Skip to main content
Role-playing Games

Return to Answer

added 241 characters in body
Source Link
Exempt-Medic
Exempt-Medic
  • 76.8k
  • 12
  • 298
  • 541

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

TheThus we do know that certain spells are indeed considered melee attacks and so it would seem Whirlwind Attack would let us use them.
However, this is also the case if we were to look at the section on Opportunity Attacks which states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So itIt would seem we couldcan use melee spell attacks for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking graspshocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?").
Here we see the precedent set, that even though opportunity attacks allow you to make a melee attack, they cannot be used to make melee spell attacks.
Similarly,Following this logic we can conclude that even though the Whilrwind Attack feature allows us to make a melee attack but, it cannot be used to make a melee spell attack.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Here we see the precedent set, that even though opportunity attacks allow you to make a melee attack they cannot be used to make melee spell attacks.
Similarly, the Whilrwind Attack feature allows us to make a melee attack but it cannot be used to make a melee spell attack.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

Thus we do know that certain spells are indeed considered melee attacks and so it would seem Whirlwind Attack would let us use them.
However, this is also the case if we were to look at the section on Opportunity Attacks which states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

It would seem we can use melee spell attacks for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?").
Here we see the precedent set that even though opportunity attacks allow you to make a melee attack, they cannot be used to make melee spell attacks.
Following this logic we can conclude that even though the Whilrwind Attack feature allows us to make a melee attack, it cannot be used to make a melee spell attack.

deleted 26 characters in body
Source Link
Exempt-Medic
Exempt-Medic
  • 76.8k
  • 12
  • 298
  • 541

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Following this precedentHere we would also not be able to usesee the Whirlwind Attack featureprecedent set, that even though opportunity attacks allow you to bypass the casting time requirement ofmake a melee attack they cannot be used to make melee spell attacks.
Something allowingSimilarly, the Whilrwind Attack feature allows us to make a melee attack does not allow usbut it cannot be used to make a melee spell attack apparently because spells having their own casting time prevents this.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Following this precedent we would also not be able to use the Whirlwind Attack feature to bypass the casting time requirement of a spell.
Something allowing us to make a melee attack does not allow us to make a melee spell attack apparently because spells having their own casting time prevents this.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Here we see the precedent set, that even though opportunity attacks allow you to make a melee attack they cannot be used to make melee spell attacks.
Similarly, the Whilrwind Attack feature allows us to make a melee attack but it cannot be used to make a melee spell attack.

added 166 characters in body
Source Link
Exempt-Medic
Exempt-Medic
  • 76.8k
  • 12
  • 298
  • 541

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Following this precedent we would also not be able to use the Whirlwind Attack feature to bypass the casting time requirement of a spell.
Something allowing us to make a melee attack does not allow us to make a melee spell attack apparently because spells having their own casting time prevents this.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Following this precedent we would also not be able to use the Whirlwind Attack feature to bypass the casting time requirement of a spell.

Following the precedent of the Sage Advice Compendium, Whirlwind Attack will not allow you to make a melee spell attack

The section on Melee Attacks states:

A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

The section on Opportunity Attacks states:

You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature.

So it would seem we could use melee spell for opportunity attacks; however, the Sage Advice Compendium has stated the following:

Q. Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?
A. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.

This is also showcased in this Q/A ("Can I use a spell to make an Opportunity Attack?") Following this precedent we would also not be able to use the Whirlwind Attack feature to bypass the casting time requirement of a spell.
Something allowing us to make a melee attack does not allow us to make a melee spell attack apparently because spells having their own casting time prevents this.

added 145 characters in body
Source Link
Exempt-Medic
Exempt-Medic
  • 76.8k
  • 12
  • 298
  • 541
Source Link
Exempt-Medic
Exempt-Medic
  • 76.8k
  • 12
  • 298
  • 541