Shillelagh states (emphasis added):
For the Duration, you can use your Spellcasting Ability instead of Strength for the Attack and Damage Rolls of Melee Attacks using that weapon, and the weapon's damage die becomes a d8.
Does this mean you have to use the spellcasting ability, even if Strength is higher? I interpret "can" as giving you the option.
I want to turn a quarter staff's damage die to a d8 while still using strength, on a melee Ranger/Nature Cleric with the polearm master feat.
Best Answer
You can use Str
5e uses the plain English meanings of words. "Can" and "may" indicate options. It does not say "the attacks use your spellcasting ability instead of strength". That would mean that it is not optional. Also see this question about "can" and "may".
The damage die, however, "becomes a d8" without a "can" or "may", so this is not optional. It also says "and" and not "and if you do", so whether or not you use your spellcasting ability has no bearing on whether you can use the d8.