The ability for humans to use magic was a hereditary trait passed down from a person's ancestors, which allowed witches and wizards to practise it. Magic was a supernatural force that changed aspects of the world at fundamental levels. Knitting needles creating a scarf with the use of a Knitting Charm I can make them hurt if I want to." - A young Tom Riddle describing his magical skills to Albus Dumbledore I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make animals do what I want them to do, without training them. You can claim that similarity but in the end, is up to the DM to accept it." I can make things move without touching them. While not quite similar to most foci, the quarterstaff and the warhammer are both categorized as Versatile Melee Weapons. An arcane focus is a special item - an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand like length of wood, or some similar item - designed to channel the power of arcane spells. Jeremy Crawford: It doesn't, but it wouldn't be unreasonable for a DM to allow it.Īnd Mike Mearls answered the following question this way:Ĭriton volun: can a arcane focus be part of a 2 handed weapon or a single weapon, like a clerics holy focus can be part of a shield ?Īnd about using the arcane focus (staff) as a weapon (quarterstaff), both consented as can be seen here and here.Īs you can see, using an arcane focus as weapon isn't really the issue, the thing is that neither confirmed but seem to agree that it is something reasonable for a DM to agree.Īrcane Focus. Jonh Rhyne: does an Eldritch Knight's bonded weapon count as an arcane focus? Jeremy Crawford answered this on twitter: Nothing really says anything conclusive about that. I think this clearly indicates that focuses are not supposed to be weapons. The focus is called a "staff" or a "wooden staff", not a "quarterstaff". The 12 different types of focus are listed in the Adventuring Gear section, not the Weapons section. Inscribing a holy symbol on a shield costs 5gp, half the price of the original shield. I imagine that if you hit someone with your focus it will damage the item, possibly making it unsuitable to be a focus. This suggests that a focus is an ornate, crafted item, made from expensive materials (in other words, not just a big stick). A staff focus (both the arcane one and the druidic one) is 5gp. Your choice has a meaningful consequence. For example, if you end your turn with a sword and a shield in your hands then you can't cast a spell as a reaction. You also remove some of the consequences of choices. If you allow one item to be used for two purposes then you are changing the action economy. This means that there is a limit on how many different actions you can do namely two (four, if you are a thri-keen).
Focus magic how much ae free#
To defend yourself you need a hand free to hold the shield. To hit someone you need a hand free to hold the weapon. To cast a spell you need a hand free to hold the components.
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The purpose of material components (which includes a spellcasting focus) is to control action economy. it's listed as a common item, implying that it's not considered too much of a big deal.it says "spellcasting focus", not "arcane" or "divine", implying that it works with all spellcasting in the same way as a component pouch.The Ruby of the War Mage (Xanathar's Guide to Everything) is a magical gem that can be attached to a weapon, at which point that weapon can be used as a spellcasting focus. If the warhammer has a Ruby of the War Mage imbedded in it.Just know that in so doing, you are giving the arcane magic users an ability they didn't have before and devaluing the divine caster's unique schtik.ġ An exception that requires a common magic item
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Paladins and clerics can use a holy symbol as a focus, and that can be " …carefully engraved or inlaid as an emblem on a shield…." Using that as precedence, you can thusly allow arcane magic users to use the same rules. That being said, if your DM says it's OK, go for it. A warhammer or other weapon is not similar to any of the listed items. Why Not 1?Īn arcane focus is " …an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item…." (emphasis mine).
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So no, you cannot use a warhammer as a focus. The arcane focus is found in the Adventuring Gear section of the equipment chapter (PH page 150, SRD page 69, SRD link).