Shillelagh - Why no scaling?

[JacktheRabbit]

Why is shillelagh the only damaging cantrip (unless I missed others) that does not scale at all when you level.

I ask because I love the spell but it is really becomes pointless quickly as you level while other cantrips are still viable if not the optimal choice in a round.

If you were to add some scaling to the cantrip?

Side question, can you cast magic weapon, elemental weapon or a similar weapon enhancing spell on a cantrip shillelagh?

 

[5ekyu]

Why is shillelagh the only damaging cantrip (unless I missed others) that does not scale at all when you level.

I ask because I love the spell but it is really becomes pointless quickly as you level while other cantrips are still viable if not the optimal choice in a round.

If you were to add some scaling to the cantrip?

Side question, can you cast magic weapon, elemental weapon or a similar weapon enhancing spell on a cantrip shillelagh?

Shill does not scale because unlike the other cantrips it affects all your strikes over time with that weapon. The cantrips that scale limit themselves to one damage effect,
... one spell one hurt.

If shill boosted every hit over time *and* scaled that dmg too that leads for a multiplying impact of you add in fighters with a little druid multiclass for instance.

That's how I see it at least.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Shill does not scale because unlike the other cantrips it affects all your strikes over time with that weapon. The cantrips that scale limit themselves to one damage effect,
... one spell one hurt.

If shill boosted every hit over time *and* scaled that dmg too that leads for a multiplying impact of you add in fighters with a little druid multiclass for instance.

That's how I see it at least.

What you said makes sense for anything but a cantrip in my opinion. You can endlessly cast the cantrip and keep inflicting damage. Sure you only cast Shill once but you have to roll to hit to do any damage. So is there a difference between casting Produce Flame over and over again and rolling to hit and casting Shill once and then having to roll to hit over and over again as you attack?

 

[ClaytonCross]

Shill does not scale because unlike the other cantrips it affects all your strikes over time with that weapon. The cantrips that scale limit themselves to one damage effect,
... one spell one hurt.

If shill boosted every hit over time *and* scaled that dmg too that leads for a multiplying impact of you add in fighters with a little druid multiclass for instance.

That's how I see it at least.

It's also combatable with other cantrips like Booing Blade and Green Flame Blade so if it scaled you could make a multiclass or Druid + take magic initiate X and do insane damage. Shadow Blade for example is very similar but is concentration so you can one lose it and two it blocks you using any other concentration spells. It also has a cost as a level two spell. A persistent cantrip that doesn't require concentration, allows melee opportunity attacks, doesn't fail and scales damage is just too powerful. Higher level spells like Shadow blade with its concentration just make more since.

 

[5ekyu]

What you said makes sense for anything but a cantrip in my opinion. You can endlessly cast the cantrip and keep inflicting damage. Sure you only cast Shill once but you have to roll to hit to do any damage. So is there a difference between casting Produce Flame over and over again and rolling to hit and casting Shill once and then having to roll to hit over and over again as you attack?

Because a fighter-druid with extra attack can make two shill boosted attacks while your produce flame is still just one attack.

See the diff? Produce flame, chill touch etc use your action each time.

Shill boosts your attack over multiple turns.

Imagine at like 12th level a fighter swinging three times doing 3d8 each base before all the other stuff adds on?

What you are asking about is basically doubling up on the scaling since the right build would scale the damage and the number of attacks.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Magic Stone also doesn't scale, for the same reasons, rightly.

 

[AkaKageWarrior]

There would be armies of fighters with the magic iniate feat and the shill cantrip...
The fighter has enough feats to spend, more than one extra attack, and then a magic stick for 4d8 at level 17?
Hehe, nice try...

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Notice that cantrips increase in damage at level 5, the same level that fighters get a extra attack. This is to enable casters to roughly keep up. Shillalagh, however, unlike any scaling cantrip, can benefit from extra attacks itself. I think the conclusion is obvious.

 

[Horwath]

Because of Polearm mastery feat

 

[Li Shenron]

Notice that cantrips increase in damage at level 5, the same level that fighters get a extra attack. This is to enable casters to roughly keep up. Shillalagh, however, unlike any scaling cantrip, can benefit from extra attacks itself. I think the conclusion is obvious.

A Druid does not have Extra Attacks. I don't believe this spell is designed for multiclass characters.