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Mastering the Spiritual Weapon Spell in D&D 5e: A Comprehensive Guide

The Spiritual Weapon spell in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is a versatile and powerful tool for divine spellcasters. It allows you to summon a floating, spectral weapon that attacks independently, providing a consistent source of damage and freeing up your action for other crucial maneuvers. The spell itself is a conjuration spell requiring a bonus action to cast. Once cast, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon as part of the casting. On subsequent turns, you can use another bonus action to move the weapon up to 20 feet and make another attack. The weapon persists for the spell’s duration, or until you cast the spell again. It’s important to note that this is not a weapon attack; it is a spell attack made using your spellcasting ability modifier.

Understanding the Mechanics of Spiritual Weapon

The key to utilizing Spiritual Weapon effectively lies in understanding its mechanics. Let’s break it down:

Casting the Spell

Action Type: The spell requires a bonus action to cast. This is a significant advantage, as it allows you to cast the spell and still use your action for other activities, such as casting another spell, using an item, or taking the Dodge action.
Components: The spell requires verbal and somatic components, meaning you need to speak the incantation and perform specific hand gestures to cast it.
Range: The spell has a 60-foot range, meaning you can summon the weapon within 60 feet of yourself.
Duration: The spell lasts for 1 minute, which translates to 10 rounds of combat. This allows for sustained damage output over the course of an encounter.
Spell Level: The Spiritual Weapon spell is a 2nd-level spell.

Attacking with the Spiritual Weapon

Bonus Action Attack: On each of your turns after casting the spell, you can use a bonus action to move the weapon up to 20 feet and make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.
Spell Attack Bonus: The attack is made using your spell attack bonus, which is calculated as your spellcasting ability modifier (Wisdom for Clerics, for example) plus your proficiency bonus.
Damage: On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. Force damage is a rarely resisted damage type, making it highly reliable.
Attack Limitation: You cannot use your action to make an attack with the spiritual weapon. All attacks with it require a bonus action.

Important Considerations

Concentration: The Spiritual Weapon spell does not require concentration. This is a massive benefit, as it allows you to maintain other concentration spells while still dealing damage with the weapon.
Line of Sight: You do not need line of sight to the target you are attacking with the Spiritual Weapon. You only need line of sight to the weapon itself.
Flanking: The Spiritual Weapon does not count towards flanking rules. It is not a creature or an ally, and flanking only applies to melee weapon attacks, whereas Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack.
Damage Type: The weapon deals force damage, which is generally considered to be magical damage and is rarely resisted by creatures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about the Spiritual Weapon spell, along with detailed answers:

Can I cast Spiritual Weapon and another spell on the same turn? Yes, absolutely! Since Spiritual Weapon only requires a bonus action to cast, you can use your action to cast another spell, such as Toll the Dead or Guiding Bolt, on the same turn. This makes for a powerful combination.
Does Spiritual Weapon use a spell slot every round? No. The initial casting uses a spell slot. Later rounds the bonus action to move and/or attack with the summoned spiritual weapon does not use up a new spell slot. You could then cast a level 1 or higher spell as well.
Can I summon two Spiritual Weapons at once? No, the spell description clearly states that you create a spectral weapon. You can have multiple Spiritual Weapons over the course of a long combat if you recast the spell, but you can only have one active at a time.
Is Spiritual Weapon considered a melee weapon attack? No. The attack is a melee spell attack, not a melee weapon attack. This distinction is crucial for features that interact specifically with weapon attacks.
Does my Spiritual Weapon benefit from my magic weapon? No. Your magic weapon and its abilities do not affect the spiritual weapon’s attacks or damage. The Spiritual Weapon is a separate entity created by the spell.
Can I use Divine Smite with an attack made by my Spiritual Weapon? No. Divine Smite can only be used with melee weapon attacks, and Spiritual Weapon makes a melee spell attack.
What happens if I lose sight of my Spiritual Weapon? The spell doesn’t specify what happens if you lose sight of your weapon. Most DMs would rule that you can no longer control it if you cannot see it.
How is the damage of Spiritual Weapon calculated? The damage is calculated as 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier (typically Wisdom for Clerics).
Can Spiritual Weapon fly or move through walls? The Spiritual Weapon moves freely through the air, but it cannot pass through solid objects. The spell description specifies that you can move it up to 20 feet to a location within 5 feet of a creature.
What classes can learn Spiritual Weapon? The Spiritual Weapon spell is primarily available to Clerics. Some subclasses or feats might grant access to the spell for other classes.
Does Spiritual Weapon require concentration? No, Spiritual Weapon does not require concentration, freeing you up to maintain other spells.
Can I target an invisible creature with Spiritual Weapon? Yes. As long as you know the approximate location of the invisible creature and the Spiritual Weapon is within 5 feet of it, you can target the invisible creature.
What is the range of the Spiritual Weapon? The range of the spell itself is 60 feet. This is the maximum distance you can create the weapon from yourself initially. After creation, the weapon can only move up to 20 feet on your turn.
Can I use Spiritual Weapon to set up flanking for my allies? No. Spiritual Weapon does not count as an ally or creature, so it cannot be used to create flanking.
Is Spiritual Weapon a good spell? Yes! Spiritual Weapon is a fantastic spell. Its bonus action casting time, the fact that it doesn’t require concentration, and its consistent force damage make it a highly valuable tool for any divine spellcaster. It allows you to consistently deal damage while still having your action available for other strategic maneuvers. The utility and damage potential makes this a must-have spell for many Clerics.

Spiritual Weapon vs. Mordenkainen’s Sword: A Comparison

While both Spiritual Weapon and Mordenkainen’s Sword conjure spectral weapons, there are key differences:

Action Economy: Spiritual Weapon uses a bonus action to cast, while Mordenkainen’s Sword uses an action. This makes Spiritual Weapon significantly more efficient.
Damage Potential: Mordenkainen’s Sword can potentially do more damage, especially on a critical hit. However, Spiritual Weapon’s consistent damage and bonus action economy often make it the better choice.
Spell Level: Spiritual Weapon is a 2nd-level spell, while Mordenkainen’s Sword is a 7th-level spell. This makes Spiritual Weapon accessible much earlier in a character’s progression.

Conclusion

The Spiritual Weapon spell is a cornerstone of many divine spellcasters’ arsenals in D&D 5e. Its versatility, efficient action economy, and reliable damage output make it an invaluable tool for both offense and defense. By understanding the spell’s mechanics and nuances, you can effectively utilize Spiritual Weapon to its full potential and dominate the battlefield. Continue your journey of discovery and exploration of the world of D&D and the educational aspects of games at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org! The intersection of gaming and learning continues to expand, and the knowledge gained is invaluable.

What is the spiritual weapon attack and spell?