Spiritual Weapon
Level 2 · Evocation
- Concentration
- Attack Roll
- Summon
Listed under evocation, Spiritual Weapon costs a 2nd-level slot for cleric casters. Cast time: Bonus Action. Range 60 feet, components V/S, duration up to 1 minute. Marked concentration. Effect: You create a floating, spectral force that resembles a weapon of your choice and lasts for the duration. At higher levels: The damage increases by 1d8 for every slot level above 2.
Stat Block
- Level
- 2
- School
- Evocation
- Casting Time
- Bonus Action
- Range / Area
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- up to 1 Minute
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Cleric
- Material
- —
Description
You create a floating, spectral force that resembles a weapon of your choice and lasts for the duration. The force appears within range in a space of your choice, and you can immediately make one melee spell attack against one creature within 5 feet of the force. On a hit, the target takes Force damage equal to 1d8 plus your spellcasting ability modifier. As a Bonus Action on your later turns, you can move the force up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Spiritual Weapon is Evocation — focused magical energy made into a floating weapon for one minute. The school is built around channeled energy as visible effect, and this spell is one of its most-cast 2nd-level instances: a Bonus Action cast, a spectral mace or sword that hovers next to a target, and a separate Bonus Action every subsequent turn to swing it for 1d8 + spellcasting modifier force damage.
Class Fit
- Cleric: Spiritual Weapon is the Cleric's defining Bonus-Action damage tool from level 3 onwards. It pairs perfectly with Spirit Guardians (Action) the round it's cast, and with whatever Action spell the Cleric chooses on subsequent rounds. The force-damage type ignores most resistances, which keeps the spell relevant against elemental-immune targets that otherwise frustrate the Cleric's damage options.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Cleric bonus-action damage. 1d8 + WIS per round for a minute. No concentration. Mandatory pick at level 3. Combine with Spirit Guardians at level 5 for two damage layers.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Spiritual Weapon
- What level spell is Spiritual Weapon?
- The spell Spiritual Weapon is a level 2 spell in the Evocation school. Cleric all have access to it.
- Does Spiritual Weapon require a spell attack roll?
- To resolve Spiritual Weapon, the caster makes a spell attack roll against the target's AC.
- What is the range of Spiritual Weapon?
- From the caster's position, Spiritual Weapon reaches 60 feet.
- Is Spiritual Weapon a concentration spell?
- Spiritual Weapon runs on concentration for up to 1 minute. The caster can drop it on their next turn or lose it to a failed save after taking damage.
- What components and casting time does Spiritual Weapon need?
- the components are V, S. the casting time is bonus action (not a standard Action).
- Can Spiritual Weapon be upcast?
- Spiritual Weapon scales when upcast: The damage increases by 1d8 for every slot level above 2.