Spiritual Weapon isn’t just a floating hammer or holy blade—it’s a tactical, bonus-action powerhouse that lets you deal radiant damage without burning a spell slot every turn. Whether you’re new to D&D or a seasoned dungeon-crawler, mastering this spell can make your cleric a formidable force in any party.
What Is Spiritual Weapon in 5e?
Spiritual Weapon is a 2nd-level evocation spell available primarily to clerics. It allows you to summon a floating spectral weapon that attacks as a bonus action—making it incredibly action-efficient.
Spell Basics:
- Level: 2nd
- Casting Time: 1 bonus action
- Range: 60 feet
- Components: Verbal
- Duration: 1 minute (no concentration!)
- Damage: 1d8 + spellcasting modifier (increased at higher levels)
The weapon looks however you want—maybe a glowing sword, divine warhammer, or a radiant scythe. Thematically, it reflects your deity’s domain or personality.
Why Spiritual Weapon Is So Powerful
What makes Spiritual Weapon shine in D&D 5e is its bonus action casting and use. That means you can cast another spell or make a weapon attack with your main action and still swing this divine weapon.
Here’s what makes it exceptional:
- No concentration: It won’t interfere with spells like Bless or Spirit Guardians.
- Long duration: It sticks around for up to 10 rounds of combat.
- Scales with slot level: Casting at 4th level or higher increases damage by 1d8 per two levels.
- Thematic flexibility: You can flavor the weapon to fit any god, culture, or setting.
In many combat scenarios, this spell gives you consistent extra damage with minimal cost—plus it just feels awesome to smite foes with divine force.
How to Use Spiritual Weapon Strategically
To get the most from Spiritual Weapon, think tactically about where and when to summon it.
Tips for maximum impact:
- Place it smartly: Summon the weapon next to enemies you’re not already engaged with.
- Maintain spacing: Use the 60 ft range to avoid danger while still helping allies.
- Combo with crowd control: Pair it with Hold Person or Command for automatic crits on paralyzed targets.
- Don’t forget the bonus action: It’s easy to overlook, so set reminders during combat.
Best times to cast:
- Right before or after entering melee.
- When you’re concentrating on another spell but need extra offense.
- Against low-AC enemies for high success chances.
Conclusion:
Spiritual Weapon is a cleric’s best friend—faithful, flexible, and ferocious. With just a bonus action, you can call on divine power to turn the tide of battle while keeping your concentration free. Whether you’re protecting the party, controlling the field, or just delivering divine smackdowns, this spell should be in every cleric’s toolkit.
So next time your party walks into danger, be ready. Let your god’s will be done—with a floating weapon of holy wrath!
FAQs:
1. Does Spiritual Weapon require concentration?
No! That’s one of its greatest strengths—it lasts 1 minute without concentration.
2. Can I attack the same turn I cast it?
Yes. You can use a bonus action to cast it and immediately make an attack with it on the same turn.
3. Can I move the weapon each turn?
Yes. On each of your turns, you can move it up to 20 feet and make an attack with your bonus action.
4. Does it trigger opportunity attacks?
No. Spiritual Weapon is not a creature, so it can’t provoke opportunity attacks or be targeted that way.
5. Can I cast another spell on the same turn?
Yes—but only if the other spell is a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action (unless you’re using a feature like Sorcerer’s Quickened Spell).
6. What happens if the target is invisible?
You still need to see the target when you cast the spell or move the weapon to it. If it’s invisible and unseen, you can’t target it.
7. Can it go through walls or terrain?
The weapon can move freely, but it still obeys line-of-sight and physical barriers. It can’t pass through walls unless stated by DM discretion.