Casting spells question

[MThurston]

It says in the rules that if you cast a bonus action spell, you can only cast a cantrip that is a 1 action spell on the same turn.

Can you cast a 1 action spell and then cast a bonus action spell?

Does using a bonus action to transfer a hex stop you from casting anything but a cantrip spell?

Thank you.

[Mad_Saulot]

You can only cast 1 spell and 1 cantrip per turn,

[Zanthy1]

You can only cast 1 spell and 1 cantrip per turn,

Which means, the order in which you do it does not matter.

[HappyDaze]

Does using a bonus action to transfer a hex stop you from casting anything but a cantrip spell?

No. The limit only applies to casting a spell, not to other specified actions or bonus actions taken with a previously cast spell.

[Man_Over_Game]

You can only cast 1 spell and 1 cantrip per turn,

This is actually kind of incorrect.

The official ruling is, if you cast a leveled spell with a bonus action, you can only ever cast cantrip spells with your main action in the same turn.

This means that:

You can cast a leveled spell with your main Action, casting a Bonus Action cantrip no spell with a Bonus Action.
You can cast a cantrip with your main Action, casting a Bonus Action leveled spell.
You can cast two leveled spells with your main Action + Action Surge, casting a Bonus Action cantrip no spell with a Bonus Action
You can cast two cantrips with your main Action + Action Surge, casting a Bonus Action leveled spell.


There is one major loophole, with spells like Call Lightning, Witch Bolt, and Sunbeam, or any spell that lets you trigger it again with an Action. Since you're not "casting" the spell, you can technically trigger it as many times as you want as you have actions, even after casting a spell.

This means that a Divine Soul Sorcerer, with Fighter's Action Surge, could cast Sunbeam with a Bonus Action by using Quicken Spell, and then activate it twice with their Action Surge in the same turn, getting 3 uses of the spell at once.

With other effects, like attacking with Spiritual Weapon, or transferring Hex/Hunter's Mark, you're not actually casting a spell and doesn't interact with this ruling in any way.

[Misterwhisper]

During your turn you can cast one spell that has a casting time of one action, if you cast another spell that turn as a bonus action, it can only be a cantrip.

Ex.

Normal Firebolt, quicken fireball as sorcerer: ok, 1 normal spell, 1 cantrip, 1 normal action, 1 bonus action.
Normal Fireball, bonus action Misty Step: no, that is two spells the have spell levels to cast.
Bonus action Misty Step, bonus action Sanctuary: No, that is two bonus actions.
Normal Firebolt, quicken firebolt as sorcerer: ok, both are cantrips, 1 normal action, 1 bonus action

Note that spells cast as a reaction do not count.

Ex. You can cast fireball as an action using a normal spell slot, if the enemy tries to counterspell, you can use a reaction to cast your own counterspell despite it also using a spell slot.

Note that using an ability from a spell does not count as casting a spell.

Ex. Moving the target of hex using a bonus action is not casting a spell, so it does not interfere with your casting at all other than it costs you your bonus action.

Note also that unlike older editions, you can not "trade down" an action.
Ex. You can not use your normal action to cast a bonus action spell, even though a normal action uses more time.
A normal action is only a normal action, a bonus action is only a bonus action.

Also, unlike other editions, moving is not an action at all, there is no "move action"

[Tanarii]

Bonus Action
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 bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action



The official ruling is, if you cast a leveled spell with a bonus action, you can only ever cast cantrip spells with your main action in the same turn.
The PHB rule (not ruling) is if you cast a bonus action spell, you can only cast a cantrip spells on the same turn. With any actions, which includes all Actions and Reactions on your turn.


You can cast a leveled spell with your main Action, casting a Bonus Action cantrip.

You can cast two leveled spells with your main Action + Action Surge, casting a Bonus Action cantripIf you cast a bonus action cantrip, all actions (including reactions) on your same turn must be cantrips.



Note that spells cast as a reaction do not count.Spells cast as a reaction on your turn are also limited, if you cast a bonus action spell of any kind.

[Mad_Saulot]

This is actually kind of incorrect.

The official ruling is, if you cast a leveled spell with a bonus action, you can only ever cast cantrip spells with your main action in the same turn.

This means that:

You can cast a leveled spell with your main Action, casting a Bonus Action cantrip.
You can cast a cantrip with your main Action, casting a Bonus Action leveled spell.
You can cast two leveled spells with your main Action + Action Surge, casting a Bonus Action cantrip
You can cast two cantrips with your main Action + Action Surge, casting a Bonus Action leveled spell.


There is one major loophole, with spells like Call Lightning, Witch Bolt, and Sunbeam, or any spell that lets you trigger it again with an Action. Since you're not "casting" the spell, you can technically trigger it as many times as you want as you have actions, even after casting a spell.

This means that a Divine Soul Sorcerer, with Fighter's Action Surge, could cast Sunbeam with a Bonus Action by using Quicken Spell, and then activate it twice with their Action Surge in the same turn, getting 3 uses of the spell at once.

With other effects, like attacking with Spiritual Weapon, or transferring Hex/Hunter's Mark, you're not actually casting a spell and doesn't interact with this ruling in any way.



You cant cast more than 1 spell per turn, from the PHb:

B o n u s A c t i o n 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 bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.

There are no loopholes.

[Tanarii]

There are no loopholes.Using an action that is part of a spell is not casting a spell. So it is not affected by this rule.

[Vogie]

Action
Bonus Action
Legal?


Non-Cantrip

Yes


Cantrip

Yes



Non-Cantrip
Yes



Cantrip
Yes


Non-Cantrip
Cantrip
No


Cantrip
Non-Cantrip
Yes


Non-Cantrip
Non-Cantrip
No


Cantrip
Cantrip
Yes



There's a bigger one around here, or on the stackExchange, that also includes Action surge legalities...

[Mad_Saulot]

Nope, 1 spell AND 1 cantrip per turn max, no exceptions.

[Keravath]

It says in the rules that if you cast a bonus action spell, you can only cast a cantrip that is a 1 action spell on the same turn.

Can you cast a 1 action spell and then cast a bonus action spell?

Does using a bonus action to transfer a hex stop you from casting anything but a cantrip spell?

Thank you.

You can not cast a 1 action spell and a bonus action spell unless the 1 action spell is a cantrip.

Transferring hex or hunter's mark takes your bonus action but is NOT casting a spell so it has no impact on what spells you could cast as your action. Triggering spells that require can use your action on subsequent turns is ALSO NOT casting a spell (e.g. flaming sphere, sunbeam, call lightening) ... all of these give you a special activity that may be used as your action but it is NOT casting a spell.



"A cantrip is a spell that can he cast at will, without using a spell slot and without being prepared in advance ... A cantrip's spell level is 0." PHB 201

"BONUS ACTION
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 bonus action this turn. You can't cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action."

If you cast ANY spell as a bonus action ... and that INCLUDES cantrips. You can not cast any other spell on your turn except cantrips that require 1 action.

-So a socerer that quicken's a cantrip can only cast another cantrip as their action.
-A fighter/sorcerer that casts a bonus action spell (quickened spell or bonus action casting time) can ONLY cast cantrips for both their regular action and any action provided by action surge.
-A fighter/sorcerer that casts a non-cantrip spell for either their action or the action from action surge can NOT cast a bonus action spell on the same turn.
-A cleric that casts healing word can only cast a cantrip as their action. A fighter/cleric that casts healing word can only cast cantrips for their action and any action coming from the use of action surge.
-If a cleric casts one or more spells that are not cantrips as their action then they can NOT cast a bonus action spell on the same turn.

In particular, you can't cast a bonus action cantrip and a non-cantrip spell on the same turn. So a sorcerer can NOT cast a quickened firebolt and a fireball in the same turn ... they CAN quicken a fireball and cast a firebolt if they want.

P.S. Vogie's table is right :) ... and Tanarii is also right ... both beat me to it :)

[Keravath]

Nope, 1 spell AND 1 cantrip per turn max, no exceptions.

Also not correct - see above.

[Man_Over_Game]

Looked up the Sage Advice on this, for everyone's reference:


Question: Can I misty step (bonus), fire bolt (action) and fireball (surge) on same turn? Or need action surge also be a cantrip?

Crawford: In that situation, the Action Surge spell would also need to be a cantrip

Crawford: The rule on bonus action spells pertains to your whole turn, not to a particular action (PH, 202).
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/11/28/multiple-actions-in-the-same-turn/


If you cast a spell, such as healing word, with a bonus action, you can cast another spell with your action, but that other spell must be a cantrip. Keep in mind that this particular limit is specific to spells that use a bonus action. For instance, if you cast a second spell using Action Surge, you aren’t limited to casting a cantrip with it.
http://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/SA_Compendium_1.0.pdf

Part of what I posted before was incorrect, but what Vogie posted IS correct. I've edited my prior post to reflect the correct information.

[Mad_Saulot]

You cant cast a quickened fireball then cast another fireball in the same turn, thats OP as hell

[Man_Over_Game]

You cant cast a quickened fireball then cast another fireball in the same turn, thats OP as hell

You're right. You can't QUICKEN, because that uses a Bonus Action for the spell, and a Bonus Action spell causes all other spells in the same turn to have to be Cantrips.

You CAN, however, use Action Surge to cast Fireball twice using two main actions. But doing so requires 2 levels into a non-casting class, so you'll fall behind in casting (meaning that by the time you could cast Fireball twice by having two Fighter levels, another Wizard could be casting a level 4 spell).

[Keravath]

You cant cast a quickened fireball then cast another fireball in the same turn, thats OP as hell

I don't think anyone said they could.

In fact, most posters said they explicitly can't and if they want to cast a cantrip on the same turn as a fireball they MUST quicken the fireball since if they quicken any spell (including cantrips) they can only cast a cantrip with their action.

[Mad_Saulot]

You're right. You can't QUICKEN, because that uses a Bonus Action for the spell, and a Bonus Action spell causes all other spells in the same turn to have to be Cantrips.

You CAN, however, use Action Surge to cast Fireball twice using two main actions. But doing so requires 2 levels into a non-casting class, so you'll fall behind in casting (meaning that by the time you could cast Fireball twice by having two Fighter levels, another Wizard could be casting a level 4 spell).

No, you cant use action surge to cast multiple spells in one turn, thats an exploit if ever ive heard one

[Man_Over_Game]

No, you cant use action surge to cast multiple spells in one turn, thats an exploit if ever ive heard one

The restriction to casting cantrips is only if you cast a spell with a bonus action.

Using an Action Surge to cast a spell doesn't make you cast with a Bonus Action.

The quote I posted above comes from Sage Advice, from the Lead Designer of DnD 5e, Jeremy Crawford, who ruled:


If you cast a spell, such as healing word, with a bonus action, you can cast another spell with your action, but that other spell must be a cantrip. Keep in mind that this particular limit is specific to spells that use a bonus action. For instance, if you cast a second spell using Action Surge, you aren’t limited to casting a cantrip with it.

Note the highlighted bold portion that refers to this discussion.

[SirGraystone]

No, you cant use action surge to cast multiple spells in one turn, thats an exploit if ever ive heard one

A fighter / sorcerer could cast chromatic orb, twin it, and then use action surge to cast it a third time (and possibly twin it again for a 4th orb?)

[Man_Over_Game]

A fighter / sorcerer could cast chromatic orb, twin it, and then use action surge to cast it a third time (and possibly twin it again for a 4th orb?)

Laser Disco Dance Party?

Not bad, 54 damage total, divided as 27 damage to two separate creatures, achievable at level 4. You also have access to Shield or Absorb Elements as a melee combatant, so...sure?

[Mad_Saulot]

The restriction to casting cantrips is only if you cast a spell with a bonus action.

Using an Action Surge to cast a spell doesn't make you cast with a Bonus Action.

The quote I posted above comes from Sage Advice, from the Lead Designer of DnD 5e, Jeremy Crawford, who ruled:


Note the highlighted bold portion that refers to this discussion.

Oh, thats me telt, I accept that.

[MThurston]

I have played this wrong.

Two weeks ago I Misty Stepped and then casted Arms of Hadar.

Last night I casted Hex and then Mirror Image.

Someone wanted to cast two damaging spells, 1 BA and 1 One Action. Someone said I don't think you can do that and we looked up the rules.

I feel bad for not knowing that.

[Dalebert]

Folks often overlook reaction spells. Can't do those on a turn with a bonus action spell either.

Ex: If you cast Feather Fall and jump off a cliff, you can't then cast Shillelagh and attack some mobs at the bottom. That's because Feather Fall isn't a cantrip with a casting time of one action--the only thing you're allowed to cast when you cast a bonus action spell.

[MThurston]

Folks often overlook reaction spells. Can't do those on a turn with a bonus action spell either.

Ex: If you cast Feather Fall and jump off a cliff, you can't then cast Shillelagh and attack some mobs at the bottom. That's because Feather Fall isn't a cantrip with a casting time of one action--the only thing you're allowed to cast when you cast a bonus action spell.

If you cast Hex and the a cantrip on your turn, you can then cast a reaction spell on another players turn.

[LudicSavant]

A fighter / sorcerer could cast chromatic orb, twin it, and then use action surge to cast it a third time (and possibly twin it again for a 4th orb?)Laser Disco Dance Party?

Not bad, 54 damage total, divided as 27 damage to two separate creatures, achievable at level 4. You also have access to Shield or Absorb Elements as a melee combatant, so...sure?

A Fighter gets Action Surge at level 2. A Sorcerer gets metamagic at level 3.

2+3>4