Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is packed with powerful spells, but few are as iconic and efficient as Spiritual Weapon. As a go-to spell for Clerics, it provides an excellent balance of offense and resource efficiency. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer looking to optimize your character’s performance, this guide will cover everything you need to know about Spiritual Weapon in 5e, including its mechanics, best uses, and strategic tips.
What is Spiritual Weapon in 5e?
Spiritual Weapon is a 2nd-level evocation spell available exclusively to Clerics. It creates a floating, spectral weapon that you can command to strike enemies, all without requiring concentration. This makes it one of the best damage-dealing spells Clerics can use while maintaining their action economy.
Spell Description
- Casting Time: 1 bonus action
- Range: 60 feet
- Components: Verbal, Somatic
- Duration: 1 minute (10 rounds)
Upon casting, you summon a weapon of divine energy that appears within range. When you cast the spell, you make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. On subsequent turns, as a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack.
Unlike many other spells, Spiritual Weapon does not require concentration, meaning you can pair it with other powerful spells like Spirit Guardians for maximum efficiency.
Why is Spiritual Weapon So Good?
Spiritual Weapon is widely considered one of the best Cleric spells in 5e due to several key factors:
1. Free Damage Without Concentration
Most powerful Cleric spells, such as Bless and Spirit Guardians, require concentration. Since Spiritual Weapon does not, you can deal damage without disrupting your ongoing buffs or area-control effects.
2. Bonus Action Economy
Many Cleric spells require an action to cast, but Spiritual Weapon only takes a bonus action to summon and attack. This allows you to use your action for other key spells, like healing or support abilities, without sacrificing damage.
3. Reliable Force Damage
Force damage is one of the least resisted damage types in D&D 5e. This makes Spiritual Weapon a consistent and reliable damage dealer, especially against enemies with high resistance.
4. Scaling for Higher Levels
When cast using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, Spiritual Weapon increases its damage by 1d8 for every two slot levels above 2nd. While this isn’t the most optimal way to upcast, it remains an option for extra damage when you have slots to spare.
Best Ways to Use Spiritual Weapon in Combat
To maximize the power of Spiritual Weapon, consider these strategic tips:
1. Positioning Matters
The summoned weapon can be placed within 60 feet of you and moved 20 feet per turn. If possible, summon it near an enemy you expect to engage for multiple rounds. Since it doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks, you can freely reposition it to strike high-value targets.
2. Pair it With Spirit Guardians
A common Cleric combat strategy is to cast Spirit Guardians (3rd-level spell) to damage all enemies within 15 feet while using Spiritual Weapon for additional single-target attacks. This creates a high-damage combination while maintaining control over the battlefield.
3. Use Against High-AC Enemies
Because Spiritual Weapon uses melee spell attacks, it benefits from your spellcasting ability modifier. This means it’s often more accurate than traditional melee or ranged attacks, making it great against heavily armored foes.
4. Target Weak or Isolated Enemies
Since the weapon remains active for a full minute, you can use it to finish off low-health enemies or attack ranged threats without closing the distance yourself.
Cleric Domains That Benefit the Most from Spiritual Weapons
While all Clerics can use Spiritual Weapon, certain Cleric subclasses synergize particularly well with this spell:
1. War Domain
- Gains Divine Strike, which boosts melee attacks.
- War Priest feature allows additional weapon attacks, increasing total damage output.
- Has access to extra attacks, making Spiritual Weapon even stronger when combined with melee combat.
2. Forge Domain
- Has a focus on weapon attacks, so adding a spectral weapon fits thematically.
- Provides extra AC to stay in melee combat safely while using a Spiritual Weapon.
3. Trickery Domain
- Invoke Duplicity can distract enemies while Spiritual Weapon attacks from another angle.
- Works well when spreading attacks across multiple enemies.
4. Death & Grave Domains
- These Clerics have high burst damage potential, so adding a Spiritual Weapon for sustained damage enhances their combat effectiveness.
- Grave Domain Clerics can use Path to the Grave to double the damage from a Spiritual Weapon hit!
Common Questions About Spiritual Weapons
1. Can You Concentrate on Another Spell While Using a Spiritual Weapon?
Yes! Spiritual Weapon does not require concentration, allowing you to cast and maintain concentration spells alongside it.
2. Can You Move Spiritual Weapons Through Walls?
No. The spell does not specify that the weapon can move through obstacles, so it follows standard movement rules.
3. Does Spiritual Weapon Get Extra Attacks?
No, it can only attack once per turn when you use your bonus action to command it.
4. Can You Cast Spiritual Weapon More Than Once?
Yes, but most Clerics won’t need to. You can technically have multiple instances active if you use additional spell slots, but the bonus action requirement makes it inefficient to control more than one at a time.
5. Can You Counterspell Spiritual Weapon?
Yes, but only when it’s initially cast. Once it’s on the field, it’s not considered a creature or ongoing effect that can be dispelled.
Final Thoughts: Is Spiritual Weapon Worth It?
Absolutely! Spiritual Weapon remains one of the best spells for Clerics in D&D 5e, thanks to its free damage, action economy efficiency, and non-concentration mechanics. Whether fighting hordes of enemies or taking down a powerful boss, this spell is a must-have for any Cleric build.
