Bonus Action

Bonus actions are shorter, quicker actions that various class features, spells, and other abilities allow you to utilize. The Cunning Action feature, for example, allows a rogue to take a bonus action and specifies what they can do with that bonus action. You can use a bonus action for special abilities, spells, or other features that specifically call for a bonus action.

When a particular spell, special ability or feature calls for a bonus action, you can instead use an action on your turn to utilize it. However, you can not use a bonus action in place of an action. For example, A bard can use their bonus action to grant a Bardic Inspiration, and then use their action to cast Healing Word (a spell that has a casting time of 1 bonus action). However, that same Bard could not use their action to Dash, and then use their bonus action to cast Cure Wounds (a spell that has a casting time of 1 action).

You choose when to take a bonus action during your turn, unless the bonus action's timing is specified, and anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action.

In addition to the aforementioned examples, you can use a bonus action for the following activities:

Swig a Potion

You quickly attempt to drink a potion that you have in your hand or easily accessible, spilling some of it in the process. When drinking a potion in this way, you either only receive some of the benefit of the potion, or its duration might be reduced.

Recall Knowledge

You stop and think for a moment in an attempt to remember useful information on a particular topic.

Sense Motive

You try to tell whether a creature that you can see or hear is behaving abnormally. You assess the creature for odd body language, signs of nervousness, and anything else that might give you a gut feeling one way or the other. Make a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by the creature's Charisma (Deception) check if the creature is trying to deceive you, or another appropriate DC determined by the GM if the creature isn't being intentionally deceptive. You typically can't try to Sense the Motive of the same creature again until the situation changes significantly.