Green-Flame Blade doesn't use a separate attack action:
As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack with a weapon against one creature within the spell's range, otherwise the spell fails.
If you cast the spell, you can make the attack.
You do have a different problem: if you cast a spell as a bonus action, all your other spells that turn must be cantrips with a casting time of 1 action:
A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
If you quicken Green-Flame Blade, you can't cast Scorching Ray because it's not a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action. However if you quicken Scorching Ray instead, you can cast Green-Flame Blade using your action.
I should clarify. The specific question about Green-Flame Blade is if it requires me to have an available melee attack action.
Essentially, he is telling me that if I use my regular action for anything, I can't use Green-Flame Blade as a bonus action. It seems that he is thinking that GFB is using both my attack and my spell casting action for a turn.
I should clarify. The specific question about Green-Flame Blade is if it requires me to have an available melee attack action.
Essentially, he is telling me that if I use my regular action for anything, I can't use Green-Flame Blade as a bonus action. It seems that he is thinking that GFB is using both my attack and my spell casting action for a turn.
I understand. That's why I linked to that ruling: someone asked if you can combine Two-Weapon Fighting and Green-Flame Blade, and Jeremy is saying that you can't, because Green-Flame Blade uses the Cast A Spell action, not the Attack action. Therefore the melee attack in GFB doesn't use the attack action, which is what your DM is claiming.
Looking for confirmation on a ruling from my DM.
If I have already used my action on my turn to cast Scorching Ray (or any other spell), can I use Quicken Spell to cast Green-Flame Blade?
My DM rules it as no because I do not have any attack actions left, with which to make the melee attack component.
Green-Flame Blade doesn't use a separate attack action:
If you cast the spell, you can make the attack.
You do have a different problem: if you cast a spell as a bonus action, all your other spells that turn must be cantrips with a casting time of 1 action:
If you quicken Green-Flame Blade, you can't cast Scorching Ray because it's not a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action. However if you quicken Scorching Ray instead, you can cast Green-Flame Blade using your action.
So, if I cast a spell using my regular action already during my turn, I can't use Quicken on a cantrip?
Also, is there a ruling I can cite when making the case to my DM
I should clarify. The specific question about Green-Flame Blade is if it requires me to have an available melee attack action.
Essentially, he is telling me that if I use my regular action for anything, I can't use Green-Flame Blade as a bonus action. It seems that he is thinking that GFB is using both my attack and my spell casting action for a turn.
Thank you.