D&D 5E War Magic and Bladesinging

[Blue]

(This is based on the Nov 2020 SCAG Errata / Tasha's Bladesinger changes)

I was wondering how many attacks a Fighter (EK) 11 / Wizard (Bladesinger) 6 would have. Fighter 11 has Extra Attack (2), allowing three attacks with an Attack action. Bladesinger 6 would allow one of them to be a cantrip. So I was wondering if EK's 7th level War Magic ability would allow a bonus action attack after using a cantrip. Giving a grand total of a cantrip plus three attacks if you use both your action and bonus action.

But War Magic gives us a vague answer. It says "when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action".

It does not say "use the Cast a Spell action". And you are taking an action that lets you cast a cantrip. Does it trigger?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not able to read the book ATM, but I think it probably works. You’re using your action to cast a cantrip.

 

[FieserMoep]

It even begs the question if those two instances of Extra Attack can be even combined. PHB says the Extra Attack features can not be combined. Which in the original sense only meant the amount of attacks but given the ability of making that cantrip attack is written into the Extra Attack feature it may be a case where you either have to use the Extra Attack Feature of the Bladesinger for 1+Cantrip or the Extra Attack feature of the EK for 3.

But BTT:

It does not work. The EK feature wants you to use the action for a Cantrip. The Bladesinger uses his action for Attack with Extra Attack of which one is allowed to be be a cantrip.

Its two very different actions, its only the case that the Bladesinger Action has an additional rules to it.

 

[SithNazgûl]

It even begs the question if those two instances of Extra Attack can be even combined. PHB says the Extra Attack features can not be combined. Which in the original sense only meant the amount of attacks but given the ability of making that cantrip attack is written into the Extra Attack feature it may be a case where you either have to use the Extra Attack Feature of the Bladesinger for 1+Cantrip or the Extra Attack feature of the EK for 3.

But BTT:

It does not work. The EK feature wants you to use the action for a Cantrip. The Bladesinger uses his action for Attack with Extra Attack of which one is allowed to be be a cantrip.

Its two very different actions, its only the case that the Bladesinger Action has an additional rules to it.

You might not be able to benefit from both extra attacks, although it seems to specify that you don't gain additional attacks from two occurrences of extra attack, so it's unclear.

However your other point is incorrect. It says "when you use your action to cast a cantrip" not "when you use the Cast a Spell action to cast a cantrip." You're using an action and that action casts a cantrip. So War Magic should work either way.

It's the same difference between "when you use your action to make an attack" and "when you use the Attack Action." The two are saying different things.

 

[Aldarc]

It seems like Arcane Trickster / Bladesinger would arguably work better.

 

[Blue]

It seems like Arcane Trickster / Bladesinger would arguably work better.

Work better for what? If you are talking as a better class synergy it might - I was just looking at the narrow focus of number of attacks.

EK has both an increased Extra Attack and War Magic, of which there is no equivalent with AT.

 

[TwoSix]

Considering it's a 17th level character with a non-dip multiclass, I'd certainly rule in favor of leniency. A little extra damage isn't going to break anything at 17th level.

 

[Aldarc]

Work better for what? If you are talking as a better class synergy it might - I was just looking at the narrow focus of number of attacks.

EK has both an increased Extra Attack and War Magic, of which there is no equivalent with AT.

Better class synergy because Extra Attack doesn't stack. So if an EK wants to go Wiz 6+, it's probably better to pick a Wiz subclass without the Extra Attack.