D&D 5E Eldritch Knight: How often do you actually use War Magic?

[Shin Okada]

At the level an Eldritch Knight can use War Magic, he can make an extra attack or attacks with an attack action. How often do you actually use War Magic instead of making extra attack(s)?

 

[abirdcall]

At the level an Eldritch Knight can use War Magic, he can make an extra attack or attacks with an attack action. How often do you actually use War Magic instead of making extra attack(s)?

A cantrip at 7th level is much better than a weapon attack.

I am using a cantrip whenever I'm not casting a spell (and every now and then something else like dodge).

And then I'm using War Magic for a bonus action attack most of the time.

 

[bid]

A cantrip at 7th level is much better than a weapon attack.

2d8 is barely better than 1d8+4 and less than 2d6+4.

Some SCAG cantrips do much better. You can also blade ward and have your bonus attack.

 

[abirdcall]

2d8 is barely better than 1d8+4 and less than 2d6+4.

Some SCAG cantrips do much better. You can also blade ward and have your bonus attack.

Why would you use a cantrip that just does 2d8?

For that matter I could say that a cantrip is far better because we're going to use a dagger for our weapon.

I posted with the assumption that we're choosing options that make sense.

 

[Gladius Legis]

The SCAG cantrips like Booming Blade and Green-Flame Blade made War Magic a much more consistently meaningful option than it was before, no doubt about it.

Aside from the SCAG cantrips ... well, Fire Bolt (2d10) with a thrown weapon after is decent if you're stuck in a ranged fight ...

 

[bid]

I posted with the assumption that we're choosing options that make sense.

Well then, why use an unqualified "a cantrip" instead of the actual options that make sense?

This is like the "you are in an airplane" Microsoft joke: 100 percent correct
but absolutely useless.


Back on topic. Do you have anything to add to blade ward and SCAG cantrips?

 

[abirdcall]

The SCAG cantrips like Booming Blade and Green-Flame Blade made War Magic a much more consistently meaningful option than it was before, no doubt about it.

Aside from the SCAG cantrips ... well, Fire Bolt (2d10) with a thrown weapon after is decent if you're stuck in a ranged fight ...

PHB:

Poison Spray
Shocking Grasp
Acid Splash

EE:

Create Bonfire
Frostbite
Thunderclap

Chill Touch, Ray of Frost and Fire Bolt will suffer disadvantage in melee and Chill Touch sucks anyway.

Yes, the SCAG cantrips make War Magic much better. It was still better than using regular attacks before.

The OP's question is how often you use War Magic. Is your answer different than most of the time? Why?

 

[CapnZapp]

At the level an Eldritch Knight can use War Magic, he can make an extra attack or attacks with an attack action. How often do you actually use War Magic instead of making extra attack(s)?

Never.

All War Magic does is allow you to spend your action on a cantrip and then make a weapon attack as a bonus action.

This means you can switch weapon attacks for cantrip attacks. Any competent fighter will find a way to utilize his bonus attack anyway, though in a feat-less game, War Magic gets better that way.

Let's compare:

Weapon attacks, dual wielding style: 2d8+10 damage

Weapon attacks, greatweapon style: 2d12+10 damage but no assured bonus action, so only 1d12+5 damage for comparison purposes.

Acid Splash: 2d6 to two creatures is pretty nice, but they get a Dex save to negate and must stand next to each other.

Poison Spray: 2d12 damage, Con save to negate, poison resistance/immunity is common

Shocking Grasp: 2d8 though with advantage (assuming a foe in metal armor), and foe can't take his reaction.

My take is that weapon attacks are more reliable, in several ways. Hitting AC is easier at mid-levels than getting in a Con or Dex save. Acid Splash and Poison Spray are circumstancial, so you need more than one such trick.

I would say Shocking Grasp is the best contender, assuming you use it where you gain advantage. Losing ability bonus damage is a big negative, though.

I'm sure there are splatbook cantrips that are better. In fact I hope so - or War Magic is niche at best.

But if you don't use those sources, I'd say: stick to doing weapon damage.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Light and attack may also be an option.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Booming Blade and especially Green-Flame Blade make War Magic almost always a better option (IMO), than two attacks. Depending on what sort of magic weapons you may have, they are also quite likely to make it a better option than three attacks at higher level. In general, until you hit 20th level and can make four attacks, you are probably best off relying on one of those cantrips and War Magic as your basic at-will attack routine.

SCAG made a big difference to the effectiveness of War Magic.