Green fire blade spell

[Whit]

Is there an errata somewhere or does it suck between lvl 1-4. But gets better at lvl 5>
1-4 lvl Cast spell on a weapon make an attack on a creature. If you hit do normal weapon damage and target another creature within 5 feet to do spell modifier damage to it.
At level 5 is where it gets good
Add 1d8 fire damage to first creature hit and 1d8 plus spell modifier to second creature within 5 feet

[OldTrees1]

Level 1-4 is better than you think:
Eldritch Knight hit puny goblin with stick OR hit puny goblins with stick AND burn adjacent puny goblin. Which does the wise Cleric suggest the Knight do?

[Aett_Thorn]

Yup, if there are two creatures near you, GFB is almost always going to be better than just attacking one of them, no matter the level.

[hymer]

Level 1-4 is better than you think:
Eldritch Knight hit puny goblin with stick OR hit puny goblins with stick AND burn adjacent puny goblin. Which does the wise Cleric suggest the Knight do?

Wise words from OldTrees. Let the wind waft the leaves.

@ OP: You have to consider what you compare it to. Let's take an example of someone barely qualified to use this cantrip, and with a poor weapon for it. Let's say someone with +2 attack stat and +2 casting stat. And then they use a tiny dagger. That's 1d4+2 weapon damage and 2 fire damage, for an average total of 6.5. What do other cantrips do on average? 5.5 (1d10) is pretty good for a cantrip.

[DivisibleByZero]

@ OP: You have to consider what you compare it to. Let's take an example of someone barely qualified to use this cantrip, and with a poor weapon for it. Let's say someone with +2 attack stat and +2 casting stat. And then they use a tiny dagger. That's 1d4+2 weapon damage and 2 fire damage, for an average total of 6.5. What do other cantrips do on average? 5.5 (1d10) is pretty good for a cantrip.

Or just compare it to other cantrips.
1d8 + nothing vs. 1dX+mod +mod to another creature. It doesn't even matter what the die is, the latter is superior, which is why it's melee only.

[hymer]

Or just compare it to other cantrips.

What was I comparing to?

[Asmotherion]

Level 1-4 is better than you think:
Eldritch Knight hit puny goblin with stick OR hit puny goblins with stick AND burn adjacent puny goblin. Which does the wise Cleric suggest the Knight do?

Exactly. You don't have extra attack before level 5, so anything giving you extra versality makes you better. It's arguably worse for you after level 5 because it requires the cast a spell action instead of the attack action, meaning you won't be able to profit of your extra attack.

[Grod_The_Giant]

Without Extra Attack, Green Flame Blade or Booming Blade is better than a normal melee attack (since it's literally "make a melee attack, AND there's sometimes an added bonus"). With Extra Attack, they're a little more damaging when their rider triggers, and a little less damaging if it does not.

That said, things like TWF tilt the math more towards normal attacks, as many things are triggered by the "Attack" action specifically. Similarly, "stat-to-cantrip-damage" abilities like the Draconic Sorcerer's tilt the math towards the weapon cantrips.

[OldTrees1]

Exactly. You don't have extra attack before level 5, so anything giving you extra versality makes you better. It's arguably worse for you after level 5 because it requires the cast a spell action instead of the attack action, meaning you won't be able to profit of your extra attack.

It depends from 5-10.

2dX+2Mod1 vs 1dX+2d8+Mod1+Mod2

Removing like terms:
1dX+Mod1 vs 2d8+Mod2

If we assume favorably towards Extra Attack:
1dX= 2d6
Mod1 = 4
Mod2 = 2

2d6+4 vs 2d8+2 (equal on average)

So as Grod says, GFB tends to be more damage than Extra Attack when the rider triggers although GFB can be outclassed even then for some fighting styles.

[sambojin]

It's nice on two-handers lvl1-4, but might not be as good as two attacks with a big weapon after that.

It's quite a lot more "reliable" for two weapon fighting (essentially being a flat +damage action attack against multiple opponents, alongside a bonus attack anyway), or "more better" for sword&board at 1-4 due to little damage output or options possible, and about equal at 5-6'ish for either, depending on stats, abilities and situation.

It's probably better to look at it as "gives casting mod damage, with reach or mini-cleave" to your attack, than a specifically "better" attack. But it's only on one attack if you don't have any bonus action options. If you play on a grid, it opens up movement options. If in imagination theatre, it gives casting mod damage against foes with high regularity.

It's not bad either way. It's not "better" at 5-10, but it's not horrible, or even that situational. There's not much reason to not use it if you normally couldn't hit a creature without it, so even as an proper action, it adds options to how you do things.

Depends on class, but it's just a very nice little cantrip, that stays pretty relevant for melee up to level 10. It's an option, but usually not a bad option, unless you're fighting against fire resistant or immune (which you often won't at low levels).