Make the most of Action Surge
So, you’ve seen Action Surge get mentioned a lot in D&D streams and heard it being talked about a lot, but what does it actually do? Action Surge is a level-two feat for Fighters in Dungeons & Dragons, and it allows you to take an additional full Action after your initial one on the same turn. So, if you have an ability that grants you an additional Action, like the Warlock’s Infernal Pact, you can use both.
Action Surge can be a bit confusing at first, so we’re going to break down what it does and give some examples of how it affects gameplay.
When can I use Action Surge?
Action Surge can be used once per rest until level 17, where it can be used twice per rest. So, if you spend a short rest to recharge it, you can then use it twice.
When can other classes use Action Surge?
Though Fighters benefit the most from this feat, other classes can also make use of it. If you multiclass into two levels of Fighter, you can use Action Surge to cast two leveled spells in one turn. Sorcerers also get an extra attack at level five, which they can also use with Action Surge to attack four times in one round.
Other classes, such as Rangers, may also find value in Action Surge, especially when combining spell-casting buffs with attacks.
Which classes can’t use Action Surge?
As we’ve seen, some classes can make use of Action Surge to gain additional attacks, lay down more damage-over-time effects, or cast multiple spells in a turn. But there are a few classes that don’t benefit from this feat at all.
Among those are the Eldritch Knight and Bladesinger multi-class options for Fighters. Since they gain access to the Additional Spellcasting class feature, they don’t need to rely on Action Surge to get additional casts.
What can Action Surge do?
With Action Surge, players can double the number of attacks they make with Extra Attack or related feats, potentially leading to a significant increase in damage output. For example, if you have two extra attacks, you can make a total of six attacks in one turn with Action Surge.
Fighters aren’t the only ones that can benefit from this feat. Multiclassing into two levels of Fighter allows Sorcerers to cast two leveled spells in one turn. This can be particularly powerful when combined with the “Quicken Spell” ability, which allows you to cast a spell as if it had a higher spell slot. For example, you can cast a level two spell as if it were in a level three slot with Quicken Spell and two levels of Fighter.
Similarly, Paladins, like Fighters, gain an extra attack at level five, which can also be used with Action Surge to attack four times in one round. This allows Paladins to potentially deal significant damage with multiple Divine Smites.
In addition to dealing more damage, Action Surge can also be used to cast additional buffs, allowing you to make multiple attacks and then attack a target affected by those buffs. For example, if you cast a spell that grants temporary hit points, you could attack and then use your temporary hit points to absorb damage.
This feat can also be used to take more movement during your turn. This can be extremely useful when paired with the Ranger’s Whirlwind Attack feature. By combining Action Surge with this movement, you can attack every enemy within melee range of you.
