[RPG] Can a Sorcerer-3/Warlock-2 cast a subtle healing word and a quickened eldritch blast in the same turn

actionsdnd-5emetamagicsorcererwarlock

I want to know if I'm understanding things right – that this set of actions is valid and doable.

I'm also using this question as reference to prove I can quicken Eldritch Blast.

Assuming a Sorcerer 3 (Any) and a Warlock 2 (Celestial – as per Xanathar's Guide), could a character that has taken quickened spell and subtle spell metamagic at this level do the following.

Character CHAMAN charges forward, moving his speed towards a distant ally in trouble. He then looks at ALLYMAN and heals him silently using Healing Word from a range (gained via Celestial pact), and then turns his gaze to an ENEMYTHING rushing at ALLYMAN and quickens an Eldritch Blast to blow them away. (All in one turn.)

Mechanically this is:

  1. Move
  2. Cast Healing Word + Subtle Spell Metamagic on ally
  3. Cast Eldritch Blast + Quicken Spell Metamagic on enemy
  • 1 spell slot used
  • 3 spell points used
  • 1 turn used

EDIT: I'm going to leave the rest of the question as-is because some of the answers will be wonky without it, but as people have noted I was wrong thinking that I had healing word with Celestial. Cure Wounds works in its place for my intent.

Best Answer

It'll work, just not the way you described.

Why your plan won't work

In your plan, you are trying to cast two bonus action spells. One is a standard cast of a Bonus Action (Healing Word) and the other is a spell converted from Action to Bonus Action via Quicken (Eldritch Blast.)

Unfortunately, you only get one bonus action per turn.

You can take only one bonus action on your turn, so you must choose which bonus action to use when you have more than one available.

Therefore your original plan is both not playable via the rules and is a waste of resources. Take the easier path below!

Simplify your plan

The spellcasting rules on page 202 of the PHB state (emphasis mine):

A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven't already taken a bonus action this turn. You can't cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.

Healing Word is already a Bonus Action spell, so that fulfills your Bonus Action cast.

You can them simply cast Eldritch Blast with your Action and all is good. Quicken Spell is not necessary.

But how did you get Healing Word?

Healing Word is not a Warlock option, even as a Celestial. Nor is it on the Sorcerer or Warlock spell lists. As Xirema noted, only the Divine Soul Sorcerer has this, so you'd need that to be your Sorcerer dip (and can only be that dip) in order for this to work as planned.

You could also take the Magic Initiate Feat and pick up Healing Word (if you do, I'd suggest taking it from the Bard spell list to keep your CHA modifier.)

Your actual usage

  1. Bonus Action Healing Word (1 spell slot + 1 spell point for Subtle)
  2. Action to cast Eldritch Blast (no cost)
  3. Above happens in 1 turn
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