I want to make a a new 2024 character that is an Eldritch Knight + Warlock who uses a hand crossbow alongside spells like Eldritch Blast. I'm trying to take advantage of the new War Magic to attack with my crossbow twice (at Lv11) and then cast Eldritch Blast before using my bonus action to get a 3rd crossbow attack in, all while the enemy is affected by Hex. There's 2 problems with this because of some of the 2024 changes.
1. War Magic has been changed to no longer work on all cantrips, just Wizard ones for some reason. Eldritch Knights can no longer use other class spells alongside their weapons.
2. Crossbow expert has changed. It used to allow you to get the bonus action attack even if you were only using 1 hand crossbow. But now it seem to require you to use a different weapon for the bonus action attack. However, If I use 2 hand crossbows to get the bonus action attack I can no longer cast most spells. Even with the War Caster Feat I'd still be unable to cast spells like Hex that have a material component.
Am I reading the rules wrong? Is there anyway to make this build work without having the DM give me the go-ahead to use Hex with my hands full and use Eldritch Blast with the new version of War Magic?
You will Have to "abuse" the "weapon juggling" aspect of the attack rotation. Since you can start the round with 1 light weapon and a free hand:
Attack action: 1) Cast your cantrip 2) Attack with your light weapon and grab the Hand crossbow. 3)if 11th attack again with your weapon
Bonus Action: attack with your hand crossbow.
Or if you start with 2 weapons at hand (light weapon, hand crossbow), you could:
Attack Action: 1) Attack with light Weapon, stow Hand crossbow. 2) Cast Cantrip 3) Attack with light weapon and grab the Hand Crossbow (or reverse order its the same). Bonus Action : attack with Hand Crossbow.
There is a common item and War Caster feat that make some casting steps easier.
I want to make a a new 2024 character that is an Eldritch Knight + Warlock who uses a hand crossbow alongside spells like Eldritch Blast. I'm trying to take advantage of the new War Magic to attack with my crossbow twice (at Lv11) and then cast Eldritch Blast before using my bonus action to get a 3rd crossbow attack in, all while the enemy is affected by Hex. There's 2 problems with this because of some of the 2024 changes.
1. War Magic has been changed to no longer work on all cantrips, just Wizard ones for some reason. Eldritch Knights can no longer use other class spells alongside their weapons.
2. Crossbow expert has changed. It used to allow you to get the bonus action attack even if you were only using 1 hand crossbow. But now it seem to require you to use a different weapon for the bonus action attack. However, If I use 2 hand crossbows to get the bonus action attack I can no longer cast most spells. Even with the War Caster Feat I'd still be unable to cast spells like Hex that have a material component.
Am I reading the rules wrong? Is there anyway to make this build work without having the DM give me the go-ahead to use Hex with my hands full and use Eldritch Blast with the new version of War Magic?
You will Have to "abuse" the "weapon juggling" aspect of the attack rotation. Since you can start the round with 1 light weapon and a free hand:
Attack action:
1) Cast your cantrip
2) Attack with your light weapon and grab the Hand crossbow.
3)if 11th attack again with your weapon
Bonus Action: attack with your hand crossbow.
Or if you start with 2 weapons at hand (light weapon, hand crossbow), you could:
Attack Action:
1) Attack with light Weapon, stow Hand crossbow.
2) Cast Cantrip
3) Attack with light weapon and grab the Hand Crossbow (or reverse order its the same).
Bonus Action : attack with Hand Crossbow.
There is a common item and War Caster feat that make some casting steps easier.