Does Warding Bond Break Concentration?

No, the warding bond spell itself does not break the concentration of either the caster or the target. However, the damage taken by the bonded creature might force a concentration check, potentially breaking their concentration on a different spell. The warding bond spell’s effect reduces the damage taken by the bonded creature and then transfers that reduced damage to the caster. If the damage the bonded creature still takes is enough to warrant a Constitution saving throw (typically when exceeding half of the creature’s HP), they must make a concentration check if they are concentrating on another spell. The caster will similarly have to make a concentration check if the damage they receive from the transferred damage exceeds half their hit points.

Understanding Warding Bond and Concentration

To fully understand the interaction between warding bond and concentration, we need to break down each element individually.

• Warding Bond: This 2nd-level abjuration spell creates a mystical connection between the caster and a willing creature within range. For the spell’s duration (or until broken), the bonded creature gains several benefits:

  • +1 to AC and saving throws.
  • Resistance to all damage.
  • Each time the bonded creature takes damage, the caster takes the same amount of damage.

• Concentration: Many powerful spells require the caster to maintain focus to keep the spell active. The concentration can be broken if the caster takes damage, is incapacitated, or casts another spell that requires concentration. When a creature takes damage while concentrating on a spell, they must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or lose concentration. The DC for this saving throw is 10, or half the damage taken, whichever is higher.

The Interplay: Damage is the Key

The crucial point of interaction is the damage transfer. Warding bond does not directly break concentration. Instead, it modifies how damage is distributed.

1. The target of warding bond receives damage.
2. Because of warding bond, that damage is halved due to the damage resistance the bonded target receives.
3. If that halved damage is equal to or greater than half the target’s hit point total, the bonded target must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on any other spell they are concentrating on.
4. The caster of warding bond receives the other half of the damage.
5. If the damage received by the caster is equal to or greater than half of their hit point total, they must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on any other spell they are concentrating on (including possibly warding bond itself).

It’s important to note that the +1 bonus to saves granted by warding bond does apply to the concentration check for both the caster and the target, improving their odds of maintaining concentration.

Strategies to Mitigate Concentration Loss

Given the risk, what can players do to minimize the chance of losing concentration due to warding bond?

• High Constitution: A high Constitution score provides a better bonus to Constitution saving throws, making it less likely to fail a concentration check. War Caster also helps with advantage on these saves.
• Tough Feat: More hit points mean that damage needs to be greater to reach the threshold where a concentration check is required.
• War Caster Feat: This feat gives advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration when taking damage.
• Resilient (Constitution) Feat: This feat grants proficiency in Constitution saving throws, significantly improving your chances of success.
• Strategic Positioning: Keep the warding bond caster and target away from danger. Choose the target wisely. If you expect that the caster might take too much damage, select a character with high hit points and a high constitution score.
• Damage Reduction/Absorption: Employ spells or abilities that reduce or absorb incoming damage. This can lessen the amount of damage transferred by warding bond.
• Healing: Quick healing spells can help keep the caster and target above the threshold where a concentration check is needed.
• Protection from Evil and Good: This spell can help protect the target from certain creature types.
• Luck: Using a Luck Point from the Lucky feat or through other abilities may prove invaluable to keep concentration active.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Warding Bond and Concentration

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of warding bond and its impact on concentration:

FAQ 1: Does Warding Bond protect against psychic damage in the same way it protects against other types of damage?

Yes. Warding bond grants resistance to all damage types, including psychic damage. Therefore, both the target and the caster each take half damage from any psychic attacks, with the caster also taking half of the psychic damage the bonded creature takes. This may necessitate concentration checks.

FAQ 2: If the caster of Warding Bond is hit with an attack that requires a saving throw, does the target of Warding Bond also have to make that saving throw?

No. Warding bond only transfers damage, not the need to make saving throws. If the caster is subjected to a fireball and needs to make a Dexterity saving throw, the target of warding bond does not need to make the saving throw.

FAQ 3: Can Warding Bond be cast on multiple creatures at once?

No. Warding bond targets only one willing creature within range. To protect multiple creatures, the caster would need to cast warding bond multiple times, expending more spell slots and potentially breaking concentration on a previously cast warding bond.

FAQ 4: If a creature has resistance to damage and is also under the effects of Warding Bond, how is the damage calculated?

The damage is halved twice. First, the bonded target receives resistance from warding bond, halving the damage. Then, if the target has another source of resistance, that halved damage is halved again. The caster then receives half of this doubly-halved damage.

FAQ 5: Can a Paladin’s Aura of Protection affect the concentration checks caused by Warding Bond damage transfer?

Yes! A Paladin’s Aura of Protection adds the Paladin’s Charisma modifier to saving throws within the aura, including Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration. This bonus applies to both the Paladin (if they are the caster or target of warding bond) and any allies within the aura.

FAQ 6: What happens if both the caster and the target of Warding Bond are concentrating on spells?

Both characters will have to make concentration checks if the damage they take triggers the requirement for a saving throw. The bonuses conferred by warding bond itself (+1 to saves) apply to these checks.

FAQ 7: If the Warding Bond caster is incapacitated, what happens?

Warding bond ends immediately if the caster is incapacitated. This breaks the bond and removes the benefits and the damage transfer.

FAQ 8: Does Warding Bond transfer damage from spells like Spiritual Weapon that don’t directly damage a creature?

No. Spiritual weapon deals force damage. Warding Bond only transfers damage that another creature takes.

FAQ 9: Does Warding Bond affect healing spells or abilities?

No. Warding Bond only affects damage taken. It does not impact healing received. A healing spell will restore hit points as normal to both the caster and the target.

FAQ 10: If a creature has temporary hit points, does Warding Bond damage apply to those first?

Yes. Temporary hit points absorb damage first. Only damage that exceeds the temporary hit points will affect the creature’s actual hit points and potentially trigger a concentration check.

FAQ 11: Does the resistance from Warding Bond stack with other forms of resistance?

No. Resistance effects do not stack. If a creature has resistance to a damage type from multiple sources, they still only take half damage from that type. The caster receives the other half of the half damage.

FAQ 12: Can the Warding Bond target willingly fail their saving throw to break their concentration?

Yes. A creature can choose to fail a saving throw. This could be a strategic choice if maintaining concentration on their current spell is detrimental or less important than another action.

FAQ 13: How does the Shield spell interact with Warding Bond?

If the warding bond target uses the shield spell to increase their AC, they might avoid being hit in the first place, preventing damage and thus preventing the transfer of damage to the caster.

FAQ 14: If the caster and target are both affected by the Sanctuary spell, how does Warding Bond interact?

Sanctuary prevents creatures from targeting the protected creature with an attack or harmful spell. If the warding bond target is under Sanctuary, enemies must first succeed on a Wisdom saving throw to target them. If they fail, they can’t target the creature and thus warding bond won’t transfer any damage to the caster. However, if the warding bond caster is protected by Sanctuary, that might provide protection for the caster from enemies targeting them, but the caster still receives any damage that the warding bond target takes.

FAQ 15: Can Warding Bond be cast on a creature that is immune to all damage?

While thematically odd, the warding bond spell can be cast on a creature that is immune to all damage, as long as they are a willing creature. Since they take no damage, the caster will not take any damage either. It would be best to review the spell description again to make sure that the immunity has no impact on the effects of the spell.

By understanding the mechanics of warding bond and concentration, and by implementing strategic countermeasures, players can effectively utilize this powerful spell while minimizing the risk of disrupting crucial spellcasting.