Unleashing Arcane Fury: How Many Cantrips Can You REALLY Cast in a Turn in D&D 5e?
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So, you’re itching to unleash a torrent of magical energy, a veritable storm of cantrips, upon your foes. But the burning question remains: just how many of these nifty, slot-free spells can you actually sling in a single turn in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition? The short answer is: it depends.
At its core, the rules allow for the casting of one leveled spell (1st level or higher) per turn. This is not just the spell level of the spell, but also the time frame. Cantrips (level 0 spells) are exempt from this restriction, but they’re intertwined with other rules about action economy and bonus actions.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, you can likely only cast one cantrip per turn. However, clever manipulation of actions, bonus actions, and specific class features can potentially unlock the ability to cast more. Let’s break down the intricacies.
The Foundation: Action Economy and Spellcasting
Before diving into the cantrip-slinging possibilities, it’s crucial to understand the foundation of action economy in 5e:
- Action: Every turn, you typically have one action. Casting most spells, including many cantrips, requires using this action.
- Bonus Action: Some spells and abilities can be cast as a bonus action. This is separate from your action.
- Reaction: Reactions are triggered by specific events and can interrupt the normal flow of a turn.
- Movement: A character can move their speed during their turn.
- Free Action/Interaction: Some minor actions, like speaking a short phrase, don’t require an action.
The crucial rule tying this together: “You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.” This means if you cast any spell as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast is a cantrip with a casting time of one action. It does not matter whether that bonus action spell is a cantrip, a first level spell, or a ninth level spell. If you are casting a spell with your bonus action then you can only cast a cantrip with your action.
When Can You Cast Multiple Cantrips?
Here are the scenarios where you can potentially cast more than one cantrip in a turn:
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Action Surge (Fighter): Fighters with the Action Surge feature can take an additional action on their turn. This extra action can be used to cast another cantrip. So, a fighter who has multiclassed and gotten spellcasting can use action surge to cast 2 cantrips in one turn.
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Haste Spell: The Haste spell grants an additional action that can be used for attacking, dashing, disengaging, hiding, or using an object. Despite the cantrip including an attack, cantrips use the Cast a Spell action. Therefore, you cannot cast a cantrip with the extra action from Haste.
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Bonus Action Cantrip: If a class feature or feat allows you to cast a specific cantrip as a bonus action, you can also cast another cantrip using your action. Note the bonus action cantrip has to be due to a specific ability or feat.
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Bladesinger Wizard (Level 6): At 6th level, Bladesinger wizards gain the Extra Attack feature and can replace one of those attacks with a cantrip. This effectively allows them to weave a cantrip into their melee attacks.
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Reactions (Potentially): The War Caster feat allows you to cast a spell (which can include a cantrip) as a reaction when a creature provokes an opportunity attack. This reaction can happen on another creature’s turn, which is technically not your turn, or it can happen on your turn, but the reaction is not an action or a bonus action.
The Bonus Action Spellcasting Restriction
This is where the confusion often arises. Remember the crucial rule: If you cast any spell – even a cantrip – as a bonus action, you are limited to only casting a cantrip with a casting time of one action for the rest of that turn. This severely limits your options for casting multiple cantrips and other spells in the same turn.
For example:
- You use your bonus action to cast Healing Word. You can only cast a cantrip as your action. You cannot cast Fireball, even if you have the action available.
- You use your bonus action to cast Shillelagh, a druid cantrip. You can only cast another cantrip with your action.
- A Sorcerer uses Quicken Spell to cast a cantrip as a bonus action. They can only cast another cantrip with their action.
Class-Specific Considerations
Some classes have features that can influence how many cantrips they can cast:
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Sorcerer: The Quicken Spell metamagic option allows sorcerers to cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action as a bonus action. This opens up the possibility of casting a cantrip as a bonus action and another cantrip as an action.
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Fighter (Eldritch Knight): Eldritch Knights can use their Action Surge to take another action, potentially allowing them to cast two cantrips if they have both actions available.
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Wizard (Bladesinger): As mentioned earlier, Bladesingers can weave cantrips into their melee attacks, effectively casting a cantrip alongside a weapon attack.
Strategic Cantrip Usage
Cantrips are often underestimated. While they don’t pack the punch of higher-level spells, they offer reliable damage and utility without consuming spell slots. Smart cantrip selection and usage are key to maximizing their effectiveness.
- Damage Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Fire Bolt, Ray of Frost, and Toll the Dead are all excellent choices for dealing damage.
- Utility Cantrips: Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, and Message can be incredibly versatile for problem-solving and social interactions.
- Support Cantrips: Guidance and Resistance can provide valuable buffs to allies.
By understanding the rules governing spellcasting and action economy, you can effectively optimize your cantrip usage and unleash your character’s full arcane potential. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and be creative with your spellcasting!
This knowledge also enhances learning in other areas. Check out the Games Learning Society to learn more about how games can increase learning capabilities. You can also go to the GamesLearningSociety.org website for more educational resources!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you cast two cantrips as two attacks?
No, not typically. Most characters can’t use their action to make an attack and cast a cantrip with that same action, barring features like the Bladesinger’s level 6 ability. If you want to cast another cantrip, you need to have Haste cast on you. Remember that while some cantrips involve attack rolls, all cantrips use the Cast a Spell action.
2. Can you cast a spell and a cantrip in a turn?
Yes, but with restrictions. You can cast a slotted spell and a cantrip in the same turn, so two cantrips should be fine only if you cast a spell (1st level or higher) as a bonus action. If you cast any spell as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast on that turn is a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
3. How many spells can I cast per turn in 5e?
A spellcaster can cast one spell of spell level 1-9 per turn, regardless of what type of action is used to cast it. If the level 1-9 spell being cast is one which has the casting time of 1 bonus action, if they should so choose, the spellcaster can also cast a cantrip using their action. The cantrip has to have a casting time of one action.
4. Can you quicken Fireball and then cast a second spell?
A Sorcerer quickens fireball first, making it a bonus action, then moves. Now they are bound by the cantrip rule as they already used a bonus action (Fireball) so now their cantrip takes the form of his regular attack. It all comes down to how the player stated their order. The only thing they can cast after quickening fireball is a cantrip.
5. Can you use Haste to cast 2 cantrips?
No, you can’t cast a spell with your extra action from Haste. Despite including an attack as part of the cantrip, all cantrips use the Cast a Spell action, like any other spell.
6. How many cantrips can you start with?
At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list. You learn additional wizard cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Wizard table.
7. Do you get cantrips when you multiclass?
Cantrips come via class feature, and thus you get them when multiclassing. This is plainly stated in the Sage Advice Compendium. Note that, unless otherwise stated, you can only choose spells available to that class. For example, if you are a Cleric and multiclass into Wizard, you only get access to Wizard cantrips.
8. Can you cast a cantrip and a bonus action cantrip?
So the normal rule applies: if you cast any spell – cantrip or not – as a Bonus Action, you can cast another spell on the same turn only if it’s a cantrip with a casting time of one Action.
9. Can you cast a cantrip as a bonus action?
The use of a cantrip costs an action; specifically, the “Cast a Spell” action. They can be cast as bonus actions through the Sorcerer’s Metamagic (Quickened Spell), and as reactions through the War Caster Feat, but beyond those bounds cantrips always cost an action to cast.
10. Can you cast a cantrip in rage?
You cannot cast spells while you are raging. This includes cantrips. You can, however, cast them while you are not raging. The rules of raging specify that you cannot cast spells while raging.
11. Do cantrips count as spell attacks?
Yes, cantrips do benefit from spell attack modifiers – d20 + Proficiency Bonus + Spellcasting stat modifier; but this bonus is only for the attack roll. Cantrips are treated as any other spells; just think of them like 0-level spells.
12. Can you cast Eldritch Blast twice?
Since the casting time of Eldritch Blast is one action, and a character only has one action, then baseline is that a Warlock can only cast it once per turn. Exceptions include Action Surge and certain metamagic options.
13. Can I cast a cantrip and melee attack in the same turn?
Not unless you are a Bladesinger wizard. Bladesinger wizards gain the ability to do so at 6th level, as they gain the ability to do a multiattack, and replace one of those attacks with a cantrip. Alternatively, you can use your action to cast a cantrip and your bonus action to make a melee attack if you are a Monk using the Martial Arts class ability.
14. Can I spam cantrips?
Yes! They are the caster’s equivalent to the basic melee attack. Spamming them is literally what they are for. Bigger spells are supposed to be used sparingly for the biggest effect.
15. Are cantrips worth it?
They make for reliable damage dealers or indispensable utility and don’t cost any of your precious spell slots to cast. How many you get depends on your class, and some half-casters like Paladins don’t get any at all. With this in mind, you’ll want to build your D&D arsenal intelligently.