Which uses of Bonus-Action spellcasting are legal?

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Looking at other questions about casting spells as a bonus action has left me trying to keep a lot of information in my head about whether a given combination of spells is legal according to the official 5th edition spellcasting rules.

So I'd like to consolidate all these rules into a single easily accessible table, containing all the possible combinations of spells that could possibly be cast in a single turn, and hopefully create an easy reference for future use. But I'm not certain about how some of these combinations should be treated.

Based on the second question I linked, the ordering doesn't matter, so I've simplified the chart to ignore order of these actions, and only focus on what actions are being taken. But if I'm mistaken (i.e. the answer provided to that question was wrong) then this table will need adjusting.

beginarrayl
hline
Action & Bonus Action & Action Surge & LEGAL? \ hline
Non-Cantrip & & & Yes \ hline
Cantrip & & & Yes \ hline
& Non-Cantrip & & Yes \ hline
& Cantrip & & Yes \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Cantrip & & No \ hline
Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & & Yes \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & & No \ hline
Cantrip & Cantrip & & Yes \ hline
Non-Cantrip & & Cantrip & Yes \ hline
Non-Cantrip & & Non-Cantrip & ?Yes? \ hline
Cantrip & & Non-Cantrip & ?Yes? \ hline
Cantrip & & Cantrip & Yes \ hline
Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & Cantrip & ?Yes? \ hline
Non-Cantrip & Cantrip & Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Cantrip & Cantrip & Non-Cantrip & ?No? \ hline
Cantrip & Cantrip & Cantrip & Yes \ hline
endarray

Is this table (Column 4 in particular) correct?

The core issue for me is that it's not clear to me how Action Surges interact with the spellcasting rules, hence the question marks listed there. It seems like an Action Surge might permit 2 leveled spells to be cast in a turn, unless a Bonus Action is used to cast a spell, in which case this is no longer permitted. If this is correct, then my table above should be correct, minus the question marks. But I need that validated.

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

2

The table would be more helpful as an answer
â€“Â AndrÃ¡s
34 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

Is this table (Column 4 in particular) correct?

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

2

The table would be more helpful as an answer
â€“Â AndrÃ¡s
34 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

Is this table (Column 4 in particular) correct?

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

Is this table (Column 4 in particular) correct?

dnd-5e spells actions

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

edited 1 hour ago

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

asked 1 hour ago

Xirema

8,2762261

2

The table would be more helpful as an answer
â€“Â AndrÃ¡s
34 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

2

The table would be more helpful as an answer
â€“Â AndrÃ¡s
34 mins ago

The table would be more helpful as an answer
â€“Â AndrÃ¡s
34 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

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up vote
8
down vote

The table is entirely correct

Action Surge does not interact in any way with the bonus action spell rule (other than being limited in the same way as other spells if you use a bonus action spell). The bonus action rule is only used for spells with a bonus action casting time.

You canÃ¢Â€Â™t cast another spell during the same turn [that you would cast a bonus action spell], except for a cantrip with aÃ‚Â casting timeÃ‚Â of 1 action.

Basically, if you cast (or will cast) a bonus action spell (cantrip or non-cantrip) in a turn, no other non-cantrip spells (even ones using the action from action surge) can be cast.

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

2

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
8
down vote

The table is entirely correct

You canÃ¢Â€Â™t cast another spell during the same turn [that you would cast a bonus action spell], except for a cantrip with aÃ‚Â casting timeÃ‚Â of 1 action.

Basically, if you cast (or will cast) a bonus action spell (cantrip or non-cantrip) in a turn, no other non-cantrip spells (even ones using the action from action surge) can be cast.

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

2

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

up vote
8
down vote

The table is entirely correct

You canÃ¢Â€Â™t cast another spell during the same turn [that you would cast a bonus action spell], except for a cantrip with aÃ‚Â casting timeÃ‚Â of 1 action.

Basically, if you cast (or will cast) a bonus action spell (cantrip or non-cantrip) in a turn, no other non-cantrip spells (even ones using the action from action surge) can be cast.

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

2

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

up vote
8
down vote

The table is entirely correct

You canÃ¢Â€Â™t cast another spell during the same turn [that you would cast a bonus action spell], except for a cantrip with aÃ‚Â casting timeÃ‚Â of 1 action.

Basically, if you cast (or will cast) a bonus action spell (cantrip or non-cantrip) in a turn, no other non-cantrip spells (even ones using the action from action surge) can be cast.

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

The table is entirely correct

You canÃ¢Â€Â™t cast another spell during the same turn [that you would cast a bonus action spell], except for a cantrip with aÃ‚Â casting timeÃ‚Â of 1 action.

Basically, if you cast (or will cast) a bonus action spell (cantrip or non-cantrip) in a turn, no other non-cantrip spells (even ones using the action from action surge) can be cast.

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

edited 31 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

answered 1 hour ago

David Coffron

29k297197

2

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

2

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

The last sentence captures the rule perfectly. No need for a big table or long discussions. It's a simple rule to follow.
â€“Â GreySage
1 hour ago

I don't believe the table (and therefore the header of the answer) is correct. He shows a cantrip and non-cantrip as illegal in row 5 and the third from the bottom would also be legal. GreySage's comment is a much easier way to track legality anyway.
â€“Â rpeinhardt
40 mins ago

@rpeinhardt Those situations are accurate. If you cast a bonus action cantrip, you cannot cast a non-cantrip with your action. No matter what type of bonus action spell is cast, all other spells in that turn must be cantrips.
â€“Â David Coffron
38 mins ago

add a commentÂ |Â

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