So I created a character with the randomizes for fun and it popped out a Mastermind/Hexblade Warlock. While looking over his abilities I wondered if you could cast Hex and put the Hexblade’s curse on a target at the same time. I realized both were a bonus action, but I thought that maybe you could upgrade a bonus action to an action. (Only Hex is concentration, I checked, and the Hexblade curse is not a spell) I looked through the basic rules and players handbook but didn’t find anything. Could I get a little help?
Unfortunately there is no way outside of DM permission to get both on the same turn.
HERE it clearly states that a spell with casting time of a Bonus Action can only be cast as a Bonus Action.
There is no specific entry saying that a Feature with activation of a Bonus Action has to be used as a bonus action in the printed rules, but THIS Sage Advice entry pretty much confirms the same principle for spell applies to everything else.
Hope this helps :)
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Realistically, I don't see why a bonus action can't be made as an action, since bonus actions are supposed to take less time than an action.
That's only true when casting spells. There's no general rule that says bonus actions are always faster than actions (and actions don't have defined durations anyways). Either way, this is one of those times where the rules are there because of gameplay reasons. If you can convert bonus actions into actions then the number of choices you have to consider to during your turn goes up. Keeping gameplay from slowing down was a big priority in 5e's design.
It was recently addressed in a Q&A by Jeremy Crawford. Basically it came down to "it's probably fine to do so, but if you're going to a level of gameplay where your focus is on the "action economy" it might get in the way of the narrative of the game". (I'm paraphrasing here).
I would agree with this sentiment. If you're in a position where it so happens that you can only take two actions which happen to be bonus actions (say you are an Eldritch Knight and you want to cast a bonus action spell as well as using Second Wind) I think I would be fine with it as a DM. If, however, you're building an active combo that revolves around two bonus actions being used in a single turn I'd say no.
To add to that, you should probably specifically disallow using the same bonus action twice in a turn, or any two bonus actions which use the same spell/feature - like casting Spiritual Weapon and then moving it.
I am late, but that doesn't work for a different reason because you cannot cast two leveled spells in the same turn.
You are very late, but thanks for necroing this thread for an off topic (thread only involved 1 spell) and technically incorrect (you can cast a second leveled spell with action surge or as a reaction) comment.
I just started running a game in 5e and ran into a situation that had these problems. The party cleric had (on 2 different turns) cast flaming sphere and spiritual weapon. During a turn where both were active he wanted to move both. I allowed him to do using the bonus action and action, but then only allowed him his movement after that. Any opinions on that scenario!
Most of the time letting players convert a bonus action into an action is harmless as long as you don't let them use the same bonus action twice like RegentCorreon pointed out.
The damage of both spells together is comparable to one plus a cantrip, so I don't see any major problems with it. I think it only becomes an issue if the Cleric is gaining a big advantage over other players, which might make it less fun for them.
should an eldritch be allowed to cast Misty Step (Bonus action as an action to side step cantrip requirement) then Thunderstep (action surge action) to get the party member out of trouble.
should an eldritch be allowed to cast Misty Step (Bonus action as an action to side step cantrip requirement) then Thunderstep (action surge action) to get the party member out of trouble.
definitely not RAW but would you allow it?
That would not work, but if the spellcaster has access to enough spell slots, they could cast thunderstep twice. See also here:
To make sure this is super duper clear … The rule on bonus action spells has nothing to do with Action Surge. You could, for example, use Action Surge and then cast fireball twice. The rule on bonus action spells applies only if you cast a bonus action spell, period. #DnD
EACH does 4d12 Force Damage. EACH crits at 18 or above on the d20 roll. EACH when they crit does ANOTHER 8d12 Force Damage (for a Total of 12 d12 Force Damage)... PER STRIKE that Hits and Crits.
On your turn, you can move it up to 30 feet and make 2 melee spell attacks as a Bonus Action.
That's 288 POTENTIAL points of FORCE Damage.
Now imagine you can trade your ACTION down to a BONUS ACTION.
Now you have TWO Bonus Actions.
Now you can attack with it 4 times... per turn.
That is 576 points of FORCE Damage, potentially, per turn. Force Damage is THE type of damage that is the LEAST guarded or resisted against. It is THE most devestating type of damage in the game.
For reliable damage, that absolutely destroys stuff, Blade of Disaster is one of THE most destructive spells in the game. It works against creatures, structures, and loose items. Even Meteor Swarm doesn't do that much damage.
You could very literally One-Shot many of the deities, planar beings, and ancient dragons. You could literally One-Shot the CR 30 Legendary Dragon monster Aspect of Tiamat. You can potentially kill TIAMAT... AND the Tarrasque... in only TWO... Rounds.
That's why. :-) Well, one reason why.
In 4th Edition D&D you could trade an Action down to a Bonus Action.
It was one of THE worst ideas WotC ever came up with.
It was one of the PRIMARY reasons why 4th Edition was such a nightmarish failure. :-)
So I created a character with the randomizes for fun and it popped out a Mastermind/Hexblade Warlock. While looking over his abilities I wondered if you could cast Hex and put the Hexblade’s curse on a target at the same time. I realized both were a bonus action, but I thought that maybe you could upgrade a bonus action to an action. (Only Hex is concentration, I checked, and the Hexblade curse is not a spell) I looked through the basic rules and players handbook but didn’t find anything. Could I get a little help?
Hi MacSambo19 o/
Unfortunately there is no way outside of DM permission to get both on the same turn.
HERE it clearly states that a spell with casting time of a Bonus Action can only be cast as a Bonus Action.
There is no specific entry saying that a Feature with activation of a Bonus Action has to be used as a bonus action in the printed rules, but THIS Sage Advice entry pretty much confirms the same principle for spell applies to everything else.
Hope this helps :)
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Realistically, I don't see why a bonus action can't be made as an action, since bonus actions are supposed to take less time than an action.
But by the rules, bonus actions can only be made as bonus actions unless a feature says otherwise.
Yup. RIP all those low level clerics who wish they could attack with spiritual weapon twice.
That does help. Thanks!
That's only true when casting spells. There's no general rule that says bonus actions are always faster than actions (and actions don't have defined durations anyways). Either way, this is one of those times where the rules are there because of gameplay reasons. If you can convert bonus actions into actions then the number of choices you have to consider to during your turn goes up. Keeping gameplay from slowing down was a big priority in 5e's design.
It was recently addressed in a Q&A by Jeremy Crawford. Basically it came down to "it's probably fine to do so, but if you're going to a level of gameplay where your focus is on the "action economy" it might get in the way of the narrative of the game". (I'm paraphrasing here).
I would agree with this sentiment. If you're in a position where it so happens that you can only take two actions which happen to be bonus actions (say you are an Eldritch Knight and you want to cast a bonus action spell as well as using Second Wind) I think I would be fine with it as a DM. If, however, you're building an active combo that revolves around two bonus actions being used in a single turn I'd say no.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
To add to that, you should probably specifically disallow using the same bonus action twice in a turn, or any two bonus actions which use the same spell/feature - like casting Spiritual Weapon and then moving it.
I am late, but that doesn't work for a different reason because you cannot cast two leveled spells in the same turn.
You are very late, but thanks for necroing this thread for an off topic (thread only involved 1 spell) and technically incorrect (you can cast a second leveled spell with action surge or as a reaction) comment.
I just started running a game in 5e and ran into a situation that had these problems. The party cleric had (on 2 different turns) cast flaming sphere and spiritual weapon. During a turn where both were active he wanted to move both. I allowed him to do using the bonus action and action, but then only allowed him his movement after that. Any opinions on that scenario!
Most of the time letting players convert a bonus action into an action is harmless as long as you don't let them use the same bonus action twice like RegentCorreon pointed out.
The damage of both spells together is comparable to one plus a cantrip, so I don't see any major problems with it. I think it only becomes an issue if the Cleric is gaining a big advantage over other players, which might make it less fun for them.
What do you think of this scenario.
Party Wizard surrounded and
in trouble and needs help or going down.
should an eldritch be allowed to cast Misty Step (Bonus action as an action to side step cantrip requirement) then Thunderstep (action surge action) to get the party member out of trouble.
definitely not RAW but would you allow it?
I would not allow it because Misty Step requires a bonus action to cast and you cant use bonus action as an action instead, unless noted otherwise.
That would not work, but if the spellcaster has access to enough spell slots, they could cast thunderstep twice. See also here:
https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/1151294046758825984
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
By RAW, no, but I allow it at my table.
By the rules Actions cannot be exchanged for Bonus Actions. If that is allowed it is a house rule that changes the rules of 5e D&D.
9th Level Spell Blade of Disaster:
Casting Time. 1 Bonus Action
Concentration. for up to 1 minute.
2 Melee Spell Attacks.
EACH does 4d12 Force Damage. EACH crits at 18 or above on the d20 roll. EACH when they crit does ANOTHER 8d12 Force Damage (for a Total of 12 d12 Force Damage)... PER STRIKE that Hits and Crits.
On your turn, you can move it up to 30 feet and make 2 melee spell attacks as a Bonus Action.
That's 288 POTENTIAL points of FORCE Damage.
Now imagine you can trade your ACTION down to a BONUS ACTION.
Now you have TWO Bonus Actions.
Now you can attack with it 4 times... per turn.
That is 576 points of FORCE Damage, potentially, per turn. Force Damage is THE type of damage that is the LEAST guarded or resisted against. It is THE most devestating type of damage in the game.
For reliable damage, that absolutely destroys stuff, Blade of Disaster is one of THE most destructive spells in the game. It works against creatures, structures, and loose items. Even Meteor Swarm doesn't do that much damage.
You could very literally One-Shot many of the deities, planar beings, and ancient dragons. You could literally One-Shot the CR 30 Legendary Dragon monster Aspect of Tiamat. You can potentially kill TIAMAT... AND the Tarrasque... in only TWO... Rounds.
That's why. :-) Well, one reason why.
In 4th Edition D&D you could trade an Action down to a Bonus Action.
It was one of THE worst ideas WotC ever came up with.
It was one of the PRIMARY reasons why 4th Edition was such a nightmarish failure. :-)
Except you're unlikely to crit and roll max damage on all 4 occasions, so the real damage is always going to be massively less.
15% chance of getting crit damage with each attack.
35% chance of getting normal damage with each attack (assuming 50% chance of hitting the target, based on AC vs bonus to it).
But it is a 9th level damaging spell, so you'd expect it to do a massive amount of damage - to a SINGLE target.