Can I cast any spell while wielding a weapong? Do I have to sheathe the weapon to cast the spell? (would be one action) Do I have to store the weapon and draw the spellcasting focus to cast a spell? (would need to use two actions). What would be spellcasting focus in classes like eldritch knight?
To cast spells with the following components (according to the rules as written and confirmed by Sage Advice):
Somatic: Requires one free hand (and either a weapon or shield could be in the other) according to the rule on somatic components "If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures." This means that you cannot be holding your focus in this hand, according to RAW and RAI.
Material: Requires one free hand to access material components. That hand can be holding a focus.
Somatic and Material: One hand with materials or focus, according to the rule for material components: "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components."
In essence you need a free hand to cast spells with a Somatic component. So only having one item held in one hand and the other being empty. For spells with Material components you need a free hand to hold the material component. For spells with both Material and Somatic they can use the same (one) free hand.
I do not believe Eldritch Knight's get to use Spellcasting Focuses so you're limited to Component Pouches.
Edit: If you look at the focus equipment they're all class restricted. Arcane Focuses are Sorcerer Warlock or Wizard only. Druidic Focuses are Druid only. Bard's are instruments. Holy Symbols are Paladin and Cleric only. So Fighter has no option but to use Component Pouches.
It's not really stated in the Eldritch Knight description what it can use, which appears to mean that it cannot use a focus and must use a components pouch.
Eldritch knights, arcane tricksters, and rangers must use a component pouch.
Putting your weapon away uses 1 item interaction, and grabbing your focus/material uses an item interaction (using a component pouch will use your item interaction with each spell cast, but if you have a focus already in your hand, you do not need an item interaction (in case you were wondering the difference)). So switching from weapon to material would need 2 interactions.
It is commonly accepted that you can drop what you are holding to the ground without using your item interaction.
Versatile/two-handed weapons can always free a hand. The dual wielder feat can give you 2 interactions per turn. War caster feat will let you make somatic components without emptying your hand. Ruby of the war mage will let you use a weapon as a spellcasting focus.
Si as I see there is this consensus: Casting a spell with a somatic or component requirement demands you to have at least one hand free (you can have any other thing in the other hand like a two-hand weapon or a shield).
Casting a spell with a component requirement demands you to use your "free" interaction action (not your action).
You need free interaction action to sheathe a weapon, so you can't, in the same turn, sheathe the weapon and cast an spell with a component requirement (you could cast a somatic one do).
Dropping an item doesn't cost any action.
This takes me to another doubt. If i'm using a shield and a weapon (sword for example). Can I use my free action to sheathe the weapon and my action to sheathe the shield. So, in the next turn I would be able to draw another weapon (bow for example) and attack with it. Also, can I use a bow wearing a shield at the same time in any case?
This takes me to another doubt. If i'm using a shield and a weapon (sword for example). Can I use my free action to sheathe the weapon and my action to sheathe the shield. So, in the next turn I would be able to draw another weapon (bow for example) and attack with it. Also, can I use a bow wearing a shield at the same time in any case?
Yes, you can sheath your weapon and doff your shield in on action.
You can't use a bow while weilding a shield, it gets in the way.
grabbing your focus/material uses an item interaction (using a component pouch will use your item interaction with each spell cast, but if you have a focus already in your hand, you do not need an item interaction (in case you were wondering the difference)). So switching from weapon to material would need 2 interactions.
The dual wielder feat can give you 2 interactions per turn.
Those two are incorrect. Grabbing your focus/material components is part of the spellcasting action, and nowhere do the rules say it costs your object interaction or anything of the sort.
The Dual Wielder Feat does not give you 2 interactions per turn. It lets you draw, or stow, two one-handed weapons as a single weapon interaction (or whenever you'd be able to draw, or stow, one).
Casting a spell with a component requirement demands you to use your "free" interaction action (not your action).
You need free interaction action to sheathe a weapon, so you can't, in the same turn, sheathe the weapon and cast an spell with a component requirement (you could cast a somatic one do).
Again, this is incorrect. Casting a spell with material components requires you to have a free hand to either handle the components (which includes drawing from the pouch), or your spellcasting focus (which works exactly the same way, mechanically. The difference is flavor-wise: you "hold" the focus in a hand, while you "handle" the actual components from a pouch). It does not require an object interaction, mechanically. So you can, in the same turn, sheathe a weapon and a cast a spell with a material component, even if your other hand is holding a shield: 1) object interaction (stow weapon), 2) cast spell (includes handling material components or focus). This leaves you without a drawn weapon for Opportunity Attacks and such, and requires you to use your object interaction to draw your weapon next turn.
It doesn't say that anywhere. If you make an attack, you can use your object interaction as part of your attack, spellcasting or otherwise, to have access to the weapon, component or item you need to make the attack. That's why everyone is saying that dropping doesn't requires an object interaction so, you can get the item you need. Anyway you look at it, it is a partial house rule.
Hi Tonio, thanks for you answer but. Where does it say that "grabbing your focus/material components is part of the spellcasting action"?
I'm not entirely sure it's actually spelled out anywhere, but how 5e's rules work, if it doesn't say you need to, you don't need to. Otherwise, all sorts of unwritten requirements could be inferred, like "you can't attack with a halberd in a 10'x10' corridor", "you can't speak while under the effects of Stinking Cloud", "you might be unable to cast some spells with Somatic components if you're missing a finger, since some spells' somatic components might involve that finger", etc.
The DM is certainly free to rule that way in all those circumstances, including requiring an object interaction to draw material components, but none of that is required by the rules.
Additionally, consider that requiring an object interaction to draw, and presumably stow, material components for spellcasting means that it is impossible for a spellcaster to cast spells with different material components turn after turn, since each casting would require two object interactions, one to draw, one to stow. It would work with a focus, since they wouldn't have to stow it, but not with a component pouch.
Tonio, that's why real casters get a spell focus. So they don't have to pull out a shiny bauble for each spell they cast that requires a unique non consumable component. ;P
If you aren't a dedicated caster, you pay the price .
Tonio, that's why real casters get a spell focus. So they don't have to pull out a shiny bauble for each spell they cast that requires a unique non consumable component. ;P
If you aren't a dedicated caster, you pay the price .
Except the rules say the focus works exactly the same way, mechanically, as a component pouch. :D
Tonio, that's why real casters get a spell focus. So they don't have to pull out a shiny bauble for each spell they cast that requires a unique non consumable component. ;P
If you aren't a dedicated caster, you pay the price .
Component pouch and spell focus are both listed as equivalent options for all the "dedicated casters" in the PHB.
You guys are both forgetting that a spell focus for a caster can also be the weapon they are wielding and even something like a magic hat hat of wizardry , while a component pouch can't and may have to take the place of a held weapon.
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Can I cast any spell while wielding a weapong? Do I have to sheathe the weapon to cast the spell? (would be one action) Do I have to store the weapon and draw the spellcasting focus to cast a spell? (would need to use two actions). What would be spellcasting focus in classes like eldritch knight?
Thanks for responses.
To cast spells with the following components (according to the rules as written and confirmed by Sage Advice):
Somatic: Requires one free hand (and either a weapon or shield could be in the other) according to the rule on somatic components "If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures." This means that you cannot be holding your focus in this hand, according to RAW and RAI.
Material: Requires one free hand to access material components. That hand can be holding a focus.
Somatic and Material: One hand with materials or focus, according to the rule for material components: "A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components."
This is a commonly misunderstood rule.
In essence you need a free hand to cast spells with a Somatic component. So only having one item held in one hand and the other being empty.
For spells with Material components you need a free hand to hold the material component.
For spells with both Material and Somatic they can use the same (one) free hand.
I do not believe Eldritch Knight's get to use Spellcasting Focuses so you're limited to Component Pouches.
You should maybe give the other thread that's going on right now a look (that's proving to be a bit divisive):
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/41900-question-about-how-many-hands-are-needed-to-cast
Edit:
If you look at the focus equipment they're all class restricted. Arcane Focuses are Sorcerer Warlock or Wizard only. Druidic Focuses are Druid only. Bard's are instruments. Holy Symbols are Paladin and Cleric only.
So Fighter has no option but to use Component Pouches.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
It's not really stated in the Eldritch Knight description what it can use, which appears to mean that it cannot use a focus and must use a components pouch.
Eldritch knights, arcane tricksters, and rangers must use a component pouch.
Putting your weapon away uses 1 item interaction, and grabbing your focus/material uses an item interaction (using a component pouch will use your item interaction with each spell cast, but if you have a focus already in your hand, you do not need an item interaction (in case you were wondering the difference)). So switching from weapon to material would need 2 interactions.
It is commonly accepted that you can drop what you are holding to the ground without using your item interaction.
Versatile/two-handed weapons can always free a hand. The dual wielder feat can give you 2 interactions per turn. War caster feat will let you make somatic components without emptying your hand. Ruby of the war mage will let you use a weapon as a spellcasting focus.
Si as I see there is this consensus:
Casting a spell with a somatic or component requirement demands you to have at least one hand free (you can have any other thing in the other hand like a two-hand weapon or a shield).
Casting a spell with a component requirement demands you to use your "free" interaction action (not your action).
You need free interaction action to sheathe a weapon, so you can't, in the same turn, sheathe the weapon and cast an spell with a component requirement (you could cast a somatic one do).
Dropping an item doesn't cost any action.
This takes me to another doubt. If i'm using a shield and a weapon (sword for example). Can I use my free action to sheathe the weapon and my action to sheathe the shield. So, in the next turn I would be able to draw another weapon (bow for example) and attack with it. Also, can I use a bow wearing a shield at the same time in any case?
Yes, you can sheath your weapon and doff your shield in on action.
You can't use a bow while weilding a shield, it gets in the way.
Mmmmmmm I see I didn't explain it properly.
I asked the shield thing because I don't know if doff = doff and sheathe. Or if you have to doff the shield and take your free action to sheathe it.
I would assume that using your action to doff your shield is effectively sheathing it - not just unstrapping it and holding it in your hand.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Thank you guys.
Those two are incorrect. Grabbing your focus/material components is part of the spellcasting action, and nowhere do the rules say it costs your object interaction or anything of the sort.
The Dual Wielder Feat does not give you 2 interactions per turn. It lets you draw, or stow, two one-handed weapons as a single weapon interaction (or whenever you'd be able to draw, or stow, one).
Again, this is incorrect. Casting a spell with material components requires you to have a free hand to either handle the components (which includes drawing from the pouch), or your spellcasting focus (which works exactly the same way, mechanically. The difference is flavor-wise: you "hold" the focus in a hand, while you "handle" the actual components from a pouch). It does not require an object interaction, mechanically. So you can, in the same turn, sheathe a weapon and a cast a spell with a material component, even if your other hand is holding a shield: 1) object interaction (stow weapon), 2) cast spell (includes handling material components or focus). This leaves you without a drawn weapon for Opportunity Attacks and such, and requires you to use your object interaction to draw your weapon next turn.
Hi Tonio, thanks for you answer but.
Where does it say that "grabbing your focus/material components is part of the spellcasting action"?
It doesn't say that anywhere. If you make an attack, you can use your object interaction as part of your attack, spellcasting or otherwise, to have access to the weapon, component or item you need to make the attack. That's why everyone is saying that dropping doesn't requires an object interaction so, you can get the item you need. Anyway you look at it, it is a partial house rule.
I'm not entirely sure it's actually spelled out anywhere, but how 5e's rules work, if it doesn't say you need to, you don't need to. Otherwise, all sorts of unwritten requirements could be inferred, like "you can't attack with a halberd in a 10'x10' corridor", "you can't speak while under the effects of Stinking Cloud", "you might be unable to cast some spells with Somatic components if you're missing a finger, since some spells' somatic components might involve that finger", etc.
The DM is certainly free to rule that way in all those circumstances, including requiring an object interaction to draw material components, but none of that is required by the rules.
Additionally, consider that requiring an object interaction to draw, and presumably stow, material components for spellcasting means that it is impossible for a spellcaster to cast spells with different material components turn after turn, since each casting would require two object interactions, one to draw, one to stow. It would work with a focus, since they wouldn't have to stow it, but not with a component pouch.
Tonio, that's why real casters get a spell focus. So they don't have to pull out a shiny bauble for each spell they cast that requires a unique non consumable component. ;P
If you aren't a dedicated caster, you pay the price .
Except the rules say the focus works exactly the same way, mechanically, as a component pouch. :D
Component pouch and spell focus are both listed as equivalent options for all the "dedicated casters" in the PHB.
You guys are both forgetting that a spell focus for a caster can also be the weapon they are wielding and even something like a magic hat hat of wizardry , while a component pouch can't and may have to take the place of a held weapon.