D&D 5E (2014) Booming/Green-flame blade question

[Not a Hobbit]

Dear ENworlders:

Does the original damage of a booming or green-flame blade count as magical damage if used with a mundane weapon. What about the thundery or flamey part of the damage for higher levels?

For instance: My 5th level Eldritch Knight with a mundane longsword uses booming blade to attack a jackelwere. Since the jackelwere is immune to nonmagical weapons, what would the damage be?

When this happened, I ruled that the cantrip made the weapon magical, but now I'm thinking I made a mistake, since the shillelagh cantrip specifically says it makes the weapon magical.

Any clarification would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--Scott

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Jeremy Crawford says no;
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/29/is-the-weapon-damage-from-green-flame-blade-considered-magical/

5E doesn't separate between magical and nonmagical elemental damage, so the flames and thunder is not affected by any weapon damage resistance, only fire/thunder resistance.

 

[nswanson27]

Dear ENworlders:

Does the original damage of a booming or green-flame blade count as magical damage if used with a mundane weapon. What about the thundery or flamey part of the damage for higher levels?

For instance: My 5th level Eldritch Knight with a mundane longsword uses booming blade to attack a jackelwere. Since the jackelwere is immune to nonmagical weapons, what would the damage be?

When this happened, I ruled that the cantrip made the weapon magical, but now I'm thinking I made a mistake, since the shillelagh cantrip specifically says it makes the weapon magical.

Any clarification would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--Scott

The wording says "...On a hit, the target suffers the attack's normal effects..." and then goes on to describe the additional effects. So whatever the weapon would do as a normal attack is what it would do for this part.

 

[cbwjm]

I believe that if the weapon is non-magical and you use greenflame blade and the target has resistance to non-magical weapons then the slashing/bludgeoning/piercing damage would be resisted but the fire damage would not be unless the target also had fire resistance.

 

[neogod22]

I always have the players roll damage separately if a creature is resistant, immune, or vulnerable to certain damage types, this way the damage can be calculated the right way, and they can't cheat and be like, "this is the die that did (*damage type)."

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[Not a Hobbit]

Well, I'll just add this to the list of mistakes I've made as a DM (it's a long list, and the players are only at 4th level). And yes, Neogod, I also have them make separate rolls for different damage types.

Thanks for the help everyone.

--Scott