Does Crusher Work with Eldritch Blast? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether the Crusher feat interacts with the Eldritch Blast cantrip is a hot topic among D&D 5th edition players. The short answer is: no, directly, Crusher does not work with Eldritch Blast in its base form.
Here’s why: the Crusher feat specifies that its benefits trigger when you hit a creature with a bludgeoning damage attack. Eldritch Blast, by default, deals force damage, not bludgeoning damage. Thus, the knockback and critical hit benefits from the Crusher feat will not apply.
However, the interaction isn’t entirely dead in the water. There are ways to creatively and indirectly combine these elements to have them work together, which we’ll explore below. But first, let’s look at the specific mechanics.
Why They Don’t Naturally Synergize
Crusher Feat Mechanics
The Crusher feat, introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, provides the following benefits:
- You increase one ability score by 1 (either Strength or Constitution).
- Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move the target 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.
- When you score a critical hit with a bludgeoning attack, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
The key phrase here is “bludgeoning damage attack”. It’s not enough to simply make an attack; the damage type must be specifically bludgeoning.
Eldritch Blast Mechanics
Eldritch Blast, a staple for Warlocks, requires a ranged spell attack. Here’s what you need to remember:
- It deals force damage.
- At higher levels, it fires multiple beams, each with a separate attack roll.
- It is a spell attack, not a weapon attack.
Since Eldritch Blast inflicts force damage by default, it doesn’t trigger the Crusher feat’s effect as designed.
How To Make Crusher Work With Eldritch Blast
Although a direct pairing doesn’t work, there are a few creative workarounds. These require additional effort and resource investment.
The Scribes Wizard Technique
The most common trick involves using a Scribes Wizard’s ability to change a spell’s damage type. Specifically, a Scribes Wizard can change the damage type of a spell that deals a particular type of damage to another type on a list including bludgeoning.
- Pick the Right Spell: Scribes Wizard can use a spell that deals a particular type of damage to make it deal bludgeoning. This spell needs to be an attack (not a save spell) and is usually not a cantrip since you need to prepare a spell to do that.
- Cast With Bludgeoning: Cast your spell, using your Scribes ability to make it deal bludgeoning damage.
- Apply Crusher: Your spell, now dealing bludgeoning damage, can potentially trigger the Crusher feat.
While not directly combining Crusher and Eldritch Blast, this method allows the same character to apply Crusher, but this method won’t apply to Eldritch Blast itself.
The Magic Stone Trick
Another approach is using a Magic Stone cantrip:
- Use Magic Stone: Cast the Magic Stone cantrip to create three stones that can be thrown or used as a sling to create ranged attacks that deals bludgeoning damage.
- Use Crusher: Hitting a creature with the stones will now trigger the crusher feat, so it can be used in ranged situations.
FAQs: Crusher and Eldritch Blast
1. Can I use Crusher with Eldritch Blast if I make it a bludgeoning attack somehow?
As mentioned above, if you find a way to make Eldritch Blast deal bludgeoning damage (typically, not possible on its own) then, yes, it would trigger the Crusher feat. The Scribes Wizard trick described above makes this possible but not for Eldritch Blast.
2. Does the Agonizing Blast invocation change this?
No. Agonizing Blast only adds your Charisma modifier to the damage roll of Eldritch Blast. It does not change the damage type. Therefore, it does not enable interaction with Crusher.
3. Does Twinned Spell work with Eldritch Blast?
Yes, but only at low levels. Twinned Spell can only target one creature with a spell that can target only one creature. Eldritch Blast at levels 1-4 only fires one beam at a time and can be twinned. After that, it does not.
4. Can I use Quicken Spell and cast Eldritch Blast twice in one turn?
Yes. Quicken Spell allows you to cast a spell as a bonus action. This means you could cast Eldritch Blast as your action and then again as your bonus action (if you have enough Sorcery Points and haven’t used any other bonus actions that turn).
5. Can I use Powerful Cantrip to make Eldritch Blast better?
Yes. Powerful Cantrip adds 2.5 damage for each beam that misses, so for all beams on average, you would add 7.5 damage.
6. Why is Eldritch Blast so highly regarded?
Eldritch Blast is powerful because of its versatility and customizability. Invocations like Agonizing Blast add damage. Also, it can push creatures back using other invocations. All these factors make it very efficient.
7. Can I use Hex with Eldritch Blast?
Yes, you can cast Hex on a target and then attack them with Eldritch Blast. Each beam of Eldritch Blast will do extra damage from Hex.
8. Can Eldritch Adept give me Agonizing Blast if I don’t have any Warlock levels?
Yes, as long as you have the Eldritch Blast cantrip. The feat doesn’t require you to be a Warlock.
9. Does the stone crusher work like the feat Crusher?
No. Stone crusher is a concept that is used in construction and is not related to the Crusher feat in any way.
10. Does Crusher work with unarmed strikes?
Yes. Crusher specifies that it works with a bludgeoning attack. Unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning damage and will work.
11. Can I use Booming Blade with Crusher?
Crusher does not work directly with Booming Blade, but you can still take both feats. Booming Blade requires a melee attack, which is fine with Crusher, but it doesn’t add bludgeoning damage. You can use Booming Blade with a bludgeoning melee weapon and still get the benefits of Crusher.
12. Can you use Eldritch Blast twice in one round?
Yes, but not naturally. You can use the Action Surge feature (available to Fighters) to cast it twice in one round or quicken it with the Metamagic option for Sorcerers to cast it as a bonus action and again as an action, but one cantrip as an action is not supposed to stack.
13. Can you counterspell Eldritch Blast?
Yes. Eldritch Blast is a spell, and therefore can be the target of Counterspell.
14. Can Eldritch Blast push large creatures?
Yes. Eldritch Blast with push invocations can push any size of creatures. This means that, even huge creatures can be moved if you hit them with multiple beams, moving them 5 feet per hit.
15. Is Eldritch Blast better than Fire Bolt?
On its own, Eldritch Blast is only slightly better than Fire Bolt. However, with invocations like Agonizing Blast, it far surpasses Fire Bolt. So, it is only considered much better because of the customizations available, which makes it superior in most circumstances.
Conclusion
While the Crusher feat and Eldritch Blast don’t naturally interact, creative D&D players can find ways to combine their unique features. Understanding the mechanics of each feature allows you to optimize your build and use spells and feats to their greatest potential. Remember, the rules provide a framework, but imagination makes the game truly engaging!