D&D (2024) Taking a healing potion as a bonus action?

[Clint_L]

This has to be one of the most common house rules in 5e: you can use a healing potion on yourself as a bonus action (it's still an action to use on someone else). Should it just be made canon?

 

[Raith5]

I have heard of the house rule that you get full healing (10 hp) when used as full action but have roll for healing (2d4+2) as a bonus action

 

[the Jester]

This has to be one of the most common house rules in 5e: you can use a healing potion on yourself as a bonus action (it's still an action to use on someone else). Should it just be made canon?

No thanks.

Using a potion, even a healing potion, should cost an action. The whole "bonus action healing potion" is yet another common house rule that only serves to make 5e easier.

5e does NOT need anything to make it easier.

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

It is not just your action to drink or administer it it is also your interact to draw it.

 

[Clint_L]

I don't see this as about ease, I see it as about fun. Using your action to drink a potion is not fun. A side bonus of this house rule is that it makes it much, much more likely for players to use healing potions, which is a great gold sink.

My perspective is: if almost everyone is doing it anyway, doesn't that imply it should just be a rule? Kinda like natural 1s being automatic failures.

 

[Charlaquin]

My perspective is: if almost everyone is doing it anyway, doesn't that imply it should just be a rule? Kinda like natural 1s being automatic failures.

Is almost everyone doing it though? I don’t think that’s evident.

 

[John R Davis]

We do interaction.
Get those potions used otherwise there are normally much better actions to do, and they just get forgotten.

You can down an ale as an interaction so that's where we can up with that

 

[Staffan]

Nah, that intrudes a bit too much on other bonus action heals – in particular, Second Wind.

 

[delericho]

We allow you to consume a potion yourself as a bonus action, but require an action to administer to someone else.

I'm actually not sure whether I like that as a standard rule - I'm inclined instead to suggest that healing potions should be more powerful across the board, but require an action to use. But as they stand, it's really hard to justify burning a whole action for an average of 7 hp healing.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

I have a special “potion belt” item that allows players to do this, providing said potions are holstered. I use it in conjunction with the gritty rest variant which means potions are actually a good gold sink.