weapon damage type, and attribute used. The Cantrip never deals damage. And Potent Spellcasting does not apply.
While Shillelagh is in effect, you can make a weapon attack and choose to use Wisdom or Strength for the attack and damage rolls. On a hit, the weapon will deal damage depending on the caster's character level, and the damage will be either Bludgeoning or Force (chosen with each strike). Once per turn, the Druid can use Primal Strike with the club to add 1D8 or 2D8 to the damage. This will be approximately the same damage on average or more for many levels, depending on the Druid's feat choices, unless the Druid somehow has access to Extra Attack.
TLDR; You are correct. You player is incorrect but has another option.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
I agree with SmiteMakesRight_3_5. The damage from Shillelagh doesn't come from the cantrip itself but from the weapon attack made after casting it.
There are also a few threads in this subforum if you want to read more opinions on this topic, or related ones involving Potent Cantrip, Potent Spellcasting, or Radiant Soul, as well as Agonizing Blast and the (in)famous True Strike (and other weapon cantrips).
A quarterstaff would normally do 1d6+strmod for damage
Shillelagh says "you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength"
so I would read that as doing 1d8+spellmod(*) damage.
without needing potent spellcasting.
(*) spellmod is probably wismod, but if you take the GUIDE origin feat, you can select magic initiate/druid and select any spellcasting ability for your modifier. So if you want your warlock to use charisma with shillelagh, you could do it.
Potent Spellcasting is a Druid Class Feature so it is safe to assume Wisdom. With Potent Spellcasting (Level 7 Class Feature), that would be 1D10 + Wis + Wis damage. That will probably be a +4 Wisdom Modifier for level 7 and +5 from levels 8+. Primal Strike will make that 1D10 + Wis and 1D8 (Average 4.5) extra damage. At level 15, the Primal Strike increases that extra damage to 2D8 (average 9) damage.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.