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Unlocking Bonus Action Cantrips: A Guide for D&D 5e Players

So, you want to maximize your action economy in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition? You’ve come to the right place! The question of which cantrips can be cast as a bonus action comes up often, and the answer is surprisingly simple, yet also a gateway to deeper strategic considerations.

Currently, in the vast landscape of officially published D&D 5e material, there are only two cantrips that can be cast as a bonus action by default:

Magic Stone: This transmutation cantrip, available to Druids, Artificers, and Warlocks (through the Pact of the Talisman from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything), allows you to imbue up to three pebbles with magical energy. You hurl these stones using a ranged weapon attack. The casting time is 1 bonus action.
Shillelagh: Primarily a Druid cantrip (also available to Rangers through certain subclasses, and Artificers through infusions), Shillelagh enchants a club or quarterstaff, making it deal 1d8 bludgeoning damage and allowing you to use your Wisdom modifier for attack and damage rolls instead of Strength. The casting time is 1 bonus action.

That’s it! Just two. However, the simplicity of this answer belies the complexity of how spellcasting and bonus actions interact in D&D 5e. The rarity of bonus action cantrips often leads to misconceptions and missed opportunities for optimizing character builds and combat tactics.

Why Are Bonus Action Cantrips Important?

The action economy is king in D&D. Being able to squeeze in extra actions, especially powerful ones, can dramatically increase your character’s effectiveness. Bonus action cantrips provide unique advantages:

Flexibility: They free up your action for other crucial tasks, such as attacking, dashing, or using class features.
Synergy: They can be combined with other spells and abilities to create powerful combinations.
Resource Management: Because cantrips don’t consume spell slots, bonus action cantrips offer a sustainable way to contribute to combat without depleting your resources.

While the list of default bonus action cantrips is small, remember that other game elements can make additional cantrips available as bonus actions, as we will discuss in the FAQs.

Maximizing the Use of Magic Stone and Shillelagh

Let’s dive a little deeper into the strategic use of these two cantrips.

Magic Stone: Beyond the Sling

Synergy with Rogues: A Rogue with the Sneak Attack feature can benefit greatly from Magic Stone. They can have a familiar (obtained via the Find Familiar spell or other means) use its action to hurl the magically imbued stones, granting the Rogue Sneak Attack from range. Since the familiar is making a ranged weapon attack (with the stone), it qualifies for Sneak Attack.
Handing off Stones: Party members who don’t normally excel in ranged combat can become effective ranged attackers with Magic Stone.
Creative Uses: Don’t limit yourself to simply slinging the stones. They can be incorporated into traps, used to trigger environmental effects, or even act as makeshift distractions.

Shillelagh: The Wisdom-Based Warrior

Druids and Rangers: For Druids, Shillelagh is practically mandatory, especially at lower levels. It allows them to remain effective in melee combat even with lower Strength scores. Rangers, especially those who favor melee combat, can also benefit greatly.
Multiclass Potential: Dipping into Druid for a single level can provide other classes with access to Shillelagh, opening up interesting build possibilities for characters who want to prioritize Wisdom but still be effective in melee.
Combining with Feats: Feats like Polearm Master or Great Weapon Master can further enhance the effectiveness of a Shillelagh-wielding character.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about casting cantrips as a bonus action, clarifying the rules and highlighting common misconceptions.

1. Can you cast two cantrips as a bonus action?

No. The rules for casting spells with a bonus action state that if you cast any spell (including a cantrip) as a bonus action, the only other spell you can cast on that turn must be a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action. You cannot cast two spells as a bonus action on the same turn.

2. Can you use Eldritch Blast as a bonus action?

Not by default. Eldritch Blast has a casting time of 1 action. However, certain class features, feats, or magic items could potentially alter its casting time or allow you to cast it as a bonus action under specific circumstances.

3. Can you cast a cantrip and attack as a bonus action?

Potentially, yes. Certain class features, like the War Magic feature of the Eldritch Knight Fighter, allow you to cast a cantrip as an action and then make one weapon attack as a bonus action. Without such a feature, this is not possible.

4. Can Warlocks cast any cantrip as a bonus action?

No. The passage in the source material is inaccurate. Warlocks gain proficiency in Arcana, but this does not grant them the ability to cast any cantrip as a bonus action.

5. If you cast a cantrip as a bonus action, can you also cast a cantrip as your action?

Yes. If you cast a spell, including a cantrip, as a bonus action, you can still cast a cantrip as your action. The action spell must have a casting time of one action.

6. Can a Druid use any cantrip as a bonus action?

No. Druids can only cast Magic Stone and Shillelagh as a bonus action because those are the only cantrips available to them with a casting time of one bonus action.

7. Can you cast two cantrips in one turn with Action Surge?

Yes, with a caveat. If you cast a cantrip as a bonus action, you can use Action Surge to cast another cantrip as an action. However, you cannot cast a leveled spell with Action Surge if you have cast any spell as a bonus action.

8. Can you cast two cantrips with Extra Attack?

No. The Extra Attack feature specifically states that you can attack twice (or more, depending on your level) when you take the Attack action on your turn. Casting a spell, even a cantrip, is the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action. Some class features, such as the Bladesinger’s Extra Attack, may allow you to replace one of your attacks with a cantrip, but this doesn’t allow you to cast two cantrips.

9. Can you use Fire Bolt as a bonus action?

Not by default. Fire Bolt requires an action to cast. Unless you have a specific feature or magic item that allows you to cast it as a bonus action, you cannot.

10. Can you cast Hex and Eldritch Blast on the same turn?

Yes. Hex requires a bonus action to cast, and Eldritch Blast requires an action. The bonus action spellcasting rule allows you to cast a bonus action spell (Hex) and an action cantrip (Eldritch Blast) in the same turn.

11. Does the Powerful Cantrip feat work with Eldritch Blast?

There is no feat called “Powerful Cantrip” in the official D&D 5e rules. There are a few ways to increase the power of your cantrips, such as the Spell Sniper feat, but these don’t allow missed cantrip attacks to do half damage.

12. Can Eldritch Blast be twinned?

At early levels, yes. The Twinned Spell metamagic option allows you to target a second creature with a spell that normally targets only one. Because early level Eldritch Blast only has one beam, it can be twinned. However, at higher levels when Eldritch Blast fires more than one beam, each of those beams can be fired at a new target, and it can no longer be twinned.

13. Can I cast a cantrip while concentrating on a spell?

Yes. Casting a cantrip does not automatically break concentration. You only break concentration if you cast another spell that also requires concentration, take damage, or are incapacitated.

14. Can you use cantrips as a reaction?

Not usually. Some feats, class features, or magical items may allow you to cast a specific cantrip as a reaction under certain conditions.

15. Does Haste allow you to cast two cantrips?

No. The extra action granted by the Haste spell can be used for the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object actions. It cannot be used to cast a spell. Despite including an attack as part of the cantrip, all cantrips use the Cast a Spell action, like any other spell.

Beyond the Basics: Creative Spellcasting

While Magic Stone and Shillelagh are the only cantrips that can inherently be cast as a bonus action, clever players and DMs can explore creative ways to circumvent this limitation:

Class Features: Certain class features, like those of the Sorcerer (Quickened Spell Metamagic) or the Fighter (Eldritch Knight’s War Magic), can alter the casting time of spells, potentially allowing you to cast a cantrip as a bonus action.
Magic Items: There might be rare magic items that allow you to cast specific cantrips as a bonus action.
Homebrew Rules: If your DM is open to it, you could explore homebrew rules or feats that grant you the ability to cast certain cantrips as a bonus action.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the rules surrounding bonus action cantrips is crucial for maximizing your character’s potential in D&D 5e. While the list of cantrips that can be cast as a bonus action is small, understanding the nuances of spellcasting and action economy opens up a world of strategic possibilities. Remember to always consult the Player’s Handbook and other official sourcebooks for the most accurate and up-to-date information. You can also learn more about the intersection of gaming and education at the Games Learning Society, located at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep having fun exploring the endless possibilities of D&D!

The action economy of D&D is very important to learn in order to play as well as possible. Understanding how spells work with it is one of the most crucial points.

What cantrips can be cast as a bonus action?