D&D 5E Potion of Climbing, Do you Need to Use Your Hands?

[LordEntrails]

A character using a potion of climbing gains a climb speed... But do they need to use their hands to climb? What about to stay still on a wall or ceiling? In short, do they have to use their hands?

I'm thinking to move they need to use both hands and feet, but when not moving they could use one hand for an action.

Thoughts?

 

[commandercrud]

You still have to climb. It doesn't turn you into Spiderman.

 

[fba827]

Kind of depends really how your DM wants to do it.

assuming that’s you?

but my personal opinion ( if I’m remembering potion of climbing correctly) just gives you a climb speed and a bonus to climb. That second part is the key for me.... if you’re getting a bonus to climb then you still need to physically climb, even if you can do it well/fast. So you need your hands.

conversely if it just gave a climb speed and you didn’t need to make checks (aka spider climb in older editions) then I would say that you don’t need your hands as you’re just naturally adhering to the surface and can walk up.

anyway, again, really it’s dm ruling ultimately for your game, but the above would be my opinion on the matter

 

[CleverNickName]

I think this would be the difference between a potion of climbing and a potion of spider climbing.

 

[LordEntrails]

Yes I'm the DM, thx.

In 5E it's called a "Potion of Climbing" and the SRD says this;

When you drink this potion, you gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed for 1 hour. During this time, you have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks you make to climb. The potion is separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. Shaking the bottle fails to mix the colors.

It doesn't say what it means to have a climbing speed. Though in general I find the part about advantage to be... strange since in general if you have a climb speed (or fly, or swim, etc) you do not need to make a check to use that type of movement. Maybe that assumption is wrong too?

I've never had a character with a climb speed ever make a check to climb. I guess if something like an earthquake hit or they had to make a save to prevent getting knocked prone I would give them advantage vs Athletics, but I've never had a character with a climb speed make such a check.

And the section on Movement says this;

While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a climbing or swimming speed.

Note, of particular relevance, imo, is this part of the description for a Cloak of Arachnida;

You can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free.

So I would tend to think the Potion of Climbing would not grant this feature, but since it's not explicit anywhere, I'm looking for advice.

 

[commandercrud]

If Spider Climbing specifics it leaves your hands free and Potion of Climbing doesn't....

 

[LordEntrails]

If Spider Climbing specifics it leaves your hands free and Potion of Climbing doesn't....

Hence why I'm thinking this ruling.

I'm thinking to move they need to use both hands and feet, but when not moving they could use one hand for an action.

But does that make sense?

And what about the whole skill checks aspect?

 

[Oofta]

Compare the potion to the slippers of spider climbing. The slippers explicitly says you have your hands free, the potion just says you can climb fast but still need to make checks.

So I would rule that the potion doesn't change how you would normally handle any actionsthe PC can or cannot take while climbing.

 

[LordEntrails]

So I would rule that the potion doesn't change how you would normally handle any actionsthe PC can or cannot take while climbing.

ok, but what actions can a character take while climbing?

 

[commandercrud]

ok, but what actions can a character take while climbing?

You don't need an exhaustive list, just go with what seems reasonable that you could do with just one hand.