Can You Cast Hex and Eldritch Blast in One Turn? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can cast Hex and Eldritch Blast in the same turn in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e). This powerful combination is a staple for many Warlock builds, allowing for consistent damage output. However, there are specific rules to understand to ensure you’re playing within the game’s parameters. Let’s delve into the details.

How Hex and Eldritch Blast Work Together

Hex is a spell that requires a bonus action to cast. It curses a creature, adding extra necrotic damage to any damage rolls made against it by the caster. Crucially, Hex triggers on every hit, meaning that each beam of Eldritch Blast will benefit from the added damage.

Eldritch Blast, on the other hand, is a cantrip with a casting time of one action. It fires beams of magical force that you can target at one or more creatures. At higher levels, Eldritch Blast generates multiple beams, making it incredibly powerful when combined with Hex.

The Key to Combining Them

The most important aspect is understanding the spellcasting rules in 5e. Here’s the breakdown:

• Bonus Action Spell: Casting Hex uses your bonus action.
• Action Spell: Casting Eldritch Blast uses your action.
• The Rule: If you cast a spell as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast on that turn must be a cantrip with a casting time of one action.

Because Eldritch Blast is a cantrip with a casting time of one action, it perfectly fits this rule. You can use your bonus action to cast Hex and then use your action to cast Eldritch Blast. This creates a potent combination as each beam of the Eldritch Blast gets the added damage from Hex, leading to a substantial increase in damage potential.

Why This Combination is So Popular

The Hex and Eldritch Blast pairing is a favorite among Warlock players for several reasons:

• Consistent Damage: It’s a reliable source of damage that can be used every turn.
• Scalability: As you level up, Eldritch Blast creates more beams, and thus, more opportunities to apply the extra Hex damage.
• Customizability: Eldritch Blast is highly customizable through Eldritch Invocations, which can further enhance its power and utility.
• Efficiency: You get a great damage boost without expending higher-level spell slots. Hex is a 1st-level spell, and Eldritch Blast is a cantrip.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use Hexblade’s Curse and Eldritch Blast on the same turn?

No, you cannot use Hexblade’s Curse and a Quickened Spell version of Eldritch Blast on the same turn. Hexblade’s Curse is a bonus action ability, and casting a spell as a bonus action prevents you from casting another spell of 1st level or higher in the same turn. However, you can cast Hexblade’s Curse and a regular action version of Eldritch Blast on the same turn.

2. Does Hex trigger once for all Eldritch Blast beams, or for each beam?

Hex triggers for each beam of Eldritch Blast that hits the cursed target. This makes the combination very powerful at higher levels, as you’ll be adding the Hex damage multiple times in one turn.

3. Can I cast two spells in one turn besides Hex and Eldritch Blast?

You cannot cast two leveled spells (1st level or higher) in the same turn unless one of them is cast using a bonus action and the other is a cantrip with an action. For example, you could use a bonus action spell and then a cantrip. You cannot use two leveled spells, like Fireball and Misty Step, even with the aid of metamagic, within the same turn.

4. Can I use Quickened Spell to cast Eldritch Blast twice in one turn?

Yes, a Sorcerer with the Quickened Spell metamagic can use it to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action. If you use Quickened Spell in this way, you could not use your action to cast another leveled spell; however you can use your action to cast another cantrip.

5. Can I move between casting Eldritch Blast beams?

Yes, you can break up your movement on your turn, so you can move between each Eldritch Blast beam. For example, you can move a bit, fire a beam, move again, fire another beam, etc.

6. Can I twin Eldritch Blast?

Eldritch Blast can be Twinned by a Sorcerer only when you are levels 1-4, or when there is only a single beam from Eldritch Blast. At levels 5+, Eldritch Blast normally creates more than one beam and thus would be ineligible.

7. Does the “Powerful Cantrip” feat work with Eldritch Blast?

Yes, the “Powerful Cantrip” feat will work with Eldritch Blast. The average damage of Eldritch Blast’s miss is calculated at 2.5 damage for every missed beam. If all beams miss, you would still deal 7.5 expected damage.

8. Why is Eldritch Blast considered such a good cantrip?

Eldritch Blast is powerful for several reasons: its multiple beams, Force damage (which is rarely resisted), and its customizability through Eldritch Invocations. The combination with Hex also boosts its damage output substantially.

9. Can I cast Hex and another spell in the same turn?

Yes, you can cast Hex and a cantrip as long as Hex is cast as a bonus action. The rules state that if a bonus action spell is cast, the only other spell you may cast on the same turn is a cantrip that takes an action to cast. You cannot cast Hex and another levelled spell.

10. Can I cast a cantrip twice in one turn?

Yes, you can. You can cast as many cantrips as you have actions for. If you cast a spell of 1st-level or higher – or a cantrip – as a bonus action, you can still cast a cantrip as your action. So yes, you can cast a cantrip, and then another cantrip.

11. Can I cast Hex every turn?

You can cast Hex every turn if you have a bonus action available, as it only requires a bonus action. You can, however, only have one Hex active at a time. Additionally, Hex can be reapplied to a new target as a bonus action after the original target dies.

12. Does Hex work with all spells or attacks?

Hex only works with attack rolls. It doesn’t work with spells that require saving throws from the target or with spells that deal damage as an area of effect. The damage is triggered only from the caster who hexes the target.

13. Can I use Hex and Hexblade’s Curse together?

Yes, you can use both Hex and Hexblade’s Curse together. Hexblade’s Curse doesn’t require concentration, so you can stack it with Hex or other concentration spells, as well as other abilities from the class.

14. Can you apply Hex multiple times on the same target?

No. Multiple castings of Hex do not stack or accumulate damage modifiers on the target. You can’t use more than one Hex on the same target at once.

15. Does Hex work with an Eldritch Cannon?

Yes, if you are a character who has access to both, Hex would work with an Eldritch Cannon. Specifically, the Force Ballista option would trigger the additional damage from Hex.

Conclusion

Casting Hex and Eldritch Blast in the same turn is not only possible but also a highly effective strategy for Warlocks in D&D 5e. By understanding the spellcasting rules and how these two abilities interact, you can unlock the full potential of this devastating combination. Remember to utilize Eldritch Invocations and other abilities to further refine your Warlock build. Happy gaming!