It’s no secret that Shillelagh, the iconic Druid cantrip, got stronger when Dungeons and Dragons updated its core rules. The new origin feat rules also mean that it’s easier than ever to pick up a Magic Initiate feat that gives any class access to said cantrip. Since these changes, theorycrafters have had a field day devising new builds based around Shillelagh and its martial benefits.
Are any of them actually that good? I’d argue no. And here’s a whole list of reasons why.
What is a Shillelagh build, anyway?
Let’s get the basics out of the way first. Here’s how the DnD spell Shillelagh works:
| Level | Cantrip |
| Duration | 1 minute |
| Casting time | Bonus action |
| Range | Self |
| Components | V, S, M (mistletoe) |
| Rules text | 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. |
| Upcasting | The damage die changes when you reach levels 5 (d10), 11 (d12), and 17 (2d6). |
While this has always been a Druid 5e spell, its benefits are most appealing to Gish characters who combine spellcasting with martial prowess. That includes Valor Bards, Paladins, Eldritch Knight Fighters, Bladesinger Wizards, and so on.
Many Gishes are MAD (multiple ability score dependent), which can make it challenging to max their most important DnD stats and juggle feats. Many Shillelagh builds aim to turn Gishes into SAD (single ability score dependent) builds, as the cantrip allows the character to attack with their spellcasting ability instead of Strength or Dexterity.
Beyond simplifying the ability scores of the character, the goal of a Shillelagh DnD character build is to maximize martial damage. That often means pairing the cantrip with certain feats (such as Polearm Master) or additional spells (like True Strike or Booming Blade). I’ll explain a few of these choices in more detail as we go.
For now, though, let’s talk about the inherent problems with the Shillelagh build.
Problem one: You don’t have enough hands
Druids are unique for many reasons, but one key factor is that they can use a quarterstaff as a spellcasting focus. The rest of the DnD classes need their own spellcasting focus or a component pouch to make magic happen.
That means that, in order to cast Shillelagh on a weapon at all, non-Druid characters need a hand free for said pouch or focus. In turn, this means they can’t wield a shield – which is a real downer for any Gish build without heavy armor that needs to keep its defenses high.
Since you have to be holding your weapon to cast Shillelagh on it and it takes an action to don or doff a shield, there’s no way to cheese your action economy mid-fight to avoid this issue, either.
I’m not the only theorycrafter to have spotted this major flaw. Master builder Treantmonk mentions this in one of his explorations of the Shillelagh build (which, despite him openly critiquing the concept, are probably some of the more well-known in the community).
My only solution to the problem is to play as a Thri-kreen, a Spelljammer species that has two extra arms. Just check with your DM before filling out that DnD character sheet.
Problem two: It eats up a crucial bonus action
In D&D 5e, combat lasts for three to four rounds on average. That’s four actions (not accounting for features that increase the number, a la Fighter 5e Action Surge) and four bonus actions tops.
In many cases, casting Shillelagh at the start of a fight eats up 25% or more of your bonus action budget. If your class isn’t overly reliant on bonus actions, that’s no problem. However, many of the builds that would benefit most from casting Shilellagh are also the most bonus action hungry.
For example, here’s what you could be doing instead of casting Shillelagh:
- Fighter – Dealing extra attacks from feats like Polearm Master
- Monk – Unarmed strikes, Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense, or Step of the Wind
- Paladin – Smites, Lay on Hands, and other bonus action spells
- Bard – Using Bardic inspiration or other bonus action spells
- Ranger – Commanding a Beast companion, Nature’s Veil, or other bonus action spells
Problem three: You could seriously annoy your DM
‘But wait!’, I hear some of you cry. ‘I’ve got a solution that solves problem one and problem two! I can just keep casting Shillelagh outside of combat; that way, it’s already cast when combat begins!’
Please don’t do this. Shillelagh lasts for one minute, so the sheer number of times you’d need to remind your DM that you cast the spell would be infuriating.
I also consider it bad sportsmanship to cast Shillelagh all the time, even if it’s ‘in the background’ without having to remind your DM once per minute. I certainly wouldn’t allow a character that’s constantly casting Shilellagh to competently make skill checks, investigate areas, or generally interact with other characters.
Bag Of Rats build players are constantly criticized for their attempts to game the system, and I believe everlasting Shillelagh players deserve the same scorn.
Problem four: It synergizes poorly with feats
There are several 5e feats that pair nicely with martial characters wanting to maximize damage, particularly those that are wielding a quarterstaff or club. Polearm Master is a popular choice, as it converts your bonus action and reaction into possible extra attacks. Crusher is another top choice, as it offers some area control and attack advantage for your weapon of choice.
The problem is that Polearm Master requires you to have a decent Strength or Dexterity stat. Plus, both feats offer Ability Score Improvements to Strength or Dexterity. If you’re working on a Shillelagh build, you’re probably trying to avoid spending lots of points in those stats, as your spellcasting modifier is the de facto damage dealer.
There’s another problem when it comes to your character’s feats. Most non-Druid characters will need to pick up Magic Initiate to access the spell, and that’s a feat they could have spent on something more valuable.
DnD 2024 backgrounds make it easy to pick this up as an origin feat thanks to the guide background, and the new DnD races rules mean that humans have their pick of an extra origin feat. But with so many good feats available to martial fighters and so few options to pick up new feats in future, you have to be sure you’re getting maximum value out of your choices.
Speaking of which…
Problem five: The DPR isn’t that impressive
Shillelagh builds can deal decent damage, and it can be impressive to see Gish and spellcasting builds almost rival the strikes of full martial characters. Several builders have done the math (like this post using the 2014 rules, and this one using the 2024 rules), and 30 to 40 damage-per-round (DPR) at tiers two and above is not too shabby.
However, we return to our old friend Treantmonk to point out the problems. In his video on the Eldritch Knight Fighter, he compares the damage output of a Shillelagh build with that of a more standard Greatsword build. Until level 17 (a level most D&D characters will never reach), the Shillelagh build falls behind on overall damage.
Shillelagh builds are fiddly, and the return on investment for all your rule-bending is damage that is ‘good, but not fantastic’. This isn’t a problem if you’re interested in testing the mechanics or if the build fits a character concept you’re passionate about. However, builders looking to deal absurd amounts of damage may be disappointed by the real-life results of their theorycrafting.
For more updates on D&D builds, check out the recent nerf to 5e’s most powerful spell. We can also keep you up-to-date with the newest books from the DnD release schedule. Plus, be sure to hit up the Wargamer Discord if you want to talk about build ideas.
Source: Wargamer
