D&D 5E can shields be used as improvised weapons?

[PnPgamer]

What the topic says.
Mostly i am thinking of using a shield with the brawler and shield master feats, being able to grapple someone just by attacking with the shield and as a,bonus action try to knock him down?

 

[benbatman]

I'd say so - I'm planning on ruling that way in my game. And you'd be able to grapple so long as you had the other hand free.

I'd treat the the shield as an improvised club for damage.

 

[Paraxis]

Sounds fine to me.

 

[Psikerlord#]

I would rule that if you use a shield to attack with, you lose the AC bonus until your next round.

 

[PnPgamer]

Yeah i was indeed thinking of having the other hand free.

 

[Leatherhead]

Anything can be used as an improvised weapon.

With those feats you can shove or grapple as a bonus action, but you only get one bonus action per round. You would have to use a special attack option (the ones with no damage) to make one trigger the other. I believe that could run counter to what you are attempting to accomplish.

By the time you get both of these feats, you could have two attacks per round and perform the "pin" without them.

 

[PnPgamer]

Anything can be used as an improvised weapon.

With those feats you can shove or grapple as a bonus action, but you only get one bonus action per round. You would have to use a special attack option (the ones with no damage) to make one trigger the other. I believe that could run counter to what you are attempting to accomplish.

By the time you get both of these feats, you could have two attacks per round and perform the "pin" without them.

Agh, forgot about that. Both feats are useful nevertheless, for instance i can grapple freely in first round, and shield bash after that. Surely i can use one of my attacks for shove/grapple and use bonus action for other. Then i would miss some potential damage.

Compare:
With both feats:
R1: bonus grapple, 1-2 normal attacks (grapple first as it prevents enemy getting up after shove)
R2: bonus shove, 1-2 advantage attacks
Rx: keep repeating either round for situation, new targets may be needed to grapple.

Shield master feat only:
R1: bonus shove, 1grapple, 0-1 advantage attacks
R2: bonus shove, 1-2 advantage attacks
Rx: keep repeating either round for situation, new tqrgets may be needed to grapple.

(Amount of attacks are in range and indicate if you are under or over level 5)

Thoughts on tavern brawler worthiness, constructive criticism and the like is welcome though.

 

[Syntallah]

I would rule that if you use a shield to attack with, you lose the AC bonus until your next round.

I have really been intrigued with expanding the Reaction game mechanic of late. For instance, I let the PCs "spend" their Reaction to make a full Perception check on their turn (rather than their Passive score) if they wish.

I think I would let the PC keep the shield AC bonus if he so chooses, but require him to "spend" his Reaction to get the shield back in position for defense, thus negating any AoO...

 

[Plaguescarred]

Sure can! FYI Jeremy Crawford answered this on twitter the other day;

@dpnorton Must I doff a shield to use it as an improvised weapon?
@JeremyECrawford Nope. It's shield-bash time!

 

[PnPgamer]

Hey thanks plaguescarred! Crawford made it clear it seems.