The War Caster feat (PHB, p. 170) allows a player to avoid the somatic requirement of spells when casting. However, since you can drop a weapon for free and then pick it up as a free interaction, you can completely avoid the somatic requirement while still keeping a weapon equipped at the end of your turn.
Action economy used as follows:
- Drop weapon (free)
- Cast somatic spell (1 Action)
- Pick up weapon (Movement/free one-object interaction)
War Caster does have some additional perks, but considering other Feats (like Resilient) exist, War Caster seems almost useless.
I've discussed this with fellow players, and the consensus is that doing this works within the RAW, but it's also silly to abuse the action economy in this way.
Is there a consensus on whether this sort of abuse of the action economy is allowed (i.e. not simply up to the DM) when using RAW?
Best Answer
Like your fellow players, I suspect your DM may see this nifty trick as gaming the system. Your DM has broad latitude to discourage such shenanigans.
Dropping your weapon might be riskier than you suppose
The first time you drop your weapon in combat and retrieve it, maybe your enemies are surprised by this odd tactic. But the second time, they might be ready.
Grabbed objects can be picked up (by anyone!)
Going strictly by the rules, an enemy could ready an action, and then snatch away your weapon with their reaction. That’s not so good if you had a nice magic sword.
“Custom” Reactions
The rules for opportunity attacks state: “In a fight, everyone is constantly watching for enemies to drop their guard” (PH 195) and that doing so enables them to take their reaction.
Your fair-minded DM might rule that dropping a weapon is a valid trigger for a reaction, allowing an enemy to kick your weapon away.
Or a DM might rule there is a chance your weapon will be kicked in a random direction if it is dropped during melee.
Other reasons not to drop nice things