Is Conjure Elementals Really Broken

Does Conjure Minor Elementals damage apply to multi target cantrips like Eldritch Blast?

Hi all,

Treantmonk a prominent YouTuber recently did a video (recent as in the last 3 months 😊) on how the spell Conjure Minor Elementals breaks the game of D&D. I think he may be interpreting the rules incorrectly.

Now the basis of his argument centres around the example of a valor bard build with a one level dip in warlock.

The Warlock dip is to access Eldritch Blast cantrip and the Valor Bard is because Conjure Minor Elements is not natively on the bard spell list, but they can grab it at level 10 with the Magical Secrets feature, and they get the cantrip Shillelagh also. The valor subclass can also, at level 6, if they take the attack action, they can swap out an attack from the Extra Attack feature with a cantrip.

To set up the whole thing, the bard is using the cantrip Shillelagh to make their attacks and then swap out an extra attack to cast Eldritch Blast, and since their initial attack (using shillelagh) uses a club, which is a light weapon, that allows an extra off hand attack with the bonus action, with another light weapon.

At the end of all of this, at level 11, the Valor Bard 10/Warlock 1 gets 6 attacks per turn and with Conjure Minor Elementals up and running (Plus 4d8 extra damage) they get six attacks per turn.

• 3 from Eldritch Blast

• 1 from the club attack via Shillelagh

• and 1 from the light weapon bonus attack

Or do they?

My argument is that that bard/Warlocks only gets 3 attacks, they make 6 attack rolls but only 3 attacks.

That is, Eldritch Blast as a cantrip give one attack within the meaning of the rules even as it gives multiple attack rolls. There is a reason that the rules glossary distinguishes between an attack and an attack roll.

First let’s look at the relevant text of the spells in question:

"Shillelagh

Transmutation Cantrip (Druid)

Casting Time: Bonus Action

Range: Self

Components: V, S, M (mistletoe)

Duration: 1 minute

A Club or Quarterstaff you are holding is imbued with nature’s power. 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. If the attack deals damage, it can be Force damage or the weapon’s normal damage type (your choice).

The spell ends early if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.

Cantrip Upgrade. The damage die changes when you reach levels 5 (d10), 11 (d12), and 17 (2d6).

"

Ok, this seems to be ok and allows the Attack Action to be conducted using Shillelagh and since the character has Extra Attack, they can make 2 attacks in a turn plus a bonus attack with a light weapon on turns other than the one they cast Shillelagh.

So far, so good, what about Eldritch Blast?

"Eldritch Blast

Evocation Cantrip (Warlock)

Casting Time: Action

Range: 120 feet

Components: V, S

Duration: Instantaneous

You hurl a beam of crackling energy. Make a ranged spell attack against one creature or object in range. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Force damage.

Cantrip Upgrade. The spell creates two beams at level 5, three beams at level 11, and four beams at level 17. You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam.

"

Here there is some interesting wording. The Casting time is one action but not terribly relevant since the level six Extra attack feature allows the substitution of a cantrip for one of these attacks.

Eldritch Blast however in the main body refers to the cantrip making a ranged spell attack as the effect of the spell but the extra beams are not referred to as separate attacks but as attack rolls. My view is that the cantrip only counts as a single attack, even if directed at multiple targets.

Now looking at Conjure Minor Elementals and the glossary definitions of Attack and Attack Rolls:

“CONJURE MINOR ELEMENTALS

Level 4 Conjuration (Druid, Wizard)

….

You conjure spirits from the Elemental Planes that flit around you in a 15-foot Emanation for the duration. Until the spell ends, any attack you make deals an extra 2d8 damage when you hit a creature in the Emanation. This damage is Acid, Cold, Fire, or Lightning (your choice when you make the attack).

…..”

The relevant section of this spell is bolded, it adds the damage to any attack.

Now for the rules of the attack action and attack roll.

“ATTACK ACTION

When you take the Attack action, you can make one attack roll with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike. …….

ATTACK ROLL

An attack roll is a D20 Test that represents making an attack with a weapon, an Unarmed Strike, or a spell. See also chapter 1 (“D20 Tests”).”

There is distinction drawn between Attack and Attack Rolls, what does the general rules say about making an attack.

"Making an Attack

When you take the Attack action, you make an attack. Some other actions, Bonus Actions, and Reactions also let you make an attack. Whether you strike with a Melee weapon, fire a Ranged weapon, or make an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has the following structure: ….."

This would seem to imply that a spell that makes an attack roll is an attack for the purposes of the general procedures of the game. So Eldritch Blast is an Attack for the purposes of CME but what about the beams?

it also implies that the Extra Attack feature confers an attack.

Well, here I want to look at what Hunter’s Mark and Hex have to say – Which was what triggered my thoughts on this matter).

"Hunter’s Mark

Level 1 Divination (Ranger)….You magically mark one creature you can see within range as your quarry. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 Force damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack roll. You also have Advantage on any Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check you make to find it….

Hex

……You place a curse on a creature that you can see within range. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 Necrotic damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack roll. Also, choose one ability when you cast the spell. The target has Disadvantage on ability checks made with the chosen ability……"

These spells specifically call out attack rolls, so the would apply to a spell like Eldritch blast but they do not use the word attack like Conjure Minor Elementals does.

With all of this considered I believe that Conjure Minor Elementals only adds damage to an attack and that Eldritch Blast or any other multi-target cantrip is only a single attack for the purposes of this spell. Otherwise, why make the distinction in the Eldritch Blast spell between the Attack in the body of the spell but refer to the extra beams as “Attack Rolls” and to refer to the damage in Hunter’s Mark and in Hex as applying to the “Attack Rolls”.

So, in the linked video, at 9 minutes in the CME damage was calculated at 90, 5 attacks with an additional 4d8 => 4.5*5= 18 per attack for a total of 90 extra damage.

My argument is that this damage should be only added 3 times.

Once for the cantrip, once for the club attack and once for the bonus light weapon attack.

For a total of 54 which is still very good but not as broken as the 90 and it is only going to scale with the level slot used to cast the spell, not with that and the number of beams supplied by Eldritch Blast.

What do people think? is my reasoning too convoluted? Have I completely missed the point.

Let me know in the comments.

Even if you do not agree that my interpretation is correct "Rules as written", I think it would a good ruling to make before trying out other nerfs.