D&D 5E (2024) Abusing True Strike 2024

[mellored]

That’s one of the dumber Sage Advice rulings (no listed price = worthless), especially since it also means you can’t true strike with an artifact (because priceless = no listed price = worthless)

It's not that. It's because it's a spell. You can't trade a shadowblade for anything.

"If you drop the weapon or throw it, it dissipates at the end of the turn"

 

[Kurotowa]

That’s one of the dumber Sage Advice rulings (no listed price = worthless), especially since it also means you can’t true strike with an artifact (because priceless = no listed price = worthless)

On the one hand, I can see it as being strictly accurate. If the restriction doesn't mean that, it doesn't mean anything. On the other hand, I agree it's stupid because it means you can't use weapon cantrips with any weapons created by spells or class features, or with natural weapons from species traits. And that sucks and seems counter to fun.

Honestly, I don't know what the point of the cost restriction is supposed to be. And that makes it hard for me to judge when it's being applied appropriately or not.

 

[jmartkdr2]

You just made me realize it shouldn’t work with Pact Blades either.

 

[Kurotowa]

You just made me realize it shouldn’t work with Pact Blades either.

Exactly! As worded, the strict RAW seem needlessly narrow and punishingly restrictive. And since I don't understand the intent I can't advocate for a RAI implementation instead. So I'm in favor of just kind of ignoring the whole thing, unless someone seems to be abusing a loophole because of it.

 

[Zardnaar]

Exactly! As worded, the strict RAW seem needlessly narrow and punishingly restrictive. And since I don't understand the intent I can't advocate for a RAI implementation instead. So I'm in favor of just kind of ignoring the whole thing, unless someone seems to be abusing a loophole because of it.

I think it was because of the shadow blade spell being stacked with booming blade/gfb cantrips. Maybe Spirit Shroud as well.

You could stack a few to many dice of damage on melee spellcasters. And how they could also work with things adding spell modifier to cantrip damage.

5.5 pushes the worst abuses back to level 11-13 range.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I think it was because of the shadow blade spell being stacked with booming blade/gfb cantrips. Maybe Spirit Shroud as well.

You could stack a few to many dice of damage on melee spellcasters. And how they could also work with things adding spell modifier to cantrip damage.

5.5 pushes the worst abuses back to level 11-13 range.

Even with all that it’s not an OP combo - it still doesn’t work with Extra Attack unless you get several levels of fighter in, and without that it’s weaker than a base rogue’s Sneak Attack.

Even with that it’s a 7th level character spending a spell slot to get a bit ahead of a base rogue.

 

[ECMO3]

I have a question about True Strike.


If you take five levels in Paladin to get Extra Attack, and then multiclass into Sorcerer to gain access to Quickened Spell,
can you use Quickened Spell to cast True Strike as a bonus action and then take the Attack action on the same turn, using both your attacks from Extra Attack?


And if that works, could you do the same thing with Shadow Blade as your weapon ?

Yes but taking 6 levels of Valor Bard instead of 5 levels of Paladin would work better letting you use Truestrike as both one attack and as a quickened spell.

 

[ECMO3]

That’s one of the dumber Sage Advice rulings (no listed price = worthless), especially since it also means you can’t true strike with an artifact (because priceless = no listed price = worthless)

I think that is pretty normal because you can't sell the Shadow Blade, you certainly can sell a priceless item. Also you can't buy a Shadowblade (or a priceless item), but there are no priceless items listed as a Material component, so it isn't really relevant.

The real reason the verbiage is in there is not to nerf Shadowblade though, it is because if there no price listed you can sub in an Arcane focus for a material component. The Weapon is the material component in Truestrike and the Blade Cantrips. Without the price, RAW you could Truestrike with a Wand or Orb or other focus.

Putting a value on the material component, in this case 1CP, means you can't do it with a focus. You actually have to go buy or find the material component.

 

[mellored]

Biggest abuse is probably on a rogue with warcaster and a friendly Dissonant Whispers or Commander's Strike.

But that doesn't really have much to do with summoned weapons.

 

[Zardnaar]

Biggest abuse is probably on a rogue with warcaster and a friendly Dissonant Whispers or Commander's Strike.

But that doesn't really have much to do with summoned weapons.

I've seen that combo a few times or equivalent eg Order Cleric.

Brings rogues up a bit which is fine as they need the help.