Can a Fighter Cast Two Spells in One Turn? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is: it’s complicated, but yes, a fighter can cast two spells in one turn, under specific circumstances. The rules surrounding spellcasting in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e) can be tricky, especially when bonus actions and action surges come into play. The key is understanding the limitations and the abilities that allow for multiple spellcasts. This article will break down the intricacies and answer all of your questions.

Understanding the Core Spellcasting Rules

The fundamental rule to remember is that if you cast a spell as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast on that same turn is a cantrip with a casting time of one action. This is the rule that most often trips people up. This means, you can’t cast two leveled spells in one turn, if one of them uses a bonus action. However, there are exceptions, particularly when considering a fighter who has access to magic.

The Eldritch Knight Exception

Not all fighters wield magic. However, the Eldritch Knight subclass gains the ability to cast spells. These fighters gain access to spells from the Wizard’s spell list, focusing on Abjuration and Evocation spells. This magical proficiency is what makes the possibility of casting two spells feasible.

How Fighters Can Cast Two Spells

The Eldritch Knight’s spellcasting capabilities, combined with action economy, are the main avenues for casting two spells. Here’s how it works:

The Bonus Action Limitation

The key rule here is the bonus action spell restriction. If you cast any spell using your bonus action, then any other spell you cast that turn must be a cantrip, and must have a casting time of one action. This is why Quicken Spell (a sorcerer ability) allows the casting of two spells: one quickened leveled spell and one cantrip.

Action Surge and Spellcasting

The Action Surge ability, a core fighter feature, allows you to take one additional action on your turn. Action Surge does not circumvent the bonus action spell rule. This means if you use a bonus action spell, you are still limited to only casting cantrips with your two actions. However, if you don’t use a bonus action to cast a spell, then Action Surge allows you to cast a second full spell, as long as you have spell slots remaining.

Example:

• You cast a spell as an action.
• You use Action Surge to take another action.
• You can cast another full spell (not a cantrip) as long as the first spell was not a bonus action spell.

Combining the Abilities

The sweet spot for two spell casts for an Eldritch Knight comes when you don’t cast any bonus action spell. If you have two actions (one standard and one from action surge) and have spell slots available, you can cast two spells of first level or higher (not two cantrips).

Example:

• An Eldritch Knight uses their action to cast Fireball.
• They then use their Action Surge to take another action and cast Magic Missile.
• Both are spells that require one action, and neither are bonus actions. This is perfectly legal.

Magical Item Interactions

Another way to “cast” two spells is to combine a spell with a magic item use. If the magic item uses the wording “you cast the spell…”, it is limited by the spell casting rule. Otherwise, the rules are more flexible. If the magic item is not casting a spell but rather using the item’s ability, it doesn’t use the action economy as it typically would with a spell.

Example:

• The Eldritch Knight casts a leveled spell using their action.
• They then use a magic item that allows them to use a spell from the item rather than their own spellcasting. This is not limited by the restriction of one spell a turn. This item ability use is not technically considered “casting a spell” so the rule doesn’t restrict you from using it in the same turn.

Reactions and Spellcasting

Keep in mind that reactions are separate from action economy. You can cast a spell as a reaction, such as Shield or Silvery Barbs, in addition to any spell you cast on your turn. However, reactions do not allow the casting of multiple spells if other restrictions apply. For example, you couldn’t cast a bonus action spell, a reaction spell, and still cast a full action leveled spell.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the complex topic of fighter spellcasting:

1. Can a fighter cast spells?

Yes, but only fighters who choose the Eldritch Knight Martial Archetype gain access to spellcasting. They primarily learn Abjuration and Evocation spells from the Wizard spell list.

2. Do fighters have spell slots?

Yes, Eldritch Knights gain spell slots, as detailed in the class’s progression table. They are limited and learn spells at a slower rate compared to full spellcasting classes.

3. Can fighters cast cantrips?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can cast cantrips. At 7th level, they also gain the ability to cast a cantrip as an action and then make a melee attack as a bonus action.

4. Can you cast two cantrips with action surge?

If you cast a bonus action spell, and then use action surge, you are limited to cantrips with both of your actions. If you use Action Surge and did not use a bonus action, you can cast two non-cantrip spells if you have the appropriate spell slots.

5. Can you cast two spells if one is a cantrip?

Yes, but only if you cast a cantrip as an action and a spell (cantrip or otherwise) as a bonus action. If you cast a bonus action spell, any other spell must be a cantrip.

6. Can I cast 2 leveled spells (non-cantrip) in a single turn?

Yes, but only if you have Action Surge and do not cast any bonus action spells that turn, and have spell slots available.

7. Can you only play one spell a turn?

No, the rule is not “one spell a turn”. The restriction is specifically around spells cast using a bonus action, not just casting one spell a turn. You are limited to one spell with a casting time of a bonus action.

8. Can you counterspell a counterspell?

Yes, you can counterspell a counterspell if you have the reaction available.

9. Can you cast a spell and a counter spell on the same turn?

Yes, you may cast a spell with your action, and then if an enemy casts a spell on your turn (or even your own ally), you can cast a counterspell as a reaction, assuming you have it prepared and a reaction available. However, if you cast a bonus action spell, you cannot cast a counterspell on that same turn.

10. Are fighters underpowered in 5e?

No, fighters are not underpowered. They are highly versatile and reliable martial classes. Subclasses like the Battle Master and Eldritch Knight provide a lot of flexibility and utility.

11. Can Eldritch Knights teleport?

At 15th level, Eldritch Knights gain Arcane Charge, which allows them to teleport 30ft as a bonus action and make an attack.

12. Can Eldritch Knight change spells?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can change one of the spells they know when they level up. They are supposed to be mostly limited to Abjuration and Evocation spells.

13. Do copied spells get cast?

No, copying a spell puts a copy on the stack. The copy is not technically cast.

14. Can you cast spells while blind?

If a spell requires you to see a target, you cannot cast that spell. Otherwise, most spells can be cast while blind, but you may roll attacks with disadvantage.

15. Can a warlock only cast 2 spells?

Warlocks have a limited number of spell slots, often 2 at early levels. However, these spell slots are recovered on a short rest, making them very potent if your party rests often. They also gain access to their arcanum which is a powerful spell they can cast once per long rest.

Conclusion

While the 5e spellcasting rules can seem restrictive, they allow for strategic resource management. Fighters, especially Eldritch Knights, can cast multiple spells in a single turn under specific conditions, leveraging Action Surge and understanding the bonus action spell limitation. By understanding these nuances, you can maximize your fighter’s magical capabilities and dominate the battlefield. Remember that this is a living game, so if your group plays differently at your table, that is perfectly ok. The most important part is that you all enjoy playing together.