Spiritual weapon

Level 2 Evocation spell available to Clerics. It summons a floating spectral weapon that fights alongside you for ten turns. Because it costs a Bonus Action to cast and a Bonus Action to swing, Spiritual Weapon gives a Cleric a second attack every round without ever touching their Action — which is why it is arguably the best Level 2 slot a Cleric will ever spend.

Spell description: Summon a floating, spectral weapon that attacks your enemies alongside you.

Spell properties

• Damage: 1d8 + 1 + Spellcasting Modifier Force
• Damage type: Force
• Range: 18m (60ft)
• Duration: 10 turns
• Conditions applied: Varies by weapon (see variants below)
• Cost: Bonus Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

For every two spell slot levels above the 2nd, the weapon gains 8 hit points and deals an additional 1d8 Force damage. In practice this means a Level 4 slot gives 2d8, and a Level 6 slot gives 3d8.

How to obtain Spiritual Weapon

• Cleric at Class level 3
• College of Lore (Bard) at Class level 6 via Magical Secrets
• Bard at Class level 10 via Magical Secrets

Source items: Sethan, Harper Sacredstriker. There is no Scroll of Spiritual Weapon in the game.

Spiritual Weapon variants

When casting Spiritual Weapon you choose the form the spectral weapon takes. All seven deal the same Force damage — the difference is the condition each one applies on hit. Force damage is resisted by almost nothing in the game, so the choice is purely about the rider.

1. Spiritual Weapon: Mace

The default form. No rider condition, but no drawbacks either.

2. Spiritual Weapon: Greataxe

Applies Bleeding on hit.

3. Spiritual Weapon: Greatsword

Also applies Bleeding on hit. Mechanically identical to the Greataxe — pick whichever you prefer the look of.

4. Spiritual Weapon: Halberd

Applies Bleeding on hit, with the reach of a polearm.

5. Spiritual Weapon: Maul

Applies Dazed on hit — the strongest rider of the seven, because a Dazed enemy loses its Reaction.

6. Spiritual Weapon: Spear

Applies Gaping Wounds on hit.

7. Spiritual Weapon: Trident

Also applies Gaping Wounds. Identical to the Spear in everything but appearance.

When to cast Spiritual Weapon

Cast it on turn one, before anything else. It is not Concentration, so it stacks with Bless, Spirit Guardians, or anything else you want running — and for ten turns afterwards your Cleric attacks twice a round for free.

The weapon can be moved and swung with the same Bonus Action, so it will chase a fleeing enemy across the battlefield without costing you anything. Use it to finish off low-health targets your Action can’t reach, or to harass an enemy caster you can’t get to in melee.

Take the Maul unless you have a reason not to. Dazed strips Reactions, which shuts down opportunity attacks and enemy Counterspells, and that is worth more than a few points of Bleeding damage.