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According to the PHB, page 250,

Until the spell ends, the target's speed is doubled, it gains a +2 bonus to AC, it has advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it gains an additional action on each of its turns. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action.

Since a Beholder's central eye is in front of it's body, and always pointing outwards (if on), it seems sane that a Beholder could have the spell cast on it (say by a minion). If hostiles outside the cone can attack it with spells, allies should be able to buff it.

Under the spell, the Beholder should get the bonuses to defense, but how should its attacks be affected? Many creatures have an action termed "multiattack," while the Beholder does not. Compare the Behir (MM p25) and Beholder (MM p28):

Multiattack. The behir makes two attacks: one with its bite and one to constrict.

Eye Rays. The beholder shoots three of the following magical eye rays at random (reroll duplicates), choosing one to three targets it can see within 120 feet of it:

Obviously the Behir should get only an additional bite or constrict while hasted (as mentioned here). Does the Beholder get 4 eye rays or 6?

daze413
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Bartimaeus
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2 Answers2

25

The Beholder has a melee weapon attack.

MM 28:

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit : 14 (4d6) piercing damage .

Thus it is able to bite or do any of the other listed actions with its bonus Haste action. It cannot use its eye rays action, because that's not in the list of valid actions to take.

Icyfire
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7

That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action.

The Monster Manual (p. 9) says:

ACTIONS

When a monster takes its action, it can choose from the options in the Actions section of its stat block or use one of the actions available to all creatures, such as the Dash or Hide action, as described in the Player's Handbook.

Multiattack is its own action (i.e. it is not Attack, Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object). Neither is Eye Rays one of these actions. As such, neither can be used with the additional action provided by haste.

Both the beholder and the Benin (and any other monster) can only use the actions specified in the Haste spell. For every monster, the actions listed in their stat block are not those actions: they are their own actions. For the record, using a magic item is also its own action, so the beholder cannot use the basted action to activate a wand for example.

If a monster or PC wants to do something offensive with the Hasted action they must take the Attack action (one weapon attack only)- that means the specific thing they use must be a weapon attack, i.e. must have the words "weapon attack" in them.

Read strictly, you cannot make an unarmed attack or a shove or a grapple, however, I personally think that goes beyond the intent.

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Dale M
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    "...that means the specific thing they use must be a weapon attack, i.e. must have the words 'weapon attack' in them." This isn't true. As explained in Sage Advice Compendium ("Can you use a melee spell attack to make an opportunity attack?") neither the Attack action nor opportunity attacks require weapon attacks; it's just that most creatures don't have spell attacks that aren't part of a spell. A banshee could use its Corrupting Touch spell attack with the Attack action, just like it can use it as an opportunity attack. – Doval Sep 17 '17 at 03:47
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    @Doval I agree with what you say but Haste is explicit that it is "one weapon attack only". Opportunity attacks use a reaction, Haste grant another action from the restricted menu provided. – Dale M Sep 17 '17 at 03:59
  • Ah, you're right, I missed the "weapon" part in the Haste description. – Doval Sep 17 '17 at 04:01