Can I Flank with My Spiritual Weapon?
The answer to whether you can flank with your Spiritual Weapon is no, as it is not considered a creature or ally and therefore does not contribute to setting up a flanking position, which requires a creature to be adjacent to the enemy and on the opposite side or corner of the enemy’s space, along with at least one of its allies. This means that while your Spiritual Weapon can make melee spell attacks, it does not grant you or your allies advantage on melee attacks due to flanking.
Understanding Spiritual Weapon and Flanking
To understand why Spiritual Weapon cannot be used for flanking, it’s essential to grasp the mechanics of both the spell and the flanking rule. Spiritual Weapon is a spell that creates a spectral weapon within range, which can make melee spell attacks against creatures within 5 feet of it. However, since it is not a creature or an ally, it does not participate in flanking maneuvers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Spiritual Weapon While Polymorphed?
Yes, you can use Spiritual Weapon while polymorphed, as there are no mechanics that prevent this, and if the creature you polymorph into meets the qualifications for the spell, you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
Can I Move Spiritual Weapon Through Walls?
No, Spiritual Weapon cannot move through walls or other physical barriers, according to Crawford, as it interacts with the physical world in a manner similar to other spectral effects.
Can I Grab My Spiritual Weapon?
No, you cannot grab your Spiritual Weapon because it is a spell effect that resembles a weapon but is not a physical object, and even if you could, you would not have proficiency with it and likely couldn’t use it as intended.
What Are the Rules for Flanking in 5E?
For a creature to be considered flanking, it must be adjacent to the enemy and on the opposite side or corner of the enemy’s space, along with at least one of its allies, applicable to both square and hexagonal grids.
Is Spiritual Weapon Bad in D&D 5E?
Spiritual Weapon has its uses but can be considered less advantageous in certain situations, especially when compared to other spells or abilities that offer more direct benefits or higher damage output.
What Are the Benefits of Flanking?
Flanking provides advantage on melee attacks, making it more likely to hit a weaker, less defended spot, which can be crucial in combat for gaining the upper hand.
What Is the Invisible Rule in 5E?
A creature or object that is made invisible remains so until the spell ends, with anything the target is wearing or carrying also becoming invisible, unless the target attacks or casts a spell.
Can You Have 2 Spiritual Weapons?
Yes, you can have multiple Spiritual Weapons active, although sustaining multiple instances does not extend the duration of the spell and may not be significantly more advantageous.
Can You Cast Spiritual Weapon Twice?
You can sustain Spiritual Weapon multiple times in the same round to have it attack multiple times, but each sustain sets the expiration time to the end of the next round without extending the overall duration.
How Does Spiritual Weapon Work in 5E?
Spiritual Weapon creates a floating, spectral weapon that lasts for the duration or until you cast the spell again, allowing you to make a melee spell attack against creatures within 5 feet of the weapon.
Do You Need Line of Sight for Spiritual Weapon?
No, the spell does not require line of sight to the target; only the weapon’s location matters, and it does not become invisible.
Can Dispel Magic Remove Spiritual Weapon?
Yes, dispel magic can affect and remove Spiritual Weapon, along with other spells like disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation.
Can You Use Spiritual Weapon While Paralyzed?
Yes, you can use Spiritual Weapon while paralyzed, but you cannot use your bonus action to attack with it while unconscious or otherwise incapacitated.
Can You Cast a Spell and Use Spiritual Weapon?
Yes, you can move and attack with Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action, leaving your action free for other activities, including casting another spell.
Can You Polymorph into a Mind Flayer?
Yes, polymorphing into a mind flayer can be very useful, especially for its deadly brain eating attack, although monsters do not suffer from brainlessness like players do.
Can a Monk Use Ki While Polymorphed?
No, polymorph does not allow you to use any monk abilities, unlike wild shape, which permits certain abilities to be retained.
Can Spiritual Weapons Fly?
Spiritual Weapons are not affected by physical forces like gravity and can move freely through the air or any medium that doesn’t obstruct your view, allowing you to control it.
Can You Cast Booming Blade on Spiritual Weapon?
Yes, if you use your bonus action to cast Spiritual Weapon, you can then cast Booming Blade with your action, and on subsequent turns, the “two spells” rule does not apply to sustaining Spiritual Weapon.
How Far Can Spiritual Weapon Go?
Spiritual Weapon has a range of 60 feet, which is serious, and you should consider this range when deciding how to use the spell effectively in combat.
Does Divine Strike Work with Spiritual Weapon?
No, Divine Strike applies to weapon attacks, not spell attacks, so it does not work with Spiritual Weapon.
Does Spiritual Weapon Work with Bless?
Yes, Bless can add a d4 to the attack roll of a blessed caster with an active Spiritual Weapon, as the spell’s wording implies that bless should apply to spell attacks made by the blessed target.
Can Spiritual Weapon Deal Non-Lethal Damage?
Yes, Spiritual Weapon can deal non-lethal damage because it is a melee attack, and the rules for non-lethal damage only require a melee attack, regardless of the source.
Does Casting a Spell Break Invisibility?
Yes, invisibility is broken if you attack or cast a spell, although there are exceptions and specific rules depending on the situation and any relevant feats or spells.
Does Hide Give You Advantage?
Hiding can give you advantage on attack rolls if you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, although this advantage is generally limited to the first attack.
Can a Rogue Hide from Blindsight?
No, you cannot hide from a creature with blindsight unless magic entirely cloaks your presence, as blindsight allows a creature to sense its surroundings without relying on sight.