D&D 5E rules for attacking with a shield?

[GlassJaw]

Maybe I missed something but are there any rules for attacking with a shield? Per RAW, is it even possible?

 

[ExploderWizard]

Nope. You can't do it. A shield is not in any way to be construed as a weapon. Get that thought out of your head and pretend you never had it!

If we go down this rabbit hole and do something foolish and apply logic, all the cheesy fighter builds using dueling style with a shield will be exposed for the font of stupidity that they are.

You will have an angry hoard of charop nerds at your throat for ruining their cheese.

Don't do it man.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I've always ruled it that you can do a bonus attack with a shield (base dmg 1d6), but when you do, you lose the AC bonus until the start of your next turn.

 

[Henrix]

Improvised weapon, 1d4 damage, and you're probably not proficient with it.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Anyone with martial weapon proficiency should have no problems using the shield as an attack. I need to come up with some rules but giving people a bonus attack is a bit much I think. But if not why would anyone use a shield attack rather than the weapon?

 

[Henrix]

Bashing with a shield was an oft used tactic, historically.

In D&D it is more debatable. To get an extra blow in as if using two weapons?

As I said, and improvised weapon (even skilled it is hard to get a good attack in) and 1d4 damage, subject to all other rules for using two weapons.
Using it as a weapon means it isn't used as a shield until your next turn.

If you want to do something useful with it, get the Shield Master feat and bash your foes away.

 

[GlassJaw]

Anyone with martial weapon proficiency should have no problems using the shield as an attack. I need to come up with some rules but giving people a bonus attack is a bit much I think. But if not why would anyone use a shield attack rather than the weapon?

I've been thinking about this a little. Some quick ideas:

- Treat the shield as a light weapon if you are proficient with shields, so you can use your bonus action to attack TWF but you lose the AC bonus.
- Shield Expert feat keeps the AC bonus if you attack with it.
- TWF Fighting Style ability lets you add your Strength to damage.
- Dual Wielder feat has no effect.

 

[pming]

Hiya.

What about allowing a character to substitute one of their weapon skills for "Shield"; without it, using a shield is an improvised weapon, 1d4, no shield bonus that turn/round. But with it, it does 1d6 damage and you keep it's defensive bonus.

This lets someone frantically use a shield if they have too. It also lets someone who trains in it's offensive use to use it as a "normal weapon"...meaning they could, say, hold a lantern in one hand and the shield in the other and not be 'unarmed'. Or they could use one arm to hold and prop-up their almost dead cleric get out of the battle...still having their shield for defense...or offense if they have too...

PS: I'd make it just "Shield", and let all shields be used this way in order to keep it simple.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[Henrix]

- Shield Expert feat keeps the AC bonus if you attack with it.

So with Shield Expert you always get a bonus attack with your shield, without penalty? No, that doesn't sound good. (Or rather, it sounds too good.)

 

[ccooke]

So with Shield Expert you always get a bonus attack with your shield, without penalty? No, that doesn't sound good. (Or rather, it sounds too good.)

The Shield Mastery feat gives you a bonus action to Shove with your shield, not attack.

However, it also gives you the ability to add your shield bonus to Dexterity saving throws against spells and other harmful effects that target only you, and allows the use of a reaction to get evasion (no damage on a successful save, but still full damage if you fail) against anything that imposes a Dexterity saving throw that allows you to save for half damage.

Powerful and very thematic, but not overpowered.