Can a Bard use an arcane focus?
$begingroup$
The description of the Weave of Magic in the Spellcasting chapter says Bards are users of Arcane magic, but they seem to only be offered the use of an instrument as a focus. Can they use a standard Arcane focus?
dnd-5e bard arcane-focus
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The description of the Weave of Magic in the Spellcasting chapter says Bards are users of Arcane magic, but they seem to only be offered the use of an instrument as a focus. Can they use a standard Arcane focus?
dnd-5e bard arcane-focus
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The description of the Weave of Magic in the Spellcasting chapter says Bards are users of Arcane magic, but they seem to only be offered the use of an instrument as a focus. Can they use a standard Arcane focus?
dnd-5e bard arcane-focus
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
$endgroup$
The description of the Weave of Magic in the Spellcasting chapter says Bards are users of Arcane magic, but they seem to only be offered the use of an instrument as a focus. Can they use a standard Arcane focus?
dnd-5e bard arcane-focus
dnd-5e bard arcane-focus
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
edited yesterday
Sdjz
13.6k465109
13.6k465109
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
asked yesterday
NautArchNautArch
61.1k8218406
61.1k8218406
1
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Bards cannot use an arcane focus
The description of the Arcane Focus which explicitly defines which classes are allowed to use it as a focus:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
No bards are allowed it seems.
Foci are determined by class, not spellcasting type
It seems that the type of focus allowed to be used is defined by the class and not by what type of caster they are.
The Bard class says:
You can use a musical instrument [...] as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
The wizard class says:
You can use an arcane focus [...] as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
Both are "arcane" classes. But the class specifies what can be used. If an arcane focus was allowed to be used by all arcane casters, then the wizard wouldn't specify it as their only option.
For what it is worth, Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights also cannot use an arcane focus despite also being arcane casters for the same reasons. (Thanks @DavidCoffron)
Jeremy Crawford also indirectly supports this in an unofficial tweet:
Every spellcaster—including bards—can use a component pouch for spellcasting.
Some classes also know how to use certain objects as a spellcasting
focus. Bards, for example, can use musical instruments in this way,
but they aren't required to.
It just goes to show that arcane foci are very, very classy.
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards can't use an Arcane Focus
In the Bard class features there is a "Spellcasting Focus" section stating:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Further, the description of an Arcane Focus states:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
Since the bard is not included in the list of classes in the Arcane Focus description and the Spellcasting Focus section only mentions musical instruments, bards can't use a normal Arcane Focus.
As pointed out by David Coffron, this is also true for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights despite them using Arcane magic because they do not have an entry for using a spellcasting focus in their description (and Arcane Focus does not mention them)
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
Bards cannot use an arcane focus
The description of the Arcane Focus which explicitly defines which classes are allowed to use it as a focus:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
No bards are allowed it seems.
Foci are determined by class, not spellcasting type
It seems that the type of focus allowed to be used is defined by the class and not by what type of caster they are.
The Bard class says:
You can use a musical instrument [...] as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
The wizard class says:
You can use an arcane focus [...] as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
Both are "arcane" classes. But the class specifies what can be used. If an arcane focus was allowed to be used by all arcane casters, then the wizard wouldn't specify it as their only option.
For what it is worth, Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights also cannot use an arcane focus despite also being arcane casters for the same reasons. (Thanks @DavidCoffron)
Jeremy Crawford also indirectly supports this in an unofficial tweet:
Every spellcaster—including bards—can use a component pouch for spellcasting.
Some classes also know how to use certain objects as a spellcasting
focus. Bards, for example, can use musical instruments in this way,
but they aren't required to.
It just goes to show that arcane foci are very, very classy.
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards cannot use an arcane focus
The description of the Arcane Focus which explicitly defines which classes are allowed to use it as a focus:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
No bards are allowed it seems.
Foci are determined by class, not spellcasting type
It seems that the type of focus allowed to be used is defined by the class and not by what type of caster they are.
The Bard class says:
You can use a musical instrument [...] as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
The wizard class says:
You can use an arcane focus [...] as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
Both are "arcane" classes. But the class specifies what can be used. If an arcane focus was allowed to be used by all arcane casters, then the wizard wouldn't specify it as their only option.
For what it is worth, Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights also cannot use an arcane focus despite also being arcane casters for the same reasons. (Thanks @DavidCoffron)
Jeremy Crawford also indirectly supports this in an unofficial tweet:
Every spellcaster—including bards—can use a component pouch for spellcasting.
Some classes also know how to use certain objects as a spellcasting
focus. Bards, for example, can use musical instruments in this way,
but they aren't required to.
It just goes to show that arcane foci are very, very classy.
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards cannot use an arcane focus
The description of the Arcane Focus which explicitly defines which classes are allowed to use it as a focus:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
No bards are allowed it seems.
Foci are determined by class, not spellcasting type
It seems that the type of focus allowed to be used is defined by the class and not by what type of caster they are.
The Bard class says:
You can use a musical instrument [...] as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
The wizard class says:
You can use an arcane focus [...] as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
Both are "arcane" classes. But the class specifies what can be used. If an arcane focus was allowed to be used by all arcane casters, then the wizard wouldn't specify it as their only option.
For what it is worth, Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights also cannot use an arcane focus despite also being arcane casters for the same reasons. (Thanks @DavidCoffron)
Jeremy Crawford also indirectly supports this in an unofficial tweet:
Every spellcaster—including bards—can use a component pouch for spellcasting.
Some classes also know how to use certain objects as a spellcasting
focus. Bards, for example, can use musical instruments in this way,
but they aren't required to.
It just goes to show that arcane foci are very, very classy.
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
$endgroup$
Bards cannot use an arcane focus
The description of the Arcane Focus which explicitly defines which classes are allowed to use it as a focus:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
No bards are allowed it seems.
Foci are determined by class, not spellcasting type
It seems that the type of focus allowed to be used is defined by the class and not by what type of caster they are.
The Bard class says:
You can use a musical instrument [...] as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
The wizard class says:
You can use an arcane focus [...] as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
Both are "arcane" classes. But the class specifies what can be used. If an arcane focus was allowed to be used by all arcane casters, then the wizard wouldn't specify it as their only option.
For what it is worth, Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights also cannot use an arcane focus despite also being arcane casters for the same reasons. (Thanks @DavidCoffron)
Jeremy Crawford also indirectly supports this in an unofficial tweet:
Every spellcaster—including bards—can use a component pouch for spellcasting.
Some classes also know how to use certain objects as a spellcasting
focus. Bards, for example, can use musical instruments in this way,
but they aren't required to.
It just goes to show that arcane foci are very, very classy.
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
answered yesterday
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
59.6k10287440
59.6k10287440
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
add a comment |
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
3
3
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
$begingroup$
As well as the ranger class also doesn't allow the substitution of a focus and must depend on a component pouch.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards can't use an Arcane Focus
In the Bard class features there is a "Spellcasting Focus" section stating:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Further, the description of an Arcane Focus states:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
Since the bard is not included in the list of classes in the Arcane Focus description and the Spellcasting Focus section only mentions musical instruments, bards can't use a normal Arcane Focus.
As pointed out by David Coffron, this is also true for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights despite them using Arcane magic because they do not have an entry for using a spellcasting focus in their description (and Arcane Focus does not mention them)
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards can't use an Arcane Focus
In the Bard class features there is a "Spellcasting Focus" section stating:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Further, the description of an Arcane Focus states:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
Since the bard is not included in the list of classes in the Arcane Focus description and the Spellcasting Focus section only mentions musical instruments, bards can't use a normal Arcane Focus.
As pointed out by David Coffron, this is also true for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights despite them using Arcane magic because they do not have an entry for using a spellcasting focus in their description (and Arcane Focus does not mention them)
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Bards can't use an Arcane Focus
In the Bard class features there is a "Spellcasting Focus" section stating:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Further, the description of an Arcane Focus states:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
Since the bard is not included in the list of classes in the Arcane Focus description and the Spellcasting Focus section only mentions musical instruments, bards can't use a normal Arcane Focus.
As pointed out by David Coffron, this is also true for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights despite them using Arcane magic because they do not have an entry for using a spellcasting focus in their description (and Arcane Focus does not mention them)
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
$endgroup$
Bards can't use an Arcane Focus
In the Bard class features there is a "Spellcasting Focus" section stating:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Further, the description of an Arcane Focus states:
A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.
Since the bard is not included in the list of classes in the Arcane Focus description and the Spellcasting Focus section only mentions musical instruments, bards can't use a normal Arcane Focus.
As pointed out by David Coffron, this is also true for Arcane Tricksters and Eldritch Knights despite them using Arcane magic because they do not have an entry for using a spellcasting focus in their description (and Arcane Focus does not mention them)
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
answered yesterday
SdjzSdjz
13.6k465109
13.6k465109
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
$begingroup$
Possibly related
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday
$begingroup$
@KorvinStarmast Thought you had found a dupe before I was reminded that Rangers don't get foci. But it's probably close enough for guidance here and a similar answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
yesterday
$begingroup$
Oh, not a dupe, just related.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
yesterday