The opportunity attack doesn’t suddenly give you the ability to cast a spell, such as shocking grasp.Įach spell has a casting time. When a creature triggers an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against it. You can’t if the spell attack is created by casting a spell.

A game feature, such as Extra Attack, that lets you make an attack doesn't let you cast a spell unless it says it does.Ĭan you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?

In summary, to make a spell attack, you have to first cast a spell or use a feature that creates the spell’s effect. That feature specifically relies on the Attack action, not the Cast a Spell action or any other action. In other words, just because something involves an attack doesn’t mean the Attack action is being used.īy extension, the Extra Attack feature (given by several classes, including the fighter and paladin) doesn’t let you cast extra attack spells. It is true that a number of spells, such as fire bolt and ray of frost, involve making an attack, but you can’t make such an attack without first casting the spell that delivers it. Doing so means you’re not taking the Attack action or any other action. If you want to cast a spell on your turn, you take the Cast a Spell action. You choose your action from the options available to everyone-options such as Attack, Cast a Spell, and Dash-or you choose from among the special actions you’ve gained from a class, a feat, or another source.

You might want to have the book handy as you read!Ĭan a spell with an attack roll be used as the attack in the Attack action or as part of the Extra Attack feature?Īs explained in the Player’s Handbook, you can take one action on your turn in combat, in addition to moving. The following questions deal with rules from the Player’s Handbook, especially in chapters 9 and 10. This month’s installment of Sage Advice focuses on rules that govern the casting of those spells. The worlds of Dungeons & Dragons are filled with magic, and many characters and monsters wield that magic in the form of spells.

Braveland wizard sage questions