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Shillelagh polearm master7/18/2023 ![]() However, while the Attack action uses a d8 for damage per the Shillelagh spell, the bonus attack uses a d4 damage die per the Polearm Master feat. The bonus attack is a melee attack, so you would be allowed to use your casting ability for the attack and damage rolls of the bonus attack (and the Attack action). The weapon’s damage die for this attack is a d4, and it deals bludgeoning damage. This attack uses the same ability modifier as the primary attack. When you take the Attack action and attack with only a quarterstaff, you can use a bonus action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. The Polearm Master feat, in relevant part: It is not limited to only the Attack action. 275)Īs written, the spell applies to all melee attacks with the affected weapon. The attack and damage rolls of melee attacks using that weapon, and the weapon's damage die becomes a d8. Shillelagh is only on the spell list for druids (not even available to any other subclasses as of current posting) so only available to cast with wisdom.The Shillelagh spell description, in relevant part:įor the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength for "Your spellcasting ability for these spells depends on the class you chose: Charisma for bard, sorcerer, or warlock Wisdom for cleric or druid or Intelligence for wizard." For example, if you take the Magic Initiate feat, it says I believe all the ways you have to get shillelagh require you to use your WIS as your spellcasting modifier. You'd basically be running around like Gandalf beating people into submission in melee then casting a spell in those clutch moments. You just gave me a great idea for a Variant Human eldritch knight fighter who takes magic initiate at lvl 1 then polearm master at lvl 4, and just puts everything into INT. In the spell description for Shillelagh, the spell lets you use your spellcasting modifier for damage, not necessarily WIS. ![]() "Want to make a wise Fighter that relies on instinct? Grab Shillelagh, and focus on Wisdom (even if, once again, it's weird)" It is a con save instead of an attack roll as well but that can work both for and against you. Only missing Poison Spray which has the advantage of being a bit longer range (10') than melee and higher damage (d12) as well as scaling but the weaknesses that it is a spell so it can't AoO without the War Caster Feat. JD actually covered some of the specifics of pro's and cons for the different spells. The other two also weren't desirable to all either because of the type of damage they did (poison) or some other aspect (thorn whips pulling the target closer) which limited their usefulness against certain kinds of targets. And the cantrips all have the same basic weakness. (the other 1 or 2 being like poison spray and thorn whip maybe?) and supplements have since upped the list for them (and for clerics with their own damage cantrip bottleneck). When things started it also had few competitors for the kind of spell it is at the range that it is for druids. It's good but it's situational and it's all about how you use it and your style. So like a wide variety of things about the druid. I'm in melee" type of spell that we may rarely use. For the rest of us it's more of an "oh crap. And it's not a style that we all will play when doing a druid. The thing with Shillelagh (I probably didn't spell that right) is that while it's good it's only useful to certain kinds of play. Doing so with Thorn Whip or Primal Savagery requires the War Caster feat. Upsides, it's magical bludgeoning damage which can hit pretty much everything, and because it's a weapon, if you have Shillelagh already active you can thwack people with it as an Attack Of Opportunity. Shillelagh - damage doesn't scale, it simply turns your stick into a weapon you can use to attack with Wisdom as the attack stat. Not resisted as frequently as something like Fire or Cold damage, but magical Bludgeoning/Piercing/Slashing damage still rule when it comes to not being resisted. Primal Savagery - higher damage, but melee only and is Acid damage. Can hit someone at range, and can pull them. Thorn Whip - lower initial damage, but it scales up. All of them make melee attacks so can be used against someone in your face. When compared to Thorn Whip or Primal Savagery, there are pros and cons. Is it because I'm a Moon Circle druid and wildshaped more often? I've not played a Land Circle druid so perhaps that's why? I don't see it scaling well compared to other options. Perhaps I'm not playing my druid as efficiently as I should be and I'm not understanding something. I'm currently a 6th level druid, and have never seen the need for it a single time. I keep seeing posts commenting on the value of taking Shillelagh as a spell.Ĭan someone explain why? I really don't get it. Monstrous Compendium Vol 3: Minecraft Creatures
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