D&D Tips: Bonus Action Spells

Very often, we hear that it is not possible to cast two spells in a single turn unless one of them is a cantrip. To that we say, “Balderdash!” If someone says this to you, you have our permission to slap them with a Player’s Handbook and then direct them here.

This article will explain why this misconception exists and the circumstances in which you are allowed to cast multiple spells in a turn.

Clarification On Actions

The “Combat” chapter in the Player’s Handbook details the different actions you can take. We frequently make reference in this article to the Cast a Spell action, which reads as follows:

Spellcasters such as wizards and clerics, as well as many monsters, have access to spells and can use them to great effect in combat. Each spell has a casting time, which specifies whether the caster must use an action, a reaction, minutes, or even hours to cast the spell. Casting a spell is, therefore, not necessarily an action. Most spells do have a casting time of 1 action, so a spellcaster often uses his or her action in combat to cast such a spell.

This article will focus on those spells which have a casting time of 1 action, 1 bonus action, or 1 reaction, as they are the spells which are typically used in combat and which are subject to restrictions regarding what you have cast in a single turn.

The Misconception

Let’s put an important point in no uncertain terms here: there are no rules that say you cannot cast two spells in a turn, let alone that they can’t both be of 1st level or higher. What has people confused is the following text, which appears on page 202 of the Player’s Handbook:

[When you cast a spell as a bonus action,] you can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.

This is a narrowly circumscribed restriction that only applies in certain circumstances. Namely, when you cast a spell as a bonus action. Note that there is nothing there which says that you can’t cast two spells. It is the action economy (1 action per turn plus a possible bonus action) that normally prevents someone from, say, casting two fireballs.

Now that we have cleared that up, let’s move on to the five situations in which you can cast multiple spells in a turn.

Situation 1: Bonus Action Spell plus Cantrip

This is the exception to the rule that many people know about already (and is directly written into the rules), but it is worth going into because it is also the reason people get confused.

As quoted above, when you cast a spell as a bonus action, your other spellcasting on that turn is restricted. This means that if you cast misty step or hex, you can’t also cast a spell of 1st level or higher; you are limited to casting a cantrip. It also means that if you’re a sorcerer and you use the Quicken Spell metamagic option on a fireball in order to cast it as a bonus action, you are also limited to a cantrip when you use the Cast a Spell action. Whether you cast this cantrip before or after the bonus-action spell, the restriction is the same, so plan your turn accordingly.

Situation 2: Bonus Action Spell plus Item

Okay, so this one is a little trickier and requires that you read the item description closely.

Some items, such as a wand of fireballs, allows you to use an action to cast a spell from that item. Normally, using an item would mean taking the Use an Object action (PHB 193) on your turn, but in this circumstance these items are giving you a new action: expending charges to cast a spell. Even though this isn’t the Cast a Spell action, you are still casting a spell, and so you are bound by the same restrictions regarding bonus action spells.

However, other items such as a necklace of fireballs, do much the same thing but don’t specify that you are actually casting a spell. For those items, you can cast a bonus action spell and then use the action given in that item’s description to cause another magical effect to occur. Therefore, a sorcerer could use Quicken Spell to cast fireball as a bonus action and then throw a bead from a necklace of fireballs as an action to create another fireball.

To appease the pedants who will read this and leave angry comments: No, this is technically not casting two spells in a turn. However, it is creating two magical effects and therefore falls under the same general topic, which makes it prudent to mention.

Situation 3: Reaction Spells

Another action you can take to cast a spell aside from your regular action and bonus action is a reaction. Provided that you don’t cast a bonus action spell during that same turn, if a situation would cause you to cast a spell as a reaction you are not precluded from taking the Cast a Spell action to cast another spell.

For example, if you move out of a creature’s threatened space and it makes an opportunity attack against you, you could use shield as a reaction to prevent the attack from hitting you and still cast a spell like chromatic orb on the creature when you are safely out of reach.

Situation 4: Action Surge

Anyone with at least two levels in the fighter class can also cast two spells without having to contend with the restrictions on spellcasting. How? Well, they just don’t cast a spell as a bonus action. Instead, they take the Cast a Spell action, use their Action Surge feature to gain a second action, and then take the Cast a Spell action again. If they are an Eldritch Knight of at least 7th level, they can then still use their bonus action to make a weapon attack, too!

Situation 5: Wild Magic Surge

Very similar to the above case, Wild Magic sorcerers can also cast two action spells in a single turn, though they can’t do so reliably.

A Wild Magic sorcerer who casts a spell of 1st level or higher has the potential to trigger a wild magic surge on a roll of a 1 on a d20 (rolled at the DM’s discretion). One possible result on the Wild Magic Surge table (81 or 82 on a d100 roll) is “You can take one additional action immediately”. Because it is a 1 in 1,000 chance, it is certainly easy to overlook, but a sorcerer who casts a spell and triggers this result could cast another spell.

Theoretically, a Wild Magic sorcerer’s maximum spells per turn is limited only by his available spell slots (including what he could make from sorcery points using his bonus action), magic items (using the additional action to cast more spells), and luck—the likelihood of triggering multiple such surges asymptotically approaches zero after even just the first occurrence. [Thanks to reader Christopher for our discussion on this one!]


The information above was verified by close reading of the rules and confirmed by information contained in the Sage Advice Compendium, a compilation of frequently asked questions and their answers, plus clarification of the rules by the game designers.

You are free to adjust the rules at your table in a way that you and your players find agreeable, but if you want the “rules as written” answers to whether you can or cannot cast two spells in the same turn, the answer is “Yes, in the situations detailed above”.


What are your thoughts on the rules for spellcasting? Share them in the comments below!

22 thoughts on “D&D Tips: Bonus Action Spells”

  1. You can reliably get one d20 roll for Wild magic a round, but it isn’t that difficult to get a reaction as well. With 2 leveled spells being cast, you have a 3.8% chance to cast another leveled spell, wether it is your choice or not. That gives a roughly .07% chance to get a leveled spell from Wild magic table caused by a spell from the wild magic table. However, that is before you have controls chaos. With controlled chaos, you can get a leveled spell 7.6% and .1444% of the time. You can get up to 4 however, as you have your action, reaction, action surge, and haste (use item-magic) to cast spells, get you up to 7.6 &15.2%/.1444 &.2888% chance for leveled spells. However, you can roll a 1 or 2, which lets you roll on the table (no d20 necessary) each turn for a minute. With the other four rolls (counting the D20) then you get a 45.6% chance of a leveled spell, or 91.2 with controlled chaos, giving you a pretty darn good reason to try, until you realize that this counts the fireball centered on yourself and other bad spells. However, you do have .8664% or 1.7328% chance of getting a chain. (Note percentages include the D20 [exept for the 1/2] and d100 rolls, and chain percentages include the chance of the previous event.) for those without a magic item, the 1/2 would bring you to an 87% with CC

  2. Can i show you a possible situation?I’m a sorcerer of 12 level.
    START MY TURN:’
    In my Bonus Action i cast disintegrate spell(time casting 1 action) on a target using the feats of sorcerer for double the spell on another target(using 6 points witchcraft) than i cast the cantrip ray of frost on a target with the same using of feats for double the spell on another target(using another point of witchcraft).
    Can i make all this spells in one turn?

    1. Hi Justice,

      Thank you for your question.

      The Metamagic section of the Sorcerer table says, “You can use only one Metamagic option on a spell when you cast it, unless otherwise noted”. Of all the Metamagic options presented in the Player’s Handbook, only Empowered Spell can be used when you have already used a different Metamagic option.

      In other words, you can use either Twinned Spell or Quickened Spell when you cast disintegrate, but not both.

      Note that the use of Metamagic is by spell, not by turn. If you use Quickened Spell to cast disintegrate as a bonus action, you can still cast ray of frost with the Twinned Spell Metamagic option. You can also used Empowered Spell on one or both spells.

      Best,
      the Archmage

  3. I look at the bonus action spell as follows.
    Greedo is enjoying his monologue.
    Han says, “Yeah, I bet you have.” *PEW*. quickened spell.
    Different scenario, Greedo walks in with a bodyguard. BG walks over to the bar to be overwatch.
    Greedo does monol— *Pew* Han then takes move action to dive behind table, and then returns fire. quickened spell. Move action. Attack action. Not sure if he drew an attack of opportunity from BG. Probably did since they posted up to be overwatch. Thoughts?

    1. Hi Asherett,

      I’m really not sure what is confusing you. Are you sure that you read it properly?

      Specifically, “Provided that you haven’t cast a bonus action spell on that turn already […]” pretty clearly addresses what you seem to be talking about.

      I don’t know what else to tell you.

      – the Archmage

      1. Right. Your discussion here was framed slightly differently than a Twitter discussion that linked here indicated, so I misread. I thought you stated that you could cast a R spell and a BA spell on the same turn. Lots of people seem to think reactions always happen off-turn, and thus claim R spells don’t affect the “BA spell rule” at all. I assumed your #3 backed that claim. I apologize.

        However, you could add that you can’t cast a BA spell AFTER using a R spell either, as this is a pretty unique point. The really annoying thing about the “BA spell rule” is that it is retroactive, forcing players to consider the order in which they do things. So it’s not -just- “already”.

        1. Hi Asherett,

          Thanks for your comment!

          I’ll definitely look at adjusting that to make it more clear. Thanks!

          – the Archmage

  4. [Quote]
    For example, if you move out of a creature’s threatened space and it makes an opportunity attack against you, you could use shield as a reaction to prevent the attack from hitting you and still cast a spell like hold monster on the creature when you are safely out of reach.
    [/Quote]

    I am enjoying reading your articles. Well written and thoughtful. Thank you.

    A minor critique on action economy and spell preservation in the above example. Given that in 5e you do not draw an AoO for casting spells, it would be more prudent to cast Hold Monster first, since if it lands there would be zero need to have to use the Shield spell to avoid an AoO when moving away from the creature.

    If the creature makes its save, you still have your reaction to cast Shield if needed while moving away.

    A minor note, hopefully useful for newer players of 5e to help them save a spell or two for use later in the adventuring day 🙂

    1. Great advice!

      In my heart, I’m still a 3rd edition player and occasionally I get my 5E mixed up with my 3.5E, like thinking I want to get away before casting spells to avoid provoking opportunity attacks (or, as you also seem to remember them as, ‘attacks of opportunity’). I even still occasionally call for ‘Reflex saves’ at the table, though thankfully my players have become accustomed to it now.

      The sequence you quoted would work better as a set-up to a spell that requires a ranged spell attack. I will adjust the post.

      Thanks for the suggestion!
      – the Archmage

  5. What would your ruling be on casting Haste, which gives you another action, among other things. Could you cast Haste, which takes an action, and then cast another spell of 1st level or higher, say Crown of stars which allows you to use your bonus action and throw one of the motes of energy floating above your head, essentially using 2 actions, a bonus action, and potentially a reaction if something happens. Also, on each subsequent turn, for 9 more, would you be able to cast a 1st level spell or higher on each action, 2 actions now for haste, use another mote from Crown of Stars, and then a possible reaction if it occurs.

    Note of clarification, if spells cast as actions that allow you to perform something using your bonus action are not the same as “casting a spell” on your bonus action, thus limiting the rest of your actions.

    Also, for clarification, you can cast two spells per turn of 1st level or higher, as with haste which gives you 2 actions per turn, as long as the bonus action is not used to cast a spell of 1st level or higher.

    I know this is a very specific scenario, but I would love to do it at the table and see what my DM’s facial expressions would be, of course I will have the link to this page handy lol.

    1. Hi Steve,

      The restriction refers to the casting time. The bonus action effect of crown of stars doesn’t count as casting a spell, it is simply something you can do while the spell lasts.

      As far as haste is concerned, it doesn’t give you two actions per turn, it gives you an additional action that can be used to take certain kinds of actions. The Cast a Spell action is not on the list of actions that you can take, so you couldn’t use your haste action to cast a spell. A list of all kinds of actions can be found on pages 192-3 of the Player’s Handbook if you are confused about this.

      The DM is free to add the Cast a Spell action to the list of possible actions you can take with this spell, but the plan doesn’t work following the rules as written.

      Best,
      – the Archmage

  6. Would the following be correct (replying to 1 of Chris’ comments above):

    4x Spells (1 must be levelled, 3 others may be any mix of levelled and cantrips):
    -Spell 1: Action {leveled spell OR cantrip}
    -Spell 2: Action Surge action {leveled spell OR cantrip}
    -Spell 3: Reaction (reaction spell) {leveled spell, NB: there are no Reaction cantrips in PH or XGE}
    -Spell 4: Wild Magic Surge 81-82 action {leveled spell OR cantrip}

    4x Spells (1 Bonus Action spell + 3 Cantrips):
    -Spell 1: Bonus Action spell {leveled spell, possibly Quickened metamagic spell}
    -Spell 2: Action {Cantrip}
    -Spell 3: Action Surge action {Cantrip}
    -Spell NA: Reaction {Cantrip} (There are no Reaction cantrips in PH or XGE)
    -Spell 4: Wild Magic Surge 81-82 action {Cantrip}

    1. Hi Danny,

      With the War Caster feat, you can cast a cantrip as an opportunity attack in place of attacking with a weapon. Opportunity attacks use your reaction. Chris’ comment is correct.

      Best,
      the Archmage

  7. We talked about this through another avenue, but putting it here for everyone else’s fun. Addiding to your statement about the limit being spell slots if in a theoretical wild magic surge loop.

    Any spell 1st lvl or above could activate a Wild Magic Surge that could grant an additional Action that turn. As long as a Bonus Action spell isn’t cast, this could theoritically cause a chain reaction where each spell creates an extra action from Wild Magic Surges. The first limit you would his is the number of spell slots available. For a 20th level Sorcerer, there are 22 spell slots of 1st-9th level spells. Then sorcery points can be converted to create another spell slot (the conversion uses your bonus action, so can only do it once in a turn). This gets you to 23 spells that could be cast directly. After that, magic items can make the user cast a spell. Your last spells Wild Magic Surge action could be used to activate a magic item that has you cast a spell, taking you to 24 spells cast.

    (Note, I didnt cross-reference multiclassing into other spell casting classes to see if even more spell slots could be available.)

    There is sage advice that makes it clear that spells a user casts from a magic item can be Twinned or counterspell, I havent seen a rueling for if a magic item can cause a Wild Magic Surge (it may exist). One could easily rule they can based on the official ruling about counterspell and Twinned. If it can, then you are theoritically at infinity for a character that has access to infinity magic items/charges.

  8. Sorry to say this, but your approach to this subject is likely to lead to the same confusion that the Sage Advice column has. By focusing on various scenarios by which 2 spells can be cast, you miss how the various rules actually interact when players may try and cast more than 2 spells in their turn, which is possible.

    Firstly, bonus action casting (any spell or cantrip restricts other spell choices within the turn to cantrips of 1 action casting time.
    This is important, and is a clause that ties all this together.

    If you have action Surge, you can use it to cast a spell. If you have also bonus action cast in the same turn, the action surge granted spellcast is under the cantrip restriction because it is in the same turn.

    So we have now 3 spells in the turn – bonus action spell, action cantrip, action Surge cantrip.

    Without the bonus action cast we could get 3 spells if one is a reaction spell – action cast, action Surge cast, reaction cast. In that case there is no cantrip restriction at all, as no bonus action cast occurred.

    Finally, there can be a 4 spell turn. Bonus action cast, action cantrip, action Surge cantrip, followed by some other character triggering an opportunity cast from War Caster. The reaction is to cast a cantrip. But wait! If you cast with a bonus action you cannot cast a reaction spell! Correct, but War Caster allows you to cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action as a reaction. The spell, as written, fulfils the restriction imposed by the bonus action cast, so it can be cast as a reaction.

    4 spells in one turn. Unusual but possible.

    1. Your comment has a MAJOR error, and I don’t want the community misled.

      On a turn with Action Surge used, the bonus action spell rule is still applied, and that limit after a bonus action spell is cast is “a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action”. This means 1 cantrip. It doesn’t matter how many actions you have, it is 1 bonus action spell and 1 Cantrip.

      You CANNOT use a bonus action spell, an action Cantrip spell, and an Action Surge Cantrip spell on the same turn. You are limited to 1 bonus action spell and 1 Cantrip. The Action Surge action couldn’t be used for casting a spell on that turn, not even a Cantrip.

      1. Thanks for your comment, Christopher!

        This was a source of confusion for a long time and the developers, in typical fashion, didn’t give a straight answer about it until the release of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, where this was addressed on page 5 under “Bonus Action Spells”:

        “[…] remember that you can’t cast any other spells before or after it on the same turn, except for cantrips with a casting time of 1 action.”

        Note the plural in “cantrips”.

        Jeremy Crawford also says it’s possible here.

        Best,
        – the Archmage

        1. Awesome, thanks for not just 1, but 2 references. Also keep in mind the very niche extra action from a Wild Magic Surge (roll of 81-82). So unless I have missed something else, it looks like we can get up to 4x leveled spells, or 5x Spells where 1 is a leveled spell and the other 4 are cantrips, in a single turn:

          —–4x Leveled Spells:

          -Spell 1: Action {leveled spell}
          -Spell 2: Action Surge action {leveled spell}
          -Spell 3: Reaction (reaction spell) {leveled spell}
          -Spell 4: Wild Magic Surge 81-82 action {leveled spell}

          —–5x Spells (Bonus Action spell + 4 Cantrips):

          -Spell 1: Bonus Action spell {leveled spell, possibly Quickened metamagic spell}
          -Spell 2: Action {Cantrip}
          -Spell 3: Action Surge action {Cantrip}
          -Spell 4: Reaction (reaction spell) {Cantrip}
          -Spell 5: Wild Magic Surge 81-82 action {Cantrip}

          1. Thanks for your reply!

            I had forgotten about the wild magic surge. It occurs to me that with that, the number of spells you can cast in a turn is theoretically equal to the number of spell slots you have; provided you don’t use a bonus action spell somewhere in there, you could continually cast a spell of 1st level or higher for the 1 in 1,000 chance of getting a wild magic surge with that specific result, then repeat that process until you are completely tapped out. The odds of it occurring are asymptotically close to zero, but it’s possible!

            Best,
            – the Archmage

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