[RPG] Does the Sharpshooter feat work on spells cast through a ranged weapon being used as a spellcasting focus

dnd-5efeatsspellswarlock

I'm asking as a player:

Does the Sharpshooter feat's 3rd clause (-5/+10) work on spells cast through a ranged weapon being used as a spellcasting focus?

Specifically, does the Sharpshooter feat work with spells cast through a Warlock's Improved Pact Weapon shortbow/longbow/crossbow options?

Best Answer

It only works for spells that require an attack with a ranged weapon

Sharpshooter's third benefit is clear (emphasis mine):

  • Before you make an attack with a ranged weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack's damage.

It explicitly require you to make an attack with the ranged weapon to benefit from it. The only spells that can benefit from it as part of their effect are the branding smite, lightning arrow, and hail of thorns spells. In addition, the ranged weapon used for the attack does not need to be a spellcasting focus for the effect to work with these spells.

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