[RPG] Can you use Bladesong while you’re Wildshaped and Vice-Versa

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Looking over the Bladesinging wizard subclass, I came to realize that the Bladesong feature (SCAG, p. 142) doesn’t list any requirements outside of a Bonus Action.

Starting at 2nd level, you can invoke a secret elven magic called the Bladesong, provided that you aren’t wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield. It graces you with supernatural speed, agility, and focus. You can use a bonus action to start the Bladesong, which lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are incapacitated, if you don medium or heavy armor or a shield, or if you use two hands to make an attack with a weapon. You can also dismiss the Bladesong at any time you choose (no action required).

While your Bladesong is active, you gain the following benefits:

  • You gain a bonus to your AC equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).
  • Your walking speed increases by 10 feet.
  • You have advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
  • You gain a bonus to any Constitution saving throw you make to maintain your concentration on a spell. The bonus equals your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).

You can use this feature twice.
You regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long
rest.

To my knowledge there’s nothing here or within Wildshape that prevents you from using this ability.

I can see that it would be significantly advantageous to use this in a Moon Druid Build, especially considering it only requires a two level dip.

Is there something I don’t know preventing this from actually working and allowing me to use both abilities at the same time outside of the need of 2 bonus actions? Please use RAW, ERRATA, or a clarification from the designers of 5E to explain why you couldn’t use these abilities one after another.

Best Answer

RAW: You can use Bladesong while in Wild Shape, and vice versa

You can enter a Bladesong either before entering Wild Shape or while in Wild Shape, as the Wild Shape feature states (emphasis mine):

You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.

Jeremy Crawford states in an unofficial tweet that:

Bladesong doesn't require a weapon in hand. Its description would say if it did.

And that a Bladesinger does not need to have his or her weapon in hand in order to utilize the Bladesong ability.

One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot maintain Bladesong if (per SCAG, p. 142):

you don medium or heavy armor or a shield, or if you use two hands to make an attack with a weapon

So keep that in mind when considering what to Wild Shape into.

You can use Bladesong while wildshaped, or can use it prior to wildshaping and still maintain its effect as long as you pick a shape that fits with the rules of using Bladesong.

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