D&D 5E Booming Blade and Two Handed Weapons

[Matatabi]

If I attempt to cast Booming Blade with a Great Axe do I have to have the Warcaster feat? Or since its versitile can I hold it in one hand, cast the spell with the other, then attack with both hands?
What about a Greatsword? Its specifically two handed.
I figured since the material component says you need a weapon it didnt matter what kind. And it doesnt specify one handed.


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[Storyteller Hero]

Here's the RAW answer for questions like this.

The rules of spell casting in chapter 10 say you need one hand free if it has a S (Somatic component). If it doesn't have S, then you don't need either hand free. If it does have S, then you need one hand free.

If YOU have S, then try your best to find a M that can truly trust you with heart and soul.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

IIRC Booming Blade is VM. It has no somatic component. You don't need Warcaster, but you cannot be Silenced.

 

[Matatabi]

Oh snap it doesnt have the S in the spell. Hell yeah!


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[Matatabi]

So for any other spell couldnt i just holster my weapon as a free action and then cast? Then next turn draw my weapon? Im only ever gonna get to cast one spell a turn and I wont be able to attack with a melee the same turn.


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[KahlessNestor]

That's how you would do it, yes. Or just hold it one-hand. You can make S gestures with the hand holding the M.

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[Ancalagon]

I usually rule that a 2 handed weapon needs two hand to be *used*, but one hand can hold on to it. It's easy to let go with one hand, cast a spell, then grab it again.

 

[Ath'kethin]

I usually rule that a 2 handed weapon needs two hand to be *used*, but one hand can hold on to it. It's easy to let go with one hand, cast a spell, then grab it again.

This is exactly the way I run it. Two hands to hit somebody with it, but only one hand to keep from dropping it.

 

[Matatabi]

I figured i would just let go with one hand and let the tip of the sword hit the group and then cast. Ive still got the hilt in one hand so i wouldnt have to take the Pick Up Object action to grab it again.


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[Satyrn]

So yeah, all that is probably right, but it also depends on your DM.

My group, for example, doesn't bother figuring out if hands are free for spellcasting. And then other DMs may be extra strict and nitpicky.

So go with what you just said in your last post (it's within the rules, although there's no reason to think the sword hits the ground while holding it in one hand) until you find out how your group actually handles it.