Can You Take Two Bonus Actions in D&D 5e?
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The short, definitive answer is no, you cannot take two bonus actions in a single turn in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e). Regardless of the number of abilities or features you possess that might grant you a bonus action, you are restricted to utilizing only one bonus action per turn. This fundamental rule is designed to maintain balance within the game and prevent characters from becoming excessively powerful through multiple bonus action executions. If you have multiple options for bonus actions, you must choose which one to use on your turn.
Understanding Bonus Actions in D&D 5e
To understand why you cannot take two bonus actions, it’s important to grasp the basic action economy of D&D 5e. During your turn in combat, you generally have:
- One Action: This is used for most major activities, such as attacking, casting a spell, or using an object.
- One Bonus Action: A swift action used for specific abilities, spells, or feats that are designated as bonus actions.
- One Movement: This allows you to move up to your speed.
- One Reaction: An instantaneous response to a trigger, typically occurring outside your turn.
The key here is that while you have one action, one bonus action, one movement, and one reaction, these are each distinct resources you have at your disposal. Bonus actions aren’t just “extra” actions; they’re a specific category of action that has limitations.
Why the Limit?
The limitation on bonus actions is crucial for maintaining game balance. Without it, classes or builds that heavily rely on bonus actions could become overwhelmingly powerful, undermining the system’s intended mechanics. For example, if a rogue could use their Cunning Action (a bonus action) multiple times in a single turn, they could dash, disengage, and hide repeatedly without any limitation, making them extremely difficult to interact with. This rule is in place to ensure all characters have a balance between tactical options and resource management during their turn.
When Can You Use a Bonus Action?
You cannot use a bonus action on a whim. You can only take a bonus action when a specific ability, spell, or game feature states that you can do something using a bonus action. There are no “universal” bonus actions available to all characters. Instead, your bonus actions are entirely dependent on the abilities you possess. For instance, a rogue might use Cunning Action as a bonus action, while a cleric might cast healing word as a bonus action.
This means that a turn where you take a bonus action must already have an action that takes place. If you choose to ready an action, you may not take a bonus action because there is no action taken on your turn in that instance.
Bonus Actions and Readying Actions
Taking a ready action means you prepare an action, not a bonus action, and that action will then occur after a trigger that happens on another turn, meaning this action becomes a reaction. Because you have to take an action to also take a bonus action, then this rules out using a bonus action with a readied action.
Understanding Interactions with Reactions
A reaction is a different kind of mechanic from an action or a bonus action. A reaction is an instantaneous response to a trigger and can occur on your turn or on someone else’s. The restriction on bonus actions is that you must take an action to use a bonus action, so because reactions are not actions, they cannot be used with a bonus action.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bonus Actions
To further clarify the rules regarding bonus actions, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Can I use a bonus action to cast a spell and then cast another spell?
Generally, no. If you cast a spell as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast during the same turn must be a cantrip with a casting time of one action. You can not cast two levelled spells in one turn.
2. Are bonus actions and actions interchangeable?
No. Actions and bonus actions are separate categories, and one cannot be substituted for the other. For example, you cannot use a bonus action to attack with a weapon if you don’t have a specific feature that allows for that.
3. Can I use a bonus action and then hold an action?
No. The Ready action allows you to prepare a single attack (no extras), spell, or action, but not a bonus action or movement. You can only take a bonus action when you take an action on your turn.
4. If I have multiple bonus action options, must I use one?
No. You are not required to use a bonus action. If you have multiple options, but none are beneficial at the moment, you can simply choose not to use one.
5. Do I get a bonus action every turn?
Not necessarily. You only get a bonus action on your turn if you have an ability, spell, or feature that grants you one. If you do not have any such options, you do not get a bonus action. Having a bonus action isn’t a given.
6. Can I use a bonus action on someone else’s turn?
No. You can only use actions, bonus actions, and movement on your own turn. You can use a reaction on others’ turns when triggered by a specific condition.
7. Can I attack with a weapon as a bonus action?
It depends. Certain features, such as Two-Weapon Fighting, or specific feats, like Polearm Master, allow you to attack with a weapon as a bonus action, but not without them.
8. Can I cast a cantrip as a bonus action?
Usually no. Cantrips typically require an action to cast. However, abilities such as a sorcerer’s Quickened Spell metamagic can allow them to cast a cantrip as a bonus action.
9. Can I use a bonus action to use an item?
Generally, no. There are a few items or class features that allow this, but typically interacting with or using an item is an action.
10. Can I make an offhand attack as a bonus action without Two Weapon Fighting?
No. Two-Weapon fighting grants you the ability to attack with a second weapon as a bonus action, but without it you cannot do this.
11. Can I throw a dagger as a bonus action?
Yes, but not without a bonus action feature that allows it. Thrown is a weapon property and the attack uses an action. If you attack using a bonus action, you can throw a dagger at the same time but not if you aren’t attacking with a bonus action feature.
12. Can I grapple or shove as a bonus action?
Not without a feature that allows it. Grappling and shoving are typically attack actions, however there are certain features that will allow you to do this using a bonus action.
13. Does Haste give me a second bonus action?
No. The haste spell grants an extra action per turn, but this cannot be used for bonus actions.
14. Can I cast two bonus action spells in one turn?
No. You can only take one bonus action per turn, even if you have the resources to do so.
15. Does the rule of no two bonus actions apply to readied actions?
Yes. As stated above, you can only take a bonus action if you also take an action, readied actions are not actions but rather a reaction after an action that occurs on your turn, so you cannot do this.
Conclusion
The rule of one bonus action per turn is a core aspect of D&D 5e’s action economy. Understanding this limitation is crucial for playing effectively and designing balanced encounters. While multiple options for bonus actions can be powerful, being limited to one per turn encourages strategic decision-making and keeps the game challenging and engaging. Remember that bonus actions are not just extra actions; they are a specific, limited resource that must be used carefully.