Spiritual Weapon 5e

Spiritual Weapon is the perfect spell to use when your Cleric finds themselves in a combat situation and doesn’t have a weapon on-hand.

What is Spiritual Weapon Spell?

In 5e DnD, Spiritual Weapon is a Cleric spell that allows you to create a spectral weapon that is conjured within 60 feet of the caster and has a melee range of 5 ft. 

In normie terms, that means, if you’re a magic user, you can make a spooky weapon and smash your enemies, as long as they’re not too far away.  

Spiritual Weapon Spell Description

The Player’s Handbook tells us that it is a 2nd level evocation spell that does the following.

You create a floating, spectral weapon within range that lasts for the duration or until you cast this spell again. When you cast the spell, you can 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.

As a bonus action on your turn, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.

The weapon can take whatever form you choose. Clerics of deities who are associated with a particular weapon (as St. Cuthbert is known for his mace and Thor for his hammer) make this spell’s effect resemble that weapon.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for every two slot levels above 2nd.

Spiritual Weapon 5e Stats

Level	2
Casting Time	1 Bonus Action
Range/Area	60 feet
Classes	Cleric*, Paladin**
Components	Verbal, Somatic
Duration	1 minute
School	Evocation
Attack/Save	Melee
Damage/Effect	Force

How Does Spiritual Weapon Work?

Typically in 5e, Spiritual Weapon is used as a bonus action. Clerics usually have a limited number of spells at any time. Spiritual Weapon is an excellent addition to the cleric spell shortlist. Spiritual Weapon allows Clerics to heal while attacking.

When cast, the player creates a ghostly melee weapon. The Spell has a range of 60 feet. The player’s spiritual weapon can attack a target within 5 feet. The weapon does force damage of 1d8 + spellcasting ability modifier. 

One of the best things about this weapon is that it can take any form you want. The shape of the weapon won’t affect its damage-dealing ability. You can imagine anything you want hitting your opponent.

For example, if your cleric has a scholarly background, they can conjure a massive book to smack your target right in the face. Bash some knowledge into that foe! Or if your Cleric prays to Mielikki, goddess of forests, your spiritual weapon to resemble her symbol, a unicorn’s head!

This spell allows for a lot of creative freedom in roleplaying. 

Is Spiritual Weapon a Good Spell?

Spiritual weapon is an excellent choice. It is not concentration-based. You can use other spells while using Spiritual Weapon. Spiritual Weapon is a bonus action. The spell leaves the player’s full action open. This is perfect for pairing Spiritual Weapon with other attack spells, or with healing spells! You can also use non-attack spells and heal your companions while laying down damage. 

Spiritual Weapon can have an increasing impact. When your player uses Spiritual Weapon at a higher spell slot, the damage it deals increases by 1d8 per two slots above 2nd. So if you use Spiritual Weapon at level 4, it will deal 2d8 worth of force damage!

Which Classes Can Use Spiritual Weapon?

Though Spiritual Weapon is a staple of a Cleric’s spell list, you don’t have to be a Cleric to use it. Lore Bards can use Spiritual Weapon in 5e at level 6 when they pick up Magical Secrets. Bards are excellent support characters. Spiritual Weapon at this level will maximize Bard’s ability to help in the fight while vibing to their tunes. 

Paladin and Sorcerer subclasses can also use 5e Spiritual Weapon. The sorcerer subclass divine soul can pick up Spiritual Weapon at level 3, and the Paladin subclass Oath of Conquest will get you Spiritual Weapon at level 5. Spiritual Weapon makes a lot of sense for the weapons-focused Paladin class. 

No matter when your player obtains Spiritual Weapon, it is a great spell. Spiritual Weapon’s range and increasing power will ignite the badass in any magic user, from Bard to Cleric.