D&D 5E Polearm Master + quarterstaff...+ shield?

[Pickaxe]

I was thinking about a ranger with the Druidic Warrior fighting style from Tasha’s who would use a quarterstaff with shillelagh and the Polearm Master feat. I noticed that the wording of the feat does not specify that you make your attack with two hands, and a quarterstaff is versatile. Does this mean you can use the Polearm Master feat with a quarterstaff and still use a shield?

Thanks!

Axe

 

[Oofta]

By RAW it's legal. As a house rule I ban it because I think it's stupid.

 

[GlassJaw]

By RAW it's legal. As a house rule I ban it because I think it's stupid.

Agreed. A one-handed quarterstaff is a club.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Crawford weighed in 6 years ago on the one handed bit:

Does feat apply when using quarterstaff one-handed with shield?

D&D Sage Advice ·

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[Oofta]

Agreed. A one-handed quarterstaff is a club.

I'm generous, I allow a half-staff that does 1d6 damage and can be used one-handed. A quarterstaff if used as a weapon is two-handed.

 

[Oofta]

Crawford weighed in 6 years ago on the one handed bit:

Does feat apply when using quarterstaff one-handed with shield?

D&D Sage Advice ·

www.sageadvice.eu

Right. By RAW it's totally legit. Doesn't make it any less dumb IMHO.

 

[Gammadoodler]

I'm generous, I allow a half-staff that does 1d6 damage and can be used one-handed. A quarterstaff if used as a weapon is two-handed.

Is a half-staff larger or smaller than a quarterstaff?

 

[Oofta]

Is a half-staff larger or smaller than a quarterstaff?

Well, it's kind of like gauge on a shotgun. I mean, a 12 gauge should be less effective than a 20 gauge, right? But I'm not the one who makes up the rules. Um ... wait ... actually I was in this case.

In any case, I guess I could call it a jo staff but then people would look at me funny and ask me what a jo staff is*. Maybe I should call it a fighting cane? But yes, a half staff is roughly half the size of a quarterstaff.

*And of course someone would inevitably point out that I don't know squat about martial arts weapon categorizations (true enough) and my eyes would glaze over as they discuss the various permutations.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'm generous, I allow a half-staff that does 1d6 damage and can be used one-handed. A quarterstaff if used as a weapon is two-handed.

If it’s half a quarterstaff, wouldn’t that make it an eighthstaff?

 

[Charlaquin]

On a more serious note, the “quarterstaff” of 5e is really more like a jo. A quarterstaff should really be a 2-handed reach weapon IMO.