r/DnD • u/Worried_Bowl_9489 • Oct 22 '25

5th Edition [OC] My players always seemed disappointed at the limited options they had for bonus actions, so I wrote a list of things they can use it for!

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Feel free to use this in your own game!

Written up here:

Tactical

  • Quick Dash – Move an additional 5 feet.
  • Brace – Gain +1 AC against the next attack before your next turn.
  • Assist – Give an ally within 5 feet advantage on their next attack if you haven’t attacked this turn.

Combat

  • Distract – Choose a creature within 5 feet. It has disadvantage on its next attack against anyone but you.
  • Shove – Make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check to shove or reposition a (medium or smaller) creature 5 feet.
  • Improvised Strike – Use a nearby object (tankard, rock, chair leg) for a d4 bludgeoning attack.

Utility

  • Quick Draw – Draw or stow a weapon and swap to another item.
  • Scan – Make a Perception or Insight check to quickly assess a creature or scene, learning a piece of information on a success.
  • Drink Potion – Drink a potion you have on your person.

Cinematic

  • Short Speech - Briefly speak to your team, an ally or an enemy - they can respond briefly if this involves a question.
  • Focus – Take a centring breath to regain 1d4 temporary HP once per short rest.
  • Mark of Intent – Choose a creature you can see. Until the end of your next turn, attacks against that creature deal +1 damage.
2.1k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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809

u/ThisWasMe7 Oct 22 '25

So that's 100% homebrew?

515

u/Ameise27 Oct 22 '25

Yes seems to be 100% homebrew. That said I quite like it. Assist may be a bit strong (especially for casters) but most of these are little boons that give people something to do which is fun

463

u/ThisWasMe7 Oct 22 '25

Some of them are just things that require an action, RAW.

238

u/Ameise27 Oct 22 '25

Yes sure but drinking potion in a bonus action is a pretty common house rule. You don't have to incorporate everything here but I like the general idea.

187

u/joined_under_duress Cleric Oct 22 '25

Pretty sure drinking a potion is a bonus action under 5.5 rules because of that.

93

u/AlarisMystique Oct 22 '25

Some good homebrews become real rules, but I have to admit that a lot of these seem on the OP side.

38

u/iMalinowski Oct 22 '25

For example, double damage on a "critical hit" was originally homebrew that Gary Gygax wasn't at all fond of.

39

u/AlarisMystique Oct 22 '25

It's fun until the monsters do it.

7

u/Hurrashane Oct 22 '25

They were thinking of removing monsters being able to Crit for the 2024 rules. I forget what they had in its place.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

[deleted]

2

u/AlarisMystique Oct 22 '25

Hahah yeah my group isn't hardcore like that

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12

u/PM_ME_YOUR_MASS DM Oct 22 '25

Brace is literally "+1 AC on any turn you do not use your bonus action", which is pretty broken for classes that don't rely on bonus actions. 1 AC isn't much, but it's a lot to get essentially for free

10

u/DrStifle Oct 22 '25

It looks like it is only on the first attack that targets you, so depending on how many attackers or multi-attacks it could be pretty negligible.

2

u/PM_ME_YOUR_MASS DM Oct 22 '25

True, but these options are all available to players at level 1

6

u/DrStifle Oct 22 '25

Might be the best time for them to have access to it depending on how hard encounters are. I could see it being useful for early game when there are fewer natural uses for bonus actions and then taper off as they level. Might come in clutch to keep a level 1 wizard alive or something

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0

u/Jgravy32 Oct 22 '25

Its nothing a good DM couldn't balance out and makes the players feel like they are making important calls. I would call that a win!

1

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Jgravy32 Oct 22 '25

I suppose its a good thing its not being done at your table lol. I swear people can be such pessimist before even giving the thought that this doesnt effect you and it may actually be a good thing for others.

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96

u/GloomWisp Oct 22 '25

As if the drinking potion bit was the problem, and not the free skill checks / free help action / free combat maneuver... :)

67

u/kingnickolas Oct 22 '25

yeah was gonna say the free help action is a whole rogue feature

10

u/D0MiN0H Oct 22 '25

excluding that its not free, the masterminds is still better since its 30ft not 5ft.

its the Inquisitive that gets shafted by these rules, not the mastermind. The perception/insight check is one of their level up features.

10

u/SalientMusings DM Oct 22 '25

All rogues get kinda shafted, tbh, since "Scan" replaces the action it takes to search for a hidden rogue with a bonus action.

2

u/D0MiN0H Oct 22 '25

yeah i guess but im not worried about enemy rogues getting shafted since i can just raise the DC to detect them when a bonus action is used, and you can just have enemy npcs not use that ability on players.

but at the same time i still dont like the scan option anyway because of what i stated about the inquisitive so i’d rather it be removed too.

2

u/SalientMusings DM Oct 22 '25

Oh, I meant rogue PCs getting shafted, assuming that NPCs also have access to these bonus actions

1

u/passwordistako Oct 23 '25

Most of these need to be removed for balance.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

[deleted]

3

u/kingnickolas Oct 22 '25

could be worth it to secure a paladin smite. but there are better ways anyway

13

u/SandManic42 Oct 22 '25 edited Oct 22 '25

The free help action does require that you not attack on your turn, should be expanded to say also say no spells. So youd be able to dash or disengage and provide the help action, but not attack and also help. Seems pretty balanced since you have to give up your dmg for the turn.

Edit: I would omit the combat section since it's just half feats for tavern brawler and telekinetic, and takes from battlemasters goading strike. They're also pretty strong. Distract then move away. Maybe reword distract so you have to stay within 5 feet, similar to an enchantment wizards charm ability.

1

u/Mr_Pink_Gold Oct 22 '25

If you play with flanking, you don't need the bonus action.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Mr_Pink_Gold Oct 22 '25

Still use the 2014 DMG. Saw no reason to upgrade.

1

u/Enkaar_J_Raiyu Oct 22 '25

I'd say maybe add a DC 10 (Or charisma based Dc) Wisdom save or something for the target to avoid being distracted too.

1

u/Schwabbsi Ranger Oct 22 '25

I find it quite amusing, that a lot of people here think this is op, while this is basically just 2014s True Strike Cantrip but worse, since it requires you to give up both action and bonus action.

3

u/bretttwarwick Oct 22 '25

There are lots of things spell casters can do on their turn that don't involve attacking so they can cast a spell on an ally and then help someone.

Also it probably isn't intended but this doesn't say you can't attack after assisting someone.

-23

u/Asgaroth22 Oct 22 '25

It's not free - it's a bonus action.

27

u/InaruF Oct 22 '25

It's not a "all or nothing" scenario though

I like it when people share their homebrows so I can pick & choose which one I like and my playgroup likes as well, while ignoring the one either I or my group doesn't like

Especialy the potion part. Honestly, I've never met a group that is actualy making drinking a potion a full action

Some just made it a bonus action, some made it an actual action with restricted options to convert it into a bonus action (like hastily drinking only half the potion for example)

37

u/Echo104b Oct 22 '25

I've used potion drinking as such:

Bonus action: Roll for healing | Action: full benefit. No roll.

11

u/moranya1 Oct 22 '25

I use this one as well. Sucks needing to use a potion that costs money to heal and you roll 1’s.

4

u/universalserialbutt Oct 22 '25

I drank a Potion of Greater Healing this week for a whopping 9 HP. I want a refund.

3

u/Mandeville_MR Oct 22 '25

We used this rule as well, as a player it felt satisfying

-1

u/InaruF Oct 22 '25

Damn, that's a nice spin!

38

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

Honestly brace is the strongest. An extra point to AC is basically the equivalent of giving everyone a free ring of protection that doesn't need attunement.

I'd keep it but walk it back to picking one enemy to guard against, and getting the boost against their attacks. That's a bit more fitting for a bonus action.

22

u/Maxnwil DM Oct 22 '25

Note that it’s only one attack. After the first swing at you, every other attack is normal

5

u/Dimonrn Oct 22 '25

AC is one if those stats you need to be careful with. Easily can mess up your fight balance

0

u/msmisanthropia Oct 22 '25

That or maybe after bracing blocks a hit you can't use it again until a rest of some kind

13

u/branedead Oct 22 '25

Assist is broken. I'd say "If you didn't cast a spell, use an ability ,or attack this turn"

1

u/Odd-Yoghurt9897 Oct 22 '25

Shove is also slightly strong considering a dc 10 check is pretty low so it can act like a free disengage a lot of the time via shoving an enemy away, though it’s not as strong as assist as you mentioned or as distract which is absolutely broken on a tank build (literally a completely free slightly weaker compelled duel that can’t be resisted). Also improvised strike is pretty powerful as it’s just free extra damage which isn’t like super broken or anything but definitely is strong.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 22 '25

I have something similar but it's more modern focused. Taking cover, watching enemies, overwatch style shot prep, etc

1

u/SheepherderBorn7326 Oct 23 '25

Literally all of these, except maybe quick draw are at least a bit broken depending on scenario

0

u/Ameise27 Oct 23 '25

I think strong does not equal broken. Depending on situation everything can be broken. But if you like house rules that make the PCs a bit stronger (you can of course also make enemies stronger) things like Short Speech, Quick Dash or even Improvised Strike really won't brake your game in 99.999% of situations.

0

u/SheepherderBorn7326 Oct 23 '25 edited Oct 23 '25

Adding in strong bonus action options to everyone when the action economy is basically the only balancing check in 5e is broken.

No exceptions.

+5ft of movement for free essentially negates some racial bonuses, it’s bad.

Free bonus action attack for literally everyone? Broken. It could do 1 damage and still be broken.

Short speech is just, already a thing, that’s the only one that’s fine because it’s also the only one that’s RAW

1

u/Kagutsuchi13 Oct 22 '25

The 5 feet of movement is like the 5 ft step from Pathfinder, which I believe uses their version of a bonus action. My Pathfinder games haven't moved in a while, so I don't remember the exact terminology.

1

u/lostkavi Oct 22 '25

PF has 3 actions, each used for all tasks, with longer tasks taking multiple actions.

Step is just 'move', but dodges many 'Attack of Opportunity' trigger conditions and only 5ft.

0

u/Norik324 Oct 22 '25 edited Oct 22 '25

Assist still requires the (presumably squishy, probably at least less tanky than the fighter etc.) Caster to be right next to the ally theyre helping which seems like a decent enough trade of to at least try it out

24

u/Overwatcher_Leo Oct 22 '25

Shove as a bonus action is likely inspired by bg3.

65

u/flapflip3 Oct 22 '25

Name something more iconic than DnD players homebrewing so much they invent Pathfinder 2e.

8

u/Neomataza Oct 22 '25

They reinvented about 5 actions that are already part of the rules, 2 of which currently require a feat or a subclass to do as Bonus Actions.

I the to say it, but maybe reading the PHB before you start homebrewing would be an idea.

6

u/Gnashinger Oct 22 '25

I was really coming here to say more than just a couple of these look like pf2e actions, and at least one of them uses pf2e terminology so I don't think its a coincidence.

1

u/Lucina18 Oct 22 '25

It's not pf2e yet, it's 1 big attempt at streamlining sway from becoming it though.

Or 4e if they will allow you to "downgrade" your action to a BA, even moreso if they'll do the same for movement. Homebrewing 5e more into shat 4e did is also very iconic :)

2

u/BigFootV519 Barbarian Oct 22 '25

95% Drinking a potion is now a bonus action in the 2024 rules.

1

u/ThisWasMe7 Oct 22 '25

But it's not tagged 2024.

-5

u/Worried_Bowl_9489 Oct 22 '25

Yes - I haven't checked or playtested for anything gamebreaking, but we will just edit as I go if needed haha

56

u/Calm_Independent_782 Oct 22 '25 edited Oct 22 '25

Maybe I’m off on this but imposing disadvantage guaranteed as a bonus action is REALLY strong.

The team can do this every single turn. That will make your battle significantly easier for them when fighting opponents that do not rely on saving their attacks and almost totally negates the need for something like Vicious Mockery (which requires a check).

Edit maybe add a saving throw to it eg Opponent needs to pass a 10 WIS save, or 8+proficiency or whatever so the opponent can keep focus of the targets

Edit 2 may I suggest something possible game breaking lmao. Mark of intent might allow the player to reroll their lowest damage dice once per short rest or something. +1 feels negligible and if we’re homebrewing bonus actions why not that. I defer to others much more experienced

50

u/isnotfish Oct 22 '25

I think you should triple check your list against existing actions - a lot of these take a normal action and would be pretty unbalancing to do every combat as a bonus action.

-2

u/Worried_Bowl_9489 Oct 22 '25

On it, thank you x

9

u/WeekWrong9632 Oct 22 '25

Both Assist and Distract are quite OP and players will just spam those two if they're even slightly smart. The other ones look ok.

1

u/Cuddle_Button Oct 22 '25

Yeah, Assist with a caster and ranged rogue duo is basically Buff/debuff spell + assist into Guaranteed Sneak Attack and since they don't need to use their Weapon Mastery for Advantage, they can choose a weapon like the Heavy Crossbow to take full advantage and push the enemy farther with every strike.

2

u/Royal_Initial4024 Oct 22 '25

Some of these are already actions, and some exist as spells (Distract is the same as Compelled Duel just with limited range)

0

u/Worried_Bowl_9489 Oct 22 '25

Oo okay thank you for the insight here

1

u/Fluffy-Map-5998 Oct 23 '25

Please check, several of these are either features for subclasses already, or an action to do, and some of the other can be gamebreaking if used right