I have recently started a home game again, first one in 5e, and I was under the impression from my reading that you could only cast one spell per round, even if that spell is listed as a bonus action. One of my first time players has brought up several online D&D streams were they are allowed to cast multiple spells in the same round. This player plays a warlock and believes that he should be able to cast eldrich blast twice in one round, once as an action and once as a bonus action, per these online streams.
Am I missing a rule somewhere, where this is possible?
You can only cast a spell as a bonus action if it has a cast time of '1 bonus action', Eldritch Blast does not (unless they've multiclassed into Sorcerer and are quickening the spell - don't think there's another way?..). He could, however, cast Hex as a bonus action and Eldritch Blast as an action. The rule basically follows that you can only cast one levelled spell per turn.
Perhaps your player has misunderstood how Eldritch Blast works at lv 5 (10, 15) where there are multiple projectiles per casting.
If you’re a sorcerer who happens to have eldritch blast somehow, you can quicken it and cast it as a bonus action. You can then cast it again as an action, because eldritch blast is a cantrip.
To explain: the actual rule is that if you cast a spell as a bonus action, the only other spells you can cast that turn are cantrips with a cast time of one action.
So if you quicken a spell, you can get two spells cast, one of which has to be a one-action cantrip, which eldritch blast is.
If you’re a fighter with action surge, you can use that to cast two one-action spells with no restrictions (although if you’ve done a bonus action spell, the one-action spells still have to be cantrips).
[EDIT] SwiftSign raises a very important point that I didn’t explicitly mention: you can only cast a spell as a bonus action if its listed cast time is one bonus action, or if some specific feature lets you do so (like the sorcerer’s Quicken Spell metamagic that I mentioned).
There are a few ways to cast multiple spells per round:
Reaction spells (even when it is not your turn it is still the same round).
Any bonus action spell (spell must have casting time of 1 bonus action or allowed by a feature) and a cantrip (must be a cantrip) as an action (can't cast reaction spells until turn ends, but can still be this round).
Action surge lets you cast 2 action spells (not required to be cantrips unless a spell is cast as bonus action, then both must be cantrips).
War caster feat let's you cast action spells as attack of opportunity (follows reaction spell rules).
The rules can seem a little complicated, but basically only bonus action spellcasting has a special restriction (which is that when you cast BA spell's the only other spells you are allowed to cast that turn are cantrips as an action). All spells can only be cast with their specific timing unless a feature allows otherwise.
A spellcaster can cast one spell of spell level 1-9 per turn, regardless of what type of action is used to cast it.
If the level 1-9 spell being cast is one which has the casting time of 1 bonus action, if they should so choose, the spellcaster can also cast a cantrip using their action.
A Sorcerer may use the Quickened Spell metamagic feature to cast any spell (either cantrip or leveled)with the casting time of 1 action as a bonus action.
Afterward, per the main spellcasting rule, the Sorcerer may also use their action to cast a cantrip as normal.
If the Sorcerer uses Quickened Spell to cast a cantrip as a bonus action, they may not cast a level 1-9 spell using their action (to prevent abuse of Quickened Spell being cheaper when used on cantrips). They may instead cast two cantrips (action & bonus) in this way.
A spellcaster that also has the Action Surge feature from levels in Fighter may use this feature to cast a level 1-9 spell even if they have cast a level 1-9 spell using their normal action (not bonus action).
This is the only way that a spellcaster can cast more than one level 1-9 spell in a single turn.
The caster may cast multiple cantrips in this way as well.
A spellcaster with the War Caster feat may cast a level 1-9 spell with a casting time of one action, which targets only one creature, as a reaction when another creature provokes an Opportunity Attack from the caster.
A spellcaster with Illusionist's Bracers, when casting a cantrip with their action, may cast the same cantrip again as a bonus action.
10:1 your player doesn't understand the rules on bonus action spellcasting, and/or they are watching people whom play with homebrew rules.
Unless they're also a Sorcerer with Quickened Spell, have Action Surge from levels in Fighter, and/or have that magic item... they're not allowed to cast Eldritch Blast twice in the same turn.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
A spellcaster can cast one spell of spell level 1-9 per turn, regardless of what type of action is used to cast it.
That is not a rule. It's often a consequence of other rules, but the only actual rule limiting spellcasting specifically is the Bonus Action casting rule. Aside from that, the only limit is the action economy, which is why Action Surge can be used to cast multiple leveled spells.
The biggest thing here, of course, is reactions. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from casting a 3rd-level spell with your action and a 3rd-level spell with your reaction in the same turn, provided you haven't cast a leveled spell with a bonus action. There aren't very many spells that you can cast with a reaction, but two that could easily come into play with regularity are Counterspell, to counter another caster's attempt to counter the spell you're casting with your action, and Shield, to defend against an Attack of Opportunity.
I would point out for eldritch blast something that was raised in the first response that should be reiterated and explained in more detail:
A warlock can cast eldritch blast once per round with an action (without intervening circumstances such as quickened spell), but gains additional blasts at various levels (5th, 11th, and 17th). Unlike most cantrips, when Eldritch blast improves, you don't simply gain dice, you gain additional attacks with it. Depending on the stream that your player has been watching, the campaign may have been between 5th and 11th level, and the player was simply taking both attacks available to them at that time.
A spellcaster can cast one spell of spell level 1-9 per turn, regardless of what type of action is used to cast it.
That is not a rule. It's often a consequence of other rules, but the only actual rule limiting spellcasting specifically is the Bonus Action casting rule. Aside from that, the only limit is the action economy, which is why Action Surge can be used to cast multiple leveled spells. (1)
The biggest thing here, of course, is reactions. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from casting a 3rd-level spell with your action and a 3rd-level spell with your reaction in the same turn, provided you haven't cast a leveled spell with a bonus action. There aren't very many spells that you can cast with a reaction, but two that could easily come into play with regularity are Counterspell, to counter another caster's attempt to counter the spell you're casting with your action, and Shield, to defend against an Attack of Opportunity. (2)
(1) That is why I said it was long-form, and didn't just quote the PHB... it is the basic rule because that is the logical conclusion of the aggregated rules. I very clearly laid out the possible scenarios, and specifically addressed Action Surge already.
(2) Reaction spells, at their functional baseline, cannot be cast on your turn. I know you already know this, so I'm just gonna explain for others. Reactions are only taken in response to something that a different creature does. That typically necessitates that a reaction ability is only eligible for use on another creatures turn, not your own. The two scenarios you mentioned are very good examples that break the mold. Feather Fall after provoking an opportunity attack that somehow knocks you off a cliff would be another one.
There's nothing incorrect in what I've said. The OP is asking about a more specific scenario, and that's what I addressed.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Sigred is wrong both that only one leveled spell can be cast on your turn ((see Action Surge) and that leveled spell reactions can’t be cast on your own turn (see Warcaster if a creature provoked you on your turn, see Feather Fall). The others have summarized correctly.
The rule is pretty straightforward in the book. Quit trying to summarize/explain it, and instead quote it, and all will be clear.
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.
That's it, that's the whole rule in question. You can cast whatever spells you have slots for/prepared/have features for, in whatever way those spells tell you to cast them, with whatever actions those spells provide for. The only rule you need to keep in mind is, if you cast any spell using a bonus action (or plan to cast any spell using a bonus action), then the only other spell that can be cast (or that were already cast) that turn is a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
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Which had already been stated clearly by others. Why would I just parrot what everyone already knew we were talking about? Spellcasting as a reaction is already irrelevant to the bonus action rule. The OP wanted to know about situations pertaining to Eldritch Blast, and how it might be cast more than once in a player's turn. There are zero possible circumstances in which a player can use a reaction to cast that spell on their turn.
The OP has their answers. I'm done here. [REDACTED]
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Hello everyone! Just a reminder to ensure that the content of your post contributes to the conversation at hand, and to refrain from commentary on another user's intent or personal character. Thank you all for contributing to the community!
I would point out for eldritch blast something that was raised in the first response that should be reiterated and explained in more detail:
A warlock can cast eldritch blast once per round with an action (without intervening circumstances such as quickened spell), but gains additional blasts at various levels (5th, 11th, and 17th). Unlike most cantrips, when Eldritch blast improves, you don't simply gain dice, you gain additional attacks with it. Depending on the stream that your player has been watching, the campaign may have been between 5th and 11th level, and the player was simply taking both attacks available to them at that time.
This is a good point and could have contributed to the confusion.
As for long form of the spellcasting rules it is actually shorter and simpler than sigred put it:
Spells must be cast using their normal casting time unless a specific rule or feature says otherwise.
If a spell is cast using a bonus action, you can not cast any other spell in the same turn except a cantrip cast as an action.
That is it. No rule preventing casting multiple spells followed by 4.5 exceptions. Just 1 rule that limits which spells can be cast if specific conditions are met. (Sigred also didn't mention cantrips in multiple places where cantrips should be mentioned which is another reason why a long list of exceptions is a bad format).
For me, the key to understanding this rule was that it was not meant to restrict spellcasting in general. The rule was meant to apply specifically to bonus action spells. If a bonus action spell is not being cast, then you may cast whatever your action economy allows for.
Thank you, came here to clarify if a sorcerer could cast two fireballs in one turn using quickened spell. As I couldn’t readily find in the sorcerer section of either the PHB or the Basic rules where this argument is stemming from, and it just seems that just from the sections I read it means that one could simply use quickened spell as they wanted
Thank you, came here to clarify if a sorcerer could cast two fireballs in one turn using quickened spell. As I couldn’t readily find in the sorcerer section of either the PHB or the Basic rules where this argument is stemming from, and it just seems that just from the sections I read it means that one could simply use quickened spell as they wanted
Short answer: no.
Long answer: the spellcasting rules chapter (not the class chapter) about casting times.
I know this is an old thread, but rules like this are why I loathe 5e. I get it that they're trying to keep things from getting OP but man this is lame. I was getting my butt kicked as a wizard/cleric and tried to cast invisibility and healing word in the same round. Nope. LAME. Yet you can cast a cantrip in the same round as casting a spell as a bonus action? Great so it's going to be generally offensive - usually a bonus action spell plus an attack cantrip. I cannot tell you how much I loathe 5e. No words for it.
OH! And I can't cast any other spell - not even a heal or something - without breaking invisibility? I mean nerf much?
I have recently started a home game again, first one in 5e, and I was under the impression from my reading that you could only cast one spell per round, even if that spell is listed as a bonus action. One of my first time players has brought up several online D&D streams were they are allowed to cast multiple spells in the same round. This player plays a warlock and believes that he should be able to cast eldrich blast twice in one round, once as an action and once as a bonus action, per these online streams.
Am I missing a rule somewhere, where this is possible?
Thank you for your help.
You can only cast a spell as a bonus action if it has a cast time of '1 bonus action', Eldritch Blast does not (unless they've multiclassed into Sorcerer and are quickening the spell - don't think there's another way?..). He could, however, cast Hex as a bonus action and Eldritch Blast as an action. The rule basically follows that you can only cast one levelled spell per turn.
Perhaps your player has misunderstood how Eldritch Blast works at lv 5 (10, 15) where there are multiple projectiles per casting.
If you’re a sorcerer who happens to have eldritch blast somehow, you can quicken it and cast it as a bonus action. You can then cast it again as an action, because eldritch blast is a cantrip.
To explain: the actual rule is that if you cast a spell as a bonus action, the only other spells you can cast that turn are cantrips with a cast time of one action.
So if you quicken a spell, you can get two spells cast, one of which has to be a one-action cantrip, which eldritch blast is.
If you’re a fighter with action surge, you can use that to cast two one-action spells with no restrictions (although if you’ve done a bonus action spell, the one-action spells still have to be cantrips).
[EDIT] SwiftSign raises a very important point that I didn’t explicitly mention: you can only cast a spell as a bonus action if its listed cast time is one bonus action, or if some specific feature lets you do so (like the sorcerer’s Quicken Spell metamagic that I mentioned).
There are a few ways to cast multiple spells per round:
The rules can seem a little complicated, but basically only bonus action spellcasting has a special restriction (which is that when you cast BA spell's the only other spells you are allowed to cast that turn are cantrips as an action). All spells can only be cast with their specific timing unless a feature allows otherwise.
Long-form rule:
10:1 your player doesn't understand the rules on bonus action spellcasting, and/or they are watching people whom play with homebrew rules.
Unless they're also a Sorcerer with Quickened Spell, have Action Surge from levels in Fighter, and/or have that magic item... they're not allowed to cast Eldritch Blast twice in the same turn.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
That is not a rule. It's often a consequence of other rules, but the only actual rule limiting spellcasting specifically is the Bonus Action casting rule. Aside from that, the only limit is the action economy, which is why Action Surge can be used to cast multiple leveled spells.
The biggest thing here, of course, is reactions. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from casting a 3rd-level spell with your action and a 3rd-level spell with your reaction in the same turn, provided you haven't cast a leveled spell with a bonus action. There aren't very many spells that you can cast with a reaction, but two that could easily come into play with regularity are Counterspell, to counter another caster's attempt to counter the spell you're casting with your action, and Shield, to defend against an Attack of Opportunity.
I would point out for eldritch blast something that was raised in the first response that should be reiterated and explained in more detail:
A warlock can cast eldritch blast once per round with an action (without intervening circumstances such as quickened spell), but gains additional blasts at various levels (5th, 11th, and 17th). Unlike most cantrips, when Eldritch blast improves, you don't simply gain dice, you gain additional attacks with it. Depending on the stream that your player has been watching, the campaign may have been between 5th and 11th level, and the player was simply taking both attacks available to them at that time.
(1) That is why I said it was long-form, and didn't just quote the PHB... it is the basic rule because that is the logical conclusion of the aggregated rules. I very clearly laid out the possible scenarios, and specifically addressed Action Surge already.
(2) Reaction spells, at their functional baseline, cannot be cast on your turn. I know you already know this, so I'm just gonna explain for others. Reactions are only taken in response to something that a different creature does. That typically necessitates that a reaction ability is only eligible for use on another creatures turn, not your own. The two scenarios you mentioned are very good examples that break the mold. Feather Fall after provoking an opportunity attack that somehow knocks you off a cliff would be another one.
There's nothing incorrect in what I've said. The OP is asking about a more specific scenario, and that's what I addressed.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Sigred is wrong both that only one leveled spell can be cast on your turn ((see Action Surge) and that leveled spell reactions can’t be cast on your own turn (see Warcaster if a creature provoked you on your turn, see Feather Fall). The others have summarized correctly.
The rule is pretty straightforward in the book. Quit trying to summarize/explain it, and instead quote it, and all will be clear.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
[REDACTED - Response to Deleted Post]
Here's the rule:
That's it, that's the whole rule in question. You can cast whatever spells you have slots for/prepared/have features for, in whatever way those spells tell you to cast them, with whatever actions those spells provide for. The only rule you need to keep in mind is, if you cast any spell using a bonus action (or plan to cast any spell using a bonus action), then the only other spell that can be cast (or that were already cast) that turn is a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Which had already been stated clearly by others. Why would I just parrot what everyone already knew we were talking about? Spellcasting as a reaction is already irrelevant to the bonus action rule. The OP wanted to know about situations pertaining to Eldritch Blast, and how it might be cast more than once in a player's turn. There are zero possible circumstances in which a player can use a reaction to cast that spell on their turn.
The OP has their answers. I'm done here. [REDACTED]
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Hello everyone! Just a reminder to ensure that the content of your post contributes to the conversation at hand, and to refrain from commentary on another user's intent or personal character. Thank you all for contributing to the community!
This is a good point and could have contributed to the confusion.
As for long form of the spellcasting rules it is actually shorter and simpler than sigred put it:
That is it. No rule preventing casting multiple spells followed by 4.5 exceptions. Just 1 rule that limits which spells can be cast if specific conditions are met. (Sigred also didn't mention cantrips in multiple places where cantrips should be mentioned which is another reason why a long list of exceptions is a bad format).
For me, the key to understanding this rule was that it was not meant to restrict spellcasting in general. The rule was meant to apply specifically to bonus action spells. If a bonus action spell is not being cast, then you may cast whatever your action economy allows for.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
This. Remind the player that Critical Role uses homebrewed spellcasting rules.
Thank you, came here to clarify if a sorcerer could cast two fireballs in one turn using quickened spell. As I couldn’t readily find in the sorcerer section of either the PHB or the Basic rules where this argument is stemming from, and it just seems that just from the sections I read it means that one could simply use quickened spell as they wanted
In your example, a sorcerer could not cast two fireballs on their turn with quickened spell. This chart may help explain why it's a problem:
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Short answer: no.
Long answer: the spellcasting rules chapter (not the class chapter) about casting times.
I'm pretty sure a major of the quickened spell rule is to prevent sorcerers from casting two fireballs a turn.
I know this is an old thread, but rules like this are why I loathe 5e. I get it that they're trying to keep things from getting OP but man this is lame. I was getting my butt kicked as a wizard/cleric and tried to cast invisibility and healing word in the same round. Nope. LAME. Yet you can cast a cantrip in the same round as casting a spell as a bonus action? Great so it's going to be generally offensive - usually a bonus action spell plus an attack cantrip. I cannot tell you how much I loathe 5e. No words for it.
OH! And I can't cast any other spell - not even a heal or something - without breaking invisibility? I mean nerf much?
Again, 5e...ugh