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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CapnZapp" data-source="post: 7036820" data-attributes="member: 12731">Never. All War Magic does is allow you to spend your action on a cantrip and then make a weapon attack as a bonus action.This means you can switch weapon attacks for cantrip attacks. Any competent fighter will find a way to utilize his bonus attack anyway, though in a feat-less game, War Magic gets better that way. Let's compare: Weapon attacks, dual wielding style: 2d8+10 damageWeapon attacks, greatweapon style: 2d12+10 damage but no assured bonus action, so only 1d12+5 damage for comparison purposes.Acid Splash: 2d6 to two creatures is pretty nice, but they get a Dex save to negate and must stand next to each other. Poison Spray: 2d12 damage, Con save to negate, poison resistance/immunity is commonShocking Grasp: 2d8 though with advantage (assuming a foe in metal armor), and foe can't take his reaction.My take is that weapon attacks are more reliable, in several ways. Hitting AC is easier at mid-levels than getting in a Con or Dex save. Acid Splash and Poison Spray are circumstancial, so you need more than one such trick. I would say Shocking Grasp is the best contender, assuming you use it where you gain advantage. Losing ability bonus damage is a big negative, though. I'm sure there are splatbook cantrips that are better. In fact I hope so - or War Magic is niche at best. But if you don't use those sources, I'd say: stick to doing weapon damage.</blockquote>