Greenflame Blade Cantrip from SCAG, Courtesy of EXTRA LIFE

Cool. How did you get the link? It's not showing up as live on either the Extra Life page or the D&D website page.


The wording of the cantrip feels a little awkward to me but I think I like the overall effect. If I'm reading it correctly, it essentially works like this:

1st level
1st target: normal attack effects
2nd target: ability mod fire dmg

5th level
1st target: normal attack effects + 1d8 fire dmg
2nd target: 1d8+mod fire dmg

11th level
1st target: normal attack effects + 2d8 fire dmg
2nd target: 2d8+mod fire dmg

17th level
1st target: normal attack effects + 3d8 fire dmg
2nd target: 3d8+mod fire dmg


Is that right?

 

[Prism]

'Only 3d8' sounds like quite a lot at will. But it's not only 3d8, it's also the damage on the extra target and the high damage of sneak attack is mitigated by its situational nature whereas the spell applies even when sneak attack would not. Doesn't that lead to a significant damage boost for rogues who take this spell?

I can see how swashbuckler's improved sneak attack is slightly balanced by the fact that you are placing yourself up front without support (albeit you might be able to withdraw). I'm not sure that I see a similar downside to taking one of these cantrips.

It really comes down to two weapon fighting. If you take a rogue, using a shortsword with a free hand but a dagger ready in case the main attack misses, and then take the same rogue using Green Flame Blade they do pretty much the same damage vs an equal level opponent. The downside for the TWF rogue is that the must use their bonus action to attack about 1 in every 3 rounds and so aren't as flexible. The upside is they can eek out a couple more points of damage a round if they want to go full TWF every round.

Its worth taking one of these cantrips as an arcane trickster to give them the option of damaging a second opponent when that comes up but I wouldn't use it every round. Against tougher opponents its often better to have the option of the second attack from TWF

I wouldn't say this is worth taking the magic initiate feat in its own right but probably a decent option for a high elf.

 

[Pauln6]

Thanks - that really helps put it into perspective, and of course the additional damage on the spell only works if you have a second opponent nearby.

My current build is arcane trickster 3 / tome warlock 9 but I've been frustrated that her melee damage is weak. She is not a TWF. I was thinking of using the swashbuckler 3 instead with Arcane Initiate instead of Mobile and tome warlock the same. The above spell will only add nice things to my build.

Edit: I've also noticed that it's arguable that the secondary damage has to affect one of your allies if no enemies are adjacent to the target and that would be a nifty way to reduce the incidence of the spell stacking with sneak attack i.e. a 'creature' (not enemy) of your choice could mean that you get to choose which creature but you must choose one creature if there are any. Bye bye familiars performing the help action. I rather like the notion.