#POLEARM MASTER SPELL SNIPER MANUAL#

If they think it's right to use a d4 it's really fine, it barely makes a change (a sad ~1.5 dpr increase in a combat, in the rare occasion you are using both the action and bonus action to attack), and if so they should really make an errata and change the text of the feat and especially explain how the interaction work in practice in game.įor now the manual is clear on using the d8 and for me it makes way more sense practically but if you want to use this interaction, talk to your DM before the session and in the end it's not a big deal, flavour the spell as you like and have fun with it regardless of the dice used. My best bet is that Crawford misread Polearm Master (the d4 is called specifically 'weapon damage die' as in the description of shillelagh, he believed it was written just as 'damage die' In that case the dice used for the attack would be a d4 and no wander, it's really easy to miss, I had to check it more than once to be sure myself).Īll the more the interaction becomes really confusing in practice: how exacly should shillelagh work, just some attack do damage from the magical aura of the spell? The enchantment is weaker based on the way you attack? Or some part of the staff are just not affected? The fact that Crawford did not say anything else of their interaction also supports the use of casting ability instead of STR for the attack and damage rolls.īased to the description of both the feat and the spell the dice used for the attack is a d8, the language used is extremely specific and after reading it carefully you can notice how the two description match perfecly. When If I cast Shillelagh on my quarterstaff and have Polearm Master feat, does the bonus attack deal d4 or d8?Ĭrawford The bonus attack would use a d4. This interaction was clarified by 5e designer and ' official rules expert' Jeremy Crawford on 23 August 2014 in the following tweet exchange. 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: The feat is weaker overall, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

For Polearm Master, I replaced the bonus action attack with two other benefits that you might enjoy. It is not limited to only the Attack action. Today, I bring you three feat revisions - Polearm Master, Sharpshooter, and Spell Sniper. 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. The Shillelagh spell description, in relevant part:įor the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength for

Polearm master spell sniper