Can You Attack Twice with Shillelagh? A Deep Dive into D&D Mechanics
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The short answer is: Shillelagh itself does not grant you the ability to attack twice. Shillelagh is a cantrip that empowers a club or quarterstaff, making it usable with your spellcasting ability. However, it doesn’t inherently grant extra attacks. Whether you can attack twice while using Shillelagh depends on other features, feats, or class abilities your character possesses, such as the Extra Attack feature of certain classes or the Polearm Master feat. It is important to consider the action economy and understand how bonus actions and actions work in tandem.
Understanding Shillelagh
What is Shillelagh?
Shillelagh is a transmutation cantrip primarily used by Druids. It enhances a club or quarterstaff, allowing the caster to use their spellcasting ability modifier (typically Wisdom for Druids) for attack and damage rolls. The weapon’s damage die becomes a d8, and it becomes magical for the duration of the spell (1 minute). The spell ends if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.
Action Economy
In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e), the action economy is fundamental. Each turn, you typically have one action, one bonus action, one reaction, and movement. Shillelagh itself uses a bonus action to cast. This means that casting Shillelagh on a turn inherently limits what else you can do with your bonus action on that turn. It can be used to buff a melee weapon that might be the party’s only bet in tight situations.
How Extra Attacks Work
Several classes, such as Fighters, Barbarians, Paladins, and Rangers, gain the Extra Attack feature at 5th level. This feature allows you to make two attacks (or more at higher levels) whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. The key here is the “Attack action.” Shillelagh doesn’t grant you an additional Attack action, it only changes the properties of the weapon you are using with that action.
Polearm Master and Shillelagh
The Polearm Master feat is where things get more interesting. If you have this feat and are wielding a quarterstaff (a valid target for Shillelagh), you can use a bonus action to make an additional attack with the other end of the staff after taking the Attack action. So, while Shillelagh alone doesn’t grant a second attack, combining it with Polearm Master does allow you to attack twice: once with your Attack action and once with your bonus action.
FAQs: Shillelagh and Attack Mechanics
1. Can you cast Shillelagh twice on two different weapons?
No. The spell description explicitly states that Shillelagh ends if you cast it again. This means you can only have one weapon affected by Shillelagh at any given time.
2. If you put the Shillelagh weapon down, do you lose the spell?
Yes. As noted, the spell ends immediately if you let go of the weapon, so dropping it to pick up another weapon would also end it.
3. Can you dual wield Shillelagh in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, with the Dual Wielder feat, it has been reported by players that you can use Shillelagh on two staves. However, this might be a specific interaction or rule implementation within BG3, and it’s essential to verify the current in-game mechanics.
4. Does Shillelagh let you attack as a bonus action?
No. Shillelagh is cast as a bonus action, modifying the weapon. It does not grant a bonus action attack on its own.
5. Can you combine Shillelagh with Booming Blade?
Yes. Booming Blade is a cantrip that enhances a melee weapon attack. Since Shillelagh simply modifies the weapon’s properties and doesn’t interfere with the Attack action itself, you can use Booming Blade with a Shillelagh-enhanced weapon.
6. How much damage does Shillelagh do?
Shillelagh changes the weapon’s damage die to a d8. So, a club or quarterstaff affected by Shillelagh deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage, plus your spellcasting ability modifier.
7. Can you cast Shillelagh on a torch?
While a torch functions similarly to a club in some contexts (and may even deal fire damage!), it depends on the game setting or DM ruling. It would be up to the DM to determine whether a torch counts as a valid target for Shillelagh.
8. Can you combine Green Flame Blade and Shillelagh?
Yes. Similar to Booming Blade, Green Flame Blade requires you to make a melee attack with a weapon as part of the spell’s casting. Shillelagh enhances the weapon, making it a valid target for Green Flame Blade.
9. Can a Wizard use Shillelagh effectively?
A Wizard could take Shillelagh through the Magic Initiate feat. However, the spellcasting ability used for the attack and damage rolls would be Wisdom, regardless of the Wizard’s Intelligence score. If the wizard does not have a high wisdom, it may not be worth it.
10. Can Cantrips be cast infinitely?
Yes, generally. Cantrips can be cast at will, an unlimited number of times, unless the specific feature granting them has limitations.
11. What weapons work with Shillelagh?
Shillelagh specifically works with a club or a quarterstaff. These are the only weapons that the spell can target.
12. Does Shillelagh work with Flame Blade?
No. Both Shillelagh and Flame Blade require a bonus action to cast, meaning you cannot cast both in the same turn.
13. Does Divine Strike work with Shillelagh?
Yes. Divine Strike, a feature of some Cleric subclasses, adds extra damage to a weapon attack. Since Shillelagh makes the weapon attack use your spellcasting ability modifier, it still qualifies for Divine Strike.
14. Does Shillelagh work on greatclubs?
No, while a greatclub is technically a club, Shillelagh specifies a club, the specific simple weapon. Also, Druids aren’t proficient with greatclubs, supporting the RAI that it does not work.
15. How does Shillelagh interact with Polearm Master?
As mentioned earlier, Polearm Master allows you to make a bonus action attack with the opposite end of a quarterstaff after you use the Attack action. Since Shillelagh can be cast on a quarterstaff, this combination allows you to attack twice: once with the Attack action using your spellcasting ability modifier (thanks to Shillelagh) and once with the bonus action attack. This is a powerful synergy for Druids.
Strategic Implications
Shillelagh is a valuable cantrip for Druids and other spellcasters who want to be effective in melee combat. It allows them to use their spellcasting ability modifier for attack and damage rolls, making them less reliant on Strength or Dexterity. When combined with feats like Polearm Master or spells like Booming Blade and Green Flame Blade, Shillelagh can significantly enhance a character’s damage output. However, understanding the action economy and the limitations of the spell is crucial for optimizing its use.
Conclusion
While Shillelagh doesn’t inherently grant you the ability to attack twice, its synergy with other features and feats can enable multiple attacks in a single turn. By understanding the mechanics of Shillelagh and the broader combat rules of D&D 5e, you can effectively utilize this cantrip to create a formidable melee combatant. For more information on game-based learning and the power of games in education, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.