Questions tagged [actions]
This question involves the rules that apply to taking a certain action in a specified system.
2
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1answer
68 views
What action is used to throw a javelin of lightning?
When you use a javelin of lightning, exactly what kind of action are you performing?
I'd initially assumed it would just be using your entire action, but it doesn't specifically state so. If anything,...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Is using Doomspeak a standard action?
Doomspeak is a [bardic] feat from Champions of Ruin with the following benefit:
You can spend one of your bardic music uses to utter a string of crass and appalling epithets and curses at one enemy ...
5
votes
1answer
199 views
Can Storm Sphere's bonus action be used on the same turn the spell is cast?
I am wondering whether one could cast Storm Sphere as an action, and in the same turn immediately follow it up with the spell's bonus action to deal more damage.
I have a feeling this doesn't work, ...
6
votes
1answer
127 views
How does the Healing Spirit spell work when healing unconscious characters?
When a character is knocked unconscious (and about to begin making death saving throws) in a square covered by healing spirit, how does their next turn work?
Healing spirit will spare them from ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Can a Fighter use his Extra Attack to draw a weapon as a free action?
The rules state:
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment
for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you
could open a door during your move as you ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a Reaction Cantrip be used as an action and bonus action? [closed]
I have a character in my most recent campaign. He is a homebrew race that weakens all checks and rolls in sunlight (unless properly covered), but gives +1AC and the Fire Bolt Cantrip.
His scenario: ...
9
votes
1answer
768 views
Is a Move any kind of movement, or a specific type of action?
The answer about the Bulette brings up an interesting question.
Is Move a defined game term?
Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can't willingly end your move in its space.
(Basic ...
2
votes
0answers
74 views
Action Surge question [duplicate]
The Player's Handbook says that Action Surge grants one additional action on your turn, once per short or long rest.
The Extra Attack section of the PHB says that at level 11 (for example) when ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
What kind of action is the Investiture of the Erinyes' beckoning?
While the spell is in effect, the subject can beckon a creature it can see clearly, forcing it to approach unless the creature succeeds on a Will save against the spell's save DC.
What kind of action ...
5
votes
2answers
207 views
Can a two-weapon combatant draw both weapons at once?
The only rule regarding this that I've managed to find is (PHB p190):
You can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Decisive Strike and secondary attacks
If my Warforged Monk has the Jaws of Death feat (provides a secondary natural weapon), can I use it after Decisive Strike?
20
votes
2answers
1k views
Can you cast a bonus-action spell, then Ready a leveled spell on the same turn?
In D&D 5e, a spellcaster (we’ll use cleric as an example) can cast a spell as a bonus action and one as an action on the same turn, but one must be a cantrip - for example, in the same turn, a ...
3
votes
2answers
65 views
What actions are involved when jumping down?
A character wants to move to the edge of a pit, jump down to the floor 10 feet below and move on to reach a certain spot at the lower floor. The total horizontal distance is equal to his movement. He ...
5
votes
1answer
51 views
Can staggered creatures use immediate actions?
The Staggered condition says (PHB p313):
[...] A staggered character may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can she take fullround actions).
I know the text ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
What action is picking up your disarmed weapon while Prone?
I have a fighter with Two-Weapon Fighting. In a Full Attack Action, I make a successful Trip attempt with my first attack and a successful Disarm attempt with the second Attack.
The foe is now prone ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Can you use swift actions as other action types?
Let’s say I am playing a Tome of Battle class that utilizes many stances and boosts. Can I ‘slow down’ a swift action and have it count as a move or standard action?
Example:
Swift action: use a ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Does the tentacle rod prevent multiattack?
Made by the drow, this rod is a magic weapon that ends in three rubbery tentacles. While holding the rod, you can use an action to direct each tentacle to attack a creature you can see within 15 feet ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
When exactly can the target make an Int check to end Detect Thoughts?
The spell description for Detect Thoughts in D&D 5e says that after you have done a deep probe "unless you shift your attention to another creature's thoughts, the creature can use its action on ...
5
votes
1answer
124 views
If the target of Staggering Strike already started an action, can it do anything else?
With Staggering Strike, if an enemy moves and provokes an attack of opportunity, I hit it, and it fails the save, it becomes staggered.
Staggered:
A staggered character may take a single move ...
4
votes
1answer
709 views
Can the help action trigger a Rogue's sneak attack?
Let's say that I determined the best course of action is using the Help action to give my Rogue buddy an advantage on his attack instead of attacking by myself. Would that attack then gain the sneak ...
3
votes
3answers
571 views
How does the Staff of the Python work?
The D&D 5th edition rules about the staff of the python state the following:
You can use an action to speak this staff's command word and throw the staff on the ground within 10 feet of you. ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
How does the Spiritual Weapon spell work?
I am a 5th level cleric in D&D and I am a little unsure about how to use spiritual weapon, which is cast with a bonus action.
The spell says that you create a weapon and then you can attack. ...
3
votes
2answers
236 views
Can I cast spells with material components while wielding a two-handed weapon without the Improved Pact Weapon invocation?
I plan on creating a Hexblade warlock. I want to use a two-handed weapon by level 3 and until then a longsword. I won't use a shield. So if I cast a spell without any material components, I won't have ...
6
votes
1answer
231 views
Can effects like Darkness, Light, etc. be strobed in a single turn?
I've seen multiple questions (including one that I have written) that attempt some degree of maneuvering of an object or effect that would allow them to "strobe" the effects of spells like Light or ...
18
votes
6answers
4k views
Can I cast Darkness in my mouth so I can turn it on/off each round without having to use an action?
I am playing a 5e game, and I had the idea of casting darkness in my mouth, or on a small rock that I then place in my mouth.
At the start of each of my turns, I close my mouth. This obscures the ...
3
votes
2answers
280 views
How to trigger the AC condition on Dancing Scarves during a full-round attack as a Two-Weapons fighting Rogue?
I found the armor "Varisian dancing scarves" which give a +2 AC only if moving around at least 10 feet. And as a Two Weapons fighting Rogue (Unchained), I would like to find a way to be able to use ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
Can a tortle character use the extra action from the Haste spell to withdraw into their shell?
Can the extra action from the haste spell be used by a tortle (from The Tortle Package) to withdraw into their shell?
6
votes
3answers
498 views
What would the effect be of eliminating the rule preventing other non-cantrip spells on a turn if a bonus-action spell is cast?
The rule on bonus-action spells states:
A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven't already taken a ...
5
votes
1answer
88 views
What action is it to combine two shang gou into “a single one-handed weapon”?
The shang gou weapon entry reads:
Forged in pairs, these solid metal blades end in curved hooks, while the hand guards are hammered into outward-facing spiked crescents.
Benefit: Both the ...
12
votes
1answer
774 views
Which uses of Bonus-Action spellcasting are legal?
Looking at other questions about casting spells as a bonus action has left me trying to keep a lot of information in my head about whether a given combination of spells is legal according to the ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
What melee attack does a doppelganger use if it picks up a weapon while shapechanged? [closed]
The doppelganger has the following traits and actions:
Traits
Shapechanger: The doppelganger can use its action to Polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its ...
-1
votes
2answers
383 views
War Caster Feat: Opportunity Attack Casting following a Bonus Action spell
The war caster feat includes the following feature:
When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from
you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather
...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Is drinking a potion an action, a supplemental action, or a free action?
In the Dresden Files RPG, a character can, under normal circumstances, take one action (attack, maneuver, block, etc.) on their turn in an exchange (YS 199). If the character wants to perform a minor ...
19
votes
4answers
944 views
Which balancing issues, if any, would arise from allowing PCs to spend actions on bonus action features?
I understand that RAW, features/spells/etc. that require a bonus action (e.g. Bardic Inspiration or Healing Word) cannot be used with a regular action instead (see this question).
However, what would ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
Can Cunning Action be taken more than once per turn?
The rogue's Cunning Action feature states:
Starting at 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Can Counterspell be used as a Legendary Action by an Archlich?
An Archlich in a WotC adventure is listed as being able to cast one of their at-will spells as a Legendary Action. Here's the quote:
At-Will Spell. [the lich] casts one of his at-will spells.
The ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Is Disarm an entire action, or a replacement for a single Weapon Attack?
My confusion comes from the somewhat ambiguous wording of the Disarm action as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide (p. 271):
A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Does Dual Wielding count as two attacks, therefore two actions?
I’m not sure if two weapon fighting and duel wielding are the same thing.
I’m very new, like first game new. What I’m wondering is: if I have the Dual Wielding Feature, do I make two separate weapon ...
9
votes
2answers
220 views
Can a Slowed creature cast a spell that costs a bonus action on its next turn?
The rules on casting a spell with a casting time of 1 bonus action state:
[...] You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
The slow ...
2
votes
1answer
145 views
Can I Specify who the Help Action helps? [duplicate]
Let's say my party is attacking a dragon. I'm a Mastermind rogue who can use Master of Tactics to use the Help action as a bonus action if I'm within 30' of the dragon. Can I specify who in my party I'...
5
votes
3answers
340 views
Can you draw/sheathe a weapon while Dashing?
In the Player's Handbook (PHB), the rules for taking the Dash action read:
When you take the Dash action, you gain extra movement for the current
turn. The increase equals your speed, after ...
4
votes
2answers
574 views
Can you make a bonus-action attack from Two-Weapon Fighting before you take your action?
The rules on Two-Weapon Fighting state:
When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Why can I cast a reaction spell on the same turn as an action spell, but not on the same turn as a bonus-action spell? [closed]
Jeremy Crawford mentions the following example in this Sage Advice column (reiterated in the Sage Advice Compendium):
Cornelius the wizard is casting fireball on his turn, and his foe casts ...
2
votes
2answers
228 views
Can I retrieve and then stow away an item every turn without using up my Action?
The context for this question is a Shadow Origin Sorcerer that tries to fight exclusively within the Darkness spell created by their Eyes of the Dark feature (a feature which permits the sorcerer to ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How many times can you exhale magical energy with one casting of the Dragon's Breath spell?
I need a brief clarification on the spell dragon's breath (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 154):
Until the spell ends, the creature can use an action to exhale energy of the chosen type in a 15-...
9
votes
2answers
528 views
Can a human fighter use an action to attack with a greataxe and then a bonus action to do an unarmed attack?
I'm a fairly new DM and we are playing through the Starter Set campaign (Lost Mine of Phandelver).
One of my players, who chose the pregen human fighter, wanted to punch a goblin with his bonus ...
6
votes
1answer
199 views
Is a slowed creature denied the action to break free from Hold Person spell?
Hold person is a spell which prevents the target from doing anything except attempting to escape the spell as a full round action on a failed save. Slow is a spell which denies targets some actions on ...
4
votes
1answer
568 views
Can an attack with Alter Self's Natural Weapons be used at the time of casting?
If you cast alter self, you can give yourself natural weapons (to increase unarmed strikes to 1d6):
You assume a different form. When you cast the spell, choose one of the following options, the ...
6
votes
2answers
594 views
Does two weapon fighting's qualifying “attack” have to be part of the “Attack” action?
The rules for two-weapon fighting state:
When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different ...
10
votes
2answers
472 views
Does drinking an Antitoxin take an action?
Most items under Adventuring Gear (pg 150 of PHB) either explicitly state that they require an action (the Use Object action, to be specific) to use (eg. Caltrops, Holy Water, Climber's Kit) or ...
