Normally you can switch from 'wielding' a two handed weapon with two hands to 'holding' it with one hand in order to cast spells with the other whenever you feel like it. You only get the reaction attack "while wielding" the polearm. Unless they're cantrips you still have to spend slots, and either way you're still spending your reaction.Īdditionally, if you want to be making these attacks at 10' reach, there can be handedness issues with somatic/material spells depending on how your DM reads the interaction. Otherwise, yeah, the combo works, but the spells aren't "free". Tunnel fighter is mostly considered deprecated content at this point regardless. ![]() If it didn't get buffed (by this ruling) people would still take it more often than alternatives. Using Polearm Master to cast spells just doesn't make much narrative sense to me, and the feat is already really stinking good. Personally, though, I'd do the same thing. There was clarification by Mearls during 5e's early stages about the fact that Polearm Master requires you to use the triggering weapon for the Opportunity Attack it provides you, but not only is his ruling unofficial, but he's also been wrong on stuff before. if it were allowed, the Warlock example could become virtually impossible to approach.That's MOSTLY correct. if it were allowed, the Warlock example could become virtually impossible to approach.Īlso, I think this doesn't work with Tunnel Fighter, sadly, since War Caster replaces your opportunity attack with casting a spell using your reaction, and Tunnel Fighter only removes the need for reactions from opportunity attacks. Note that War Caster specifies only opportunity attacks provoked by movement lets you cast spells, so unfortunately it doesn't combine with Sentinel (otherwise you could do truly ridiculous things by standing behind your fighter buddy and getting a free spell whenever he gets attacked.)Īlso, I think this doesn't work with Tunnel Fighter, sadly, since War Caster replaces your opportunity attack with casting a spell using your reaction, and Tunnel Fighter only removes the need for reactions from opportunity attacks. ![]() Alternatively, you could do this as a Warlock and use Repelling Blast to send anyone who tries to approach you flying back, severely damaging them in the process. ![]() For instance, a Glaive Bard (who can actually be proficient with it if they go Valor) can use Dissonant Whispers to ward off enemies, usually wasting the opponent's entire turn, or they could just Cutting Words everything that gets near. You can also just use a quarterstaff with Polearm Master, but that costs you the 10-foot reach.Ī caster with this setup not only gets free spells, but can use them to catch out enemies as they approach. You don't actually have to be proficient with your weapon (because you don't intend to actually attack with it), so you could even carry a lance (or a glaive, halberd, or pike if you want to look less stupid) to increase your reach to 10 feet. Someone who has Polearm Master + War Caster can cast a spell at anyone who enters their reach.
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