I know that Arcane Focus is use by Wizard, Warlock and Sorcerer, Druidic Focus is use by Druid only, Holy Symbol for Cleric and Paladin, and last for not least Artisan's Tools is use by Artificer. They also can use component pouch.
What is the Spellcasting Focus for Arcane Trickster Rogue, Eldritch Knight Fighter and Ranger?
Yes. Neither EK nor AT have access to a spell casting focus. They have to have a material component pouch. If either multi-classes for a level of wizard they will gain the ability to use an arcane focus. All EK and AT spells are considered wizard spells.
"SPELLCASTING FOCUS You can use an arcane focus (found in chapter 5) as a speilcasting focus for your wizard spells."
"The Spells Known column of the Arcane Trickster Spellcasting table shows when you learn more wizard spells of 1st level or higher"
Since AT and EK spells are explicitly wizard spells ... gaining the spellcasting focus ability from multiclassing one level of wizard allows the EK/AT character to use an arcane focus for all of their spells.
They can use a component pouch which is functionally almost identical to a Spellcasting focus. The only difference really is that a focus has to be held and wielded and a pouch stays in inventory but still requires a free hand to use.
Actually, because of what IamSposta said, a component pouch is probably actually superior to a focus for all casters unless that focus is integral to your normal carry anyway or you have taken war caster.
The main benefit of a spellcasting focus as opposed to a component pouch is that it's possible to get a focus that does other things... A wand of the War Mage, or even any of the various staves the game offers. As far as I'm aware, there's no such thing as a +1 Component Pouch.
Knowing this, now I know why people avoid playing these class/subclass.
There are other reasons people avoid the Eldritch Knight too, like War Magic clashing with Extra Attacks unless your Booming Blade build missed the regular attack. But Arcane Trickster is pretty good.
Ruby of the War Mage. It can be attached to any weapon and allows the user to use their weapon as a spellcasting focus. Downside: it requires attunement, so it might not be ideal depending on how many magic items they're already attuned to.
Knowing this, now I know why people avoid playing these class/subclass.
There are other reasons people avoid the Eldritch Knight too, like War Magic clashing with Extra Attacks unless your Booming Blade build missed the regular attack. But Arcane Trickster is pretty good.
War magic is pretty useful when you get it at 7th. The 3rd extra attack doesn't come online until level 11, so a melee attack cantrip followed by a second bonus action melee attack would be slightly better than 2 standard attacks, though slightly less so if you are using two weapon fighting.
Where does it say an arcane trickster can’t use an arcane focus? I can’t seem to find that rule anywhere.
It doesn't say that they can't, the issue is that there is no rule that allows them to use it which is needed (as shown in the spellcasting feature of the full casters).
Is there any way for my player (that play Eldritch Knight, Arcane Trickster and Ranger) to use their weapon as spellcasting focus?
Just to clarify, an Eldritch Knight or an Arcane Trickster has no rule allowing them to use a focus but Rangers do. The optional rules introduced in TCoE allows them to use a Druidic focus for their Ranger spells.
I hope they fix this in the new edition. IMO the decision to use the specific components or a component pouch or a focus should be an RP choice for the player/character, not something that the rules dictate. Each choice has its own positives/negatives and it should be up to each player which he wants to use.
I'm old school and role play my At and EN with arcane focus' and spell books. my rangers use a druid focus. I have also never thought of a component pouch as anything magical or a magic focus. Its just a really well organized compartmentalized pouch for me. If you plan it out you really do not need many different components for a combat situation.
I also think of a magic focus crystal as just a large crystal you can put in a ring or bracelet or attach to your weapon. I normally use a ring when the DM allows it.
I'm old school and role play my At and EN with arcane focus' and spell books. my rangers use a druid focus. I have also never thought of a component pouch as anything magical or a magic focus. Its just a really well organized compartmentalized pouch for me. If you plan it out you really do not need many different components for a combat situation.
I also think of a magic focus crystal as just a large crystal you can put in a ring or bracelet or attach to your weapon. I normally use a ring when the DM allows it.
There are advantages to using a component pouch too. For one thing, you wear it instead of wielding it, so it keeps a hand free until you go to interact with the pouch. You also don’t actually need to pull components out of the pouch or anything to use them, you could just wave it around like a gris gris bag if you want, so points for style.
Technically speaking, even if the crystal were embedded into a ring, RAW you still need to be holding it to use it, you can’t just wear the ring and have it count.
Technically speaking, even if the crystal were embedded into a ring, RAW you still need to be holding it to use it, you can’t just wear the ring and have it count.
I'm not saying you're wrong.:) but unless you can cite a rule that disqualifies worn rings from counting as being held, I think there is certainly room for discussion on this point :)
Technically speaking, even if the crystal were embedded into a ring, RAW you still need to be holding it to use it, you can’t just wear the ring and have it count.
I'm not saying you're wrong.:) but unless you can cite a rule that disqualifies worn rings from counting as being held, I think there is certainly room for discussion on this point :)
Even if the worn ring does count as being “held,” you still cannot be holding anything else in that hand and use the ring as a focus:
Material (M)
Casting some spells requires particular objects, specified in parentheses in the component entry. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in “Equipment”) in place of the components specified for a spell. But if a cost is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell.
If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell. 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.
I know that Arcane Focus is use by Wizard, Warlock and Sorcerer, Druidic Focus is use by Druid only, Holy Symbol for Cleric and Paladin, and last for not least Artisan's Tools is use by Artificer. They also can use component pouch.
What is the Spellcasting Focus for Arcane Trickster Rogue, Eldritch Knight Fighter and Ranger?
None. A class will tell you if you can use a spellcasting focus to cast your spells.
Yes. Neither EK nor AT have access to a spell casting focus. They have to have a material component pouch. If either multi-classes for a level of wizard they will gain the ability to use an arcane focus. All EK and AT spells are considered wizard spells.
"SPELLCASTING FOCUS
You can use an arcane focus (found in chapter 5) as a speilcasting focus for your wizard spells."
"The Spells Known column of the Arcane Trickster Spellcasting table shows when you learn more wizard spells of 1st level or higher"
Since AT and EK spells are explicitly wizard spells ... gaining the spellcasting focus ability from multiclassing one level of wizard allows the EK/AT character to use an arcane focus for all of their spells.
They can use a component pouch which is functionally almost identical to a Spellcasting focus. The only difference really is that a focus has to be held and wielded and a pouch stays in inventory but still requires a free hand to use.
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Actually, because of what IamSposta said, a component pouch is probably actually superior to a focus for all casters unless that focus is integral to your normal carry anyway or you have taken war caster.
Or the new UA Shield Training feat. That’s amazeballs, baller on a Wizard or Sorcerer.
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The main benefit of a spellcasting focus as opposed to a component pouch is that it's possible to get a focus that does other things... A wand of the War Mage, or even any of the various staves the game offers. As far as I'm aware, there's no such thing as a +1 Component Pouch.
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Knowing this, now I know why people avoid playing these class/subclass.
Is there any way for my player (that play Eldritch Knight, Arcane Trickster and Ranger) to use their weapon as spellcasting focus?
There are other reasons people avoid the Eldritch Knight too, like War Magic clashing with Extra Attacks unless your Booming Blade build missed the regular attack. But Arcane Trickster is pretty good.
Ruby of the War Mage. But the new UA Shield Training feat would let them use a Shield as a focus too.
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Ruby of the War Mage. It can be attached to any weapon and allows the user to use their weapon as a spellcasting focus. Downside: it requires attunement, so it might not be ideal depending on how many magic items they're already attuned to.
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Thanks for all of the information, I really appreciate it
War magic is pretty useful when you get it at 7th. The 3rd extra attack doesn't come online until level 11, so a melee attack cantrip followed by a second bonus action melee attack would be slightly better than 2 standard attacks, though slightly less so if you are using two weapon fighting.
Where does it say an arcane trickster can’t use an arcane focus? I can’t seem to find that rule anywhere.
It doesn't say that they can't, the issue is that there is no rule that allows them to use it which is needed (as shown in the spellcasting feature of the full casters).
Just to clarify, an Eldritch Knight or an Arcane Trickster has no rule allowing them to use a focus but Rangers do. The optional rules introduced in TCoE allows them to use a Druidic focus for their Ranger spells.
I hope they fix this in the new edition. IMO the decision to use the specific components or a component pouch or a focus should be an RP choice for the player/character, not something that the rules dictate. Each choice has its own positives/negatives and it should be up to each player which he wants to use.
I'm old school and role play my At and EN with arcane focus' and spell books. my rangers use a druid focus.
I have also never thought of a component pouch as anything magical or a magic focus. Its just a really well organized compartmentalized pouch for me. If you plan it out you really do not need many different components for a combat situation.
I also think of a magic focus crystal as just a large crystal you can put in a ring or bracelet or attach to your weapon. I normally use a ring when the DM allows it.
There are advantages to using a component pouch too. For one thing, you wear it instead of wielding it, so it keeps a hand free until you go to interact with the pouch. You also don’t actually need to pull components out of the pouch or anything to use them, you could just wave it around like a gris gris bag if you want, so points for style.
Technically speaking, even if the crystal were embedded into a ring, RAW you still need to be holding it to use it, you can’t just wear the ring and have it count.
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I'm not saying you're wrong.:) but unless you can cite a rule that disqualifies worn rings from counting as being held, I think there is certainly room for discussion on this point :)
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Even if the worn ring does count as being “held,” you still cannot be holding anything else in that hand and use the ring as a focus:
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