Can You Cast Eldritch Blast as a Bonus Action? A Deep Dive into D&D Mechanics
The short answer is: No, a Warlock cannot inherently cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action. The base rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) do not allow this. Eldritch Blast is a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action, and you normally only get one action per turn. However, there are specific methods that allow players to circumvent this rule and cast Eldritch Blast more than once per turn, including as a bonus action. Understanding these methods requires a look at the game’s core action economy and the unique abilities of certain classes.
Methods to Cast Eldritch Blast as a Bonus Action
While the Warlock class alone can’t make Eldritch Blast a bonus action, multiclassing or specific feats can unlock this powerful capability. Here’s how:
Sorcerer Metamagic: Quicken Spell
The primary way to achieve a bonus action Eldritch Blast is through the Sorcerer class’s Metamagic feature, specifically the Quicken Spell option. A Sorcerer can use 2 Sorcery Points to transform the casting time of a spell with a casting time of 1 action into 1 bonus action.
- How it works: To pull this off, you need to either multiclass into Sorcerer or take the Magic Initiate feat to acquire Sorcerer spells. Then, you choose Eldritch Blast from your Sorcerer spell list (through Magic Initiate) or as your Warlock spell after multiclassing. With at least two sorcerer points, you can use your action to cast another spell, and use Quicken Spell on Eldritch Blast to cast it as your bonus action.
- Limitations: The downside of this method is the limited resource of Sorcery Points, which means you can’t do this every single turn. You’ll need to carefully manage your Sorcery Points, and it works best with a build that combines Warlock and Sorcerer levels for a greater number of points. Also, you cannot use this technique to cast two levelled spells, even if one is a bonus action, as you can only cast cantrips as action if you used a levelled spell as a bonus action.
The Action Economy and Spellcasting Rules
Understanding the action economy in 5e is crucial. On your turn, you typically have one action, one bonus action (if applicable), movement, and a reaction.
- Casting Time: Most spells, including Eldritch Blast, have a casting time of one action. Therefore, without special abilities, you can only cast it once per turn as your main action.
- Bonus Actions: Certain spells or abilities have a casting time of 1 bonus action, which is separate from the action you take. If a spell is cast as a bonus action, you cannot cast another spell on that same turn, except for a cantrip that uses an action.
- Cantrips: Cantrips are spells that can be cast at will without consuming spell slots. A character can cast multiple cantrips in one turn, as long as they have actions and/or bonus actions available. If you cast a leveled spell (of 1st level or higher) as a bonus action, you can still cast a cantrip with a casting time of one action, not another leveled spell.
Other Ways to Increase Eldritch Blast Attacks
While not directly turning it into a bonus action, there are other ways to use Eldritch Blast more effectively or multiple times per turn:
Action Surge (Fighter)
A Level 2 Fighter’s Action Surge feature allows you to take one additional action on your turn. This could be used to cast Eldritch Blast a second time if you’ve somehow gained access to casting it. This is available only once per short rest, which significantly limits its usability.
Haste Spell
If another character casts Haste on you, you gain an additional action on each of your turns. This action could be used to cast Eldritch Blast again if you have access to it. However, the limitations of needing a spellcaster to cast Haste and the disadvantage that follows the end of Haste means that it is not ideal.
Understanding Eldritch Blast’s Strengths
It’s also worth noting that even as a single-action cantrip, Eldritch Blast is a powerful spell thanks to its scalability and customization through Eldritch Invocations. Invocations such as Agonizing Blast add your Charisma modifier to the damage of Eldritch Blast, making it very competitive in terms of damage output. Other invocations change its range, improve push capabilities, and more. The cantrip is more potent than the majority of other cantrips, even without making it a bonus action.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Eldritch Blast and its usage, offering a deeper understanding of its mechanics.
1. Can a Warlock cast two Eldritch Blasts in one turn without Quicken Spell?
No. A standard Warlock can only cast Eldritch Blast once per turn using their action. Without a way to use another action, such as Action Surge, or to cast it as a bonus action, it is not possible.
2. Does Eldritch Blast count as an attack action or a spell action?
Eldritch Blast is a spell and therefore uses the Cast a Spell action. Making attacks with a weapon is the Attack action.
3. Can you use Hex and Quicken Spell Eldritch Blast in the same turn?
No. Using the metamagic Quicken Spell to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action is a spell that is cast as a bonus action. Therefore, if you used the spell Hex as your bonus action, you cannot also use Quicken Spell on Eldritch Blast on the same turn.
4. Can you use Hexblade’s Curse and Quicken Spell Eldritch Blast on the same turn?
No, for the same reason as Hex. If you are using a Hexblade’s Curse as a bonus action, you cannot then use the bonus action metamagic Quicken Spell.
5. Can any Warlock use Eldritch Blast?
Yes, Eldritch Blast is an inherent part of the Warlock class. Any Warlock, regardless of subclass or pact, can use this cantrip.
6. Can you move between beams of Eldritch Blast?
Yes, you can break up your movement on your turn, using some of your speed before and after your action, which includes casting Eldritch Blast.
7. Does each beam of Eldritch Blast have a separate attack roll?
Yes. When you cast Eldritch Blast, you make a separate attack roll for each beam. You can direct these beams at the same target or at different ones.
8. Can you curve Eldritch Blast around obstacles?
No, Eldritch Blast does not curve around obstacles by default. The spell targets a creature you can see within range, meaning line of sight is important. However, cover provides a bonus to the target’s AC, and creatures can grant half cover.
9. Does Eldritch Blast get a damage bonus?
Yes, with the Agonizing Blast Eldritch Invocation. This invocation adds your Charisma modifier as a bonus to the damage of each Eldritch Blast beam.
10. Can Eldritch Blast hit allies?
In 5e, allies grant a creature half cover, so if your allies are between you and your intended target, they might grant the target the benefit of cover. The optional rules for hitting cover found in the Dungeon Master’s Guide give the GM some leniency to determine whether the projectile hits your intended target, the cover, or the other creatures.
11. Can Eldritch Blast be twinned?
Only when cast by a 1st to 4th level character. After level 4, it can target more than one target and thus cannot be twinned.
12. Can you cast a spell as a bonus action if you cast a spell with a higher level in that same turn?
Yes, you can cast a spell using a bonus action if you haven’t used your action on anything other than a cantrip. You can also use your action to cast a cantrip if you’ve cast a spell with a bonus action, but you cannot cast two levelled spells, one as a bonus action, and one as an action.
13. Can you take two bonus actions in one turn?
No, you can only take one bonus action on your turn unless a specific ability or spell allows it.
14. Is using Eldritch Cannon a bonus action?
Yes, if you are an Artificer with the artillerist subclass, then on each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to activate the Eldritch Cannon if you are within 60 feet.
15. Is Eldritch Blast a spell in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes. Eldritch Blast is a key and potent spell in the popular video game, Baldur’s Gate 3.
Conclusion
While a standard Warlock can’t cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action by default, by combining a sorcerer’s quickened spell with a multi-class, or a feat, you can leverage this powerful spell in more ways than the rule book seems to allow. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of spellcasting, action economy, and available invocations can unlock the true potential of Eldritch Blast, solidifying its position as a key element in D&D gameplay.