Can you Attack with Spiritual Weapon in 5E?
In the world of Dungeons & Dragons 5E, Spiritual Weapon is a popular spell that creates a floating, spectral weapon that attacks in the caster’s stead. But can you use your action to attack with a Spiritual Weapon? Let’s dive into the rules to find out.
Straightforward Answer
In Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, Spiritual Weapon is described as follows: "You create a floating, spectral weapon within range that lasts for the duration or until you cast this spell again."
The key phrase here is "within range". A Spiritual Weapon can attack an enemy within its 60-foot range. To summarize, yes, you can attack with Spiritual Weapon.
The Timing of Attacks
However, there’s a subtle limitation to consider. In Combat, you can’t perform two spells with your own action. This includes castings a spell with one action and then making another attack with your same action.
To clarify this timing, let’s use this example:
- Your wizard casts Spiritual Weapon, taking up their action to summon the spectral weapon.
- On the same turn, you want to make a melee attack with the sword in your hand. You now have a problem. Spiritual Weapon is a separate creature, and you’re restricted from performing another spell that requires an action.