Can You Cast 2 Eldritch Blasts? A Deep Dive into D&D’s Favorite Cantrip
Yes, you absolutely can cast Eldritch Blast twice (or even more!) in a single turn in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, but it requires specific character builds and resource management. The core limitation is the action economy: typically, you only have one action per turn, and Eldritch Blast normally requires an action to cast. However, clever combinations of class features, metamagic, and feats can circumvent this limitation.
The most common method involves a Sorcerer with levels in Warlock. The Sorcerer’s Quickened Spell metamagic allows you to cast a spell with a casting time of one action as a bonus action by spending sorcery points. Therefore, you could cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action and then again as your action.
Another method leverages the Fighter class’s Action Surge feature, which grants you an additional action on your turn. You could cast Eldritch Blast, use Action Surge, and then cast Eldritch Blast again. Combining both methods, as outlined in the article, is the theoretical maximum: Quickened Spell (bonus action), Cast a Spell action, and Action Surge to Cast a Spell action.
It’s crucial to understand the spellcasting rules regarding bonus actions. If you cast any spell as a bonus action, the only other spells you can cast on that turn are cantrips with a casting time of one action. This is why strategies focus on Eldritch Blast, a potent cantrip.
Understanding the Power of Eldritch Blast
Eldritch Blast stands out as one of the most powerful and versatile cantrips in the game. Its base damage of 1d10 force damage is respectable, but it’s the scaling and customization options that truly elevate it. As you gain levels, the spell unleashes multiple beams, each requiring a separate attack roll. You get two beams at 5th level, three at 11th level, and four at 17th level. These beams can target the same creature or different ones, offering significant tactical flexibility.
Furthermore, the Warlock class’s Eldritch Invocations allow for significant customization and enhancement of Eldritch Blast. Invocations like Agonizing Blast add your Charisma modifier to each beam’s damage, dramatically increasing your damage output. Other invocations extend the range, add knockback, or change the damage type. This customization is why many consider it the best cantrip in the game, and why it’s worth exploring strategies to cast it multiple times per turn.
FAQs: Mastering Eldritch Blast
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you master the use of Eldritch Blast in your D&D campaigns:
1. Can I cast 2 cantrips in one turn?
Yes, with a caveat. The general rule is that if you cast a spell using your bonus action, the only other spell you can cast during that turn is a cantrip with a casting time of one action. So, two cantrips are perfectly fine, as long as one is cast as a bonus action.
2. Can you attack twice with Eldritch Blast?
No, not in the traditional sense of the Attack action. Eldritch Blast’s casting time is one action. However, at higher levels, Eldritch Blast grants multiple beams, each of which requires its own attack roll. So, while you’re not casting it twice, you are making multiple attack rolls with a single casting.
3. Can you cast 2 cantrips with Extra Attack?
No. Features like the Bladesinger’s Extra Attack which allows you to cast a cantrip as one of your extra attacks, do not allow you to cast two cantrips.
4. How do you cast Eldritch Blast 3 times in one turn?
As explained earlier, this requires a combination of Sorcerer and Fighter levels. Use your action to cast Eldritch Blast, use Action Surge to cast it again, and then use Quickened Spell metamagic (spending sorcery points) to cast it a third time as a bonus action.
5. Can you cast 2 cantrips as a bonus action?
Generally, no. You only get one bonus action per turn. The rule for casting a spell with a bonus action specifies that the only other spell you can cast that turn must be a cantrip with a casting time of one action.
6. Can cantrips be cast infinitely?
Yes! Cantrips don’t require spell slots, meaning you can cast them as many times as you want, provided you have the actions to do so.
7. Can you cast 2 spells in one round?
Yes, but with restrictions. You can cast one spell as an action and another as a bonus action, but the spell cast as a bonus action limits the other spell to a cantrip with a casting time of one action.
8. Why is Eldritch Blast considered the best cantrip?
Eldritch Blast is highly customizable through Warlock’s Eldritch Invocations, which can significantly enhance its damage, range, and utility. This makes it a powerful and versatile option for any character with access to it.
9. Can Eldritch Blast be twinned?
Yes, but only at lower levels. The Twinned Spell metamagic allows you to target two creatures with a spell that normally targets only one. Since Eldritch Blast targets a single creature up to 4th level, it can be twinned. However, from 5th level onward, it targets multiple creatures, making it ineligible for Twinned Spell.
10. How far can Eldritch Blast shoot?
The base range of Eldritch Blast is 120 feet. This can be extended to 300 feet with the Eldritch Spear invocation and doubled to 600 feet with the Spell Sniper feat. Stacking both of these results in a maximum range of 1,200 feet.
11. How do you maximize Eldritch Blast damage?
The key is the Agonizing Blast invocation, which adds your Charisma modifier to each beam’s damage. Maximize your Charisma score, and consider other damage-boosting options like the Hex spell or the Hexblade’s Curse (though you cannot cast these in the same turn as a Quickened Eldritch Blast).
12. Is Fire Bolt or Eldritch Blast better?
Generally, Eldritch Blast is superior due to its force damage type (which is rarely resisted) and the potential for significant enhancements through Eldritch Invocations. Fire Bolt has its niche, but Eldritch Blast is more consistently effective.
13. Can you cast Hex and Eldritch Blast in the same turn?
You can, but only if you cast Hex before you cast Eldritch Blast. You cannot use Quicken Spell to cast Eldritch Blast and then cast Hex in the same turn, because casting a spell as a bonus action limits the other spell to a cantrip.
14. Does a cantrip break invisibility?
Yes. Casting any spell, including a cantrip, breaks invisibility.
15. Can you action surge and cast 2 cantrips?
Yes, but with a significant limitation. If you cast any spell (leveled or cantrip) as a bonus action, the other spell you cast on that turn has to be a cantrip. So, you can action surge and cast two cantrips as long as you don’t cast a leveled spell.
Continuing the Conversation
Mastering Eldritch Blast is a journey, not a destination. Experiment with different character builds, explore the nuances of the spellcasting rules, and remember to have fun! The strategic depth of D&D allows for endless possibilities, and Eldritch Blast is a fantastic tool for creative and powerful characters.
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By understanding these nuances, you can build incredibly powerful characters centered around the seemingly simple Eldritch Blast. Good luck, and may your blasts always hit true!