Shillelagh
Cantrip · Transmutation
- Utility
Shillelagh (druid) casts as a cantrip in the transmutation school. Cast time: Bonus Action. Range Self, components V/S/M, duration 1 minute. Material: mistletoe. Effect: A Club or Quarterstaff you are holding is imbued with nature's power.
Stat Block
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Transmutation
- Casting Time
- Bonus Action
- Range / Area
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- 1 Minute
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Druid
- Material
- mistletoe
Description
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.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Transmutation is the school that breaks parts of D&D's combat math on purpose. The system trusts that a Transmuter understands what they have done to a creature when they Polymorph it. The school tag on Shillelagh is earned by the spell rewrites a property of a body, an object, or terrain. Cantrips like Shillelagh scale with character level, not slot cost.
Class Fit
- Druid: Circle of the Moon Druids spend most of their turns in Wild Shape — Shillelagh earns its slot only if the build expects to cast in humanoid form. The Bonus-Action cost on Shillelagh pairs cleanly with an Action spell on the same turn.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Shillelagh
- What level spell is Shillelagh?
- Shillelagh sits at cantrip in the Transmutation school of magic, prepared by Druid.
- What is the range of Shillelagh?
- As a self-target spell, Shillelagh affects only the caster.
- How long does Shillelagh last?
- Shillelagh sticks for 1 minute. Concentration is not required, so the caster's concentration slot stays free.
- What components and casting time does Shillelagh need?
- Note: the spell uses V, S, M components. Beyond that — Material component: mistletoe; the casting time is bonus action (not a standard Action).