Minor Illusion during combat

[Sloul Des Tucs]

I thought I play-tested minor illusion during combat, and that my conclusion were that it had no impact on combat.

But now, I am starting again with a fresh character and I have to pick a subclass for Gale, and so browsing through the subclass, Illusion school allows for Minor Illusion to be cast as a Bonus action.
But Bonus action is a combat-mechanic feature, thus, it seems to mean that minor illusion *actually* does something during combat.

Can anybody enlighten me as to what it does?
I think I am going to pick that subclass anyway and playtest with it, but I am curious as to what your experience with that spell is during combat.


Thanks for your replies.

[ACS36]

Yeah, it doesn't really do anything in combat. It's meant to be used to distraction so you can sneak by stuff out of combat.

[Wiegs]

Minor illusion helps a lot for stealth, and the best way to use stealth is with turn mode on. (even if it's outside of combat)
It's a great cantrip to make unaware creatures look a certain way, but has no use inside of combat.
But as to what benefit you get from having it as a bonus action i have no idea at all.

[Sloul Des Tucs]

I just started to play-test it and during combat, if you drop a minor illusion near a foe there is a resistance check.
But when they do fail the resistance check it doesn't seem to affect them as they don't get any condition.

[Sloul Des Tucs]

Ok, I think, this is the best cantrip currently in the game.
But only when playing Illusionist.
Take everything with caution, but so far those are my observations:
I AM ONLY DISCUSSING INSIDE COMBAT:
- It targets every enemy, I didn't notice any range, but if there is any, I guess this is a far and wide range.
- When you cast it, foe will look at it, there is not save >> if you use it properly it allows any character to go in stealth because nobody is looking at them.
It's a very good combination with rogues, but it can also save your character in dangers.

- IF you are very lucky, then every foe fail their save, it happened to me only once and I think i tested it for about 10 times, it was with GALE level 2 and he has 17 int. So that's +3 proficiency.
When every enemy fail their saves, then it creates a pet companion.
Seems to be a cat 100% of the time (in my case it popped up with 1 health).
It allows you to threaten foes when you put the cat in melee. Which agains is very good coupled with rogues so that they can get advantage and allow for sneak attacks.
> the pet cannot take any action so you have to cast it in melee to threaten enemies
> It disappear after a turn


All in all, it's a S tier cantrip in my book in the hand of an illusionist.
As a full action I think it would be B tier.

[Barson]

Minor Illusion in combat - have them look and target the illusion (assuming failed check), then hide while they aren't looking at you to get a combat advantage when striking.

[Sloul Des Tucs]

Holy damn, last but not least, you can cast it even when you're silenced.
I guess, in the case of the illusionist it counts as a bonus action.
As in ''action'', not strictly a spell.
I really wish it stays like that :D