Spirit Guardians

A
Damage

Spirit Guardians is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

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spell of
battlefield control

Spirit Guardians is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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that hinders and harms
multiple creatures

Spirit Guardians is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

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around you with spectral guardians.

2024 Rules

Level & School
3rd-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S, M (a prayer scroll)
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric

Protective spirits flit around you in a 15-foot Emanation for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice). If you are evil, they appear fiendish. When you cast this spell, you can designate creatures to be unaffected by it. Any other creature's Speed is halved in the Emanation, and whenever the Emanation enters a creature's space and whenever a creature enters the Emanation or ends its turn there, the creature must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 3d8 Radiant damage (if you are good or neutral) or 3d8 Necrotic damage (if you are evil). On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage. A creature makes this save only once per turn.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 3.

2014 Rules

Level & School
3rd-level conjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self (15-foot radius)
Components
V, S, M (a holy symbol)
Duration
Concentration, 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric

You call forth spirits to protect you. They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice). If you are evil, they appear fiendish.

When you cast this spell, you can designate any number of creatures you can see to be unaffected by it. An affected creature's speed is halved in the area, and when the creature enters the area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 3d8 radiant damage (if you are good or neutral) or 3d8 necrotic damage (if you are evil). On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 3rd.

Spirit Guardians 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Spirit Guardians now hits when the Emanation enters a creature’s space and when a creature enters or ends its turn there, but each creature only makes the save once per turn. You also no longer need to see creatures to exempt them. The spell is now Self, with a 15-foot Emanation.

Spirit Guardians popularity

Spirit Guardians is a commonly chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Spirit Guardians

  • Guardian of Faith 4th-level conjuration

    A stationary conjured spirit that guards an area and damages creatures that enter or end their turn in its space, matching the protective-spirit flavor and zone-based damage.

  • Moonbeam 2nd-level evocation

    Creates a persistent radiant zone that forces creatures to suffer damage while they remain in it, using repeated saves and concentration like the target spell.

  • Call Lightning 3rd-level conjuration

    A conjured, concentration-based source that lets you deal repeated area damage over multiple rounds and shapes the battlefield around you or a point you choose.

  • Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration

    Forms a hazardous, mobile cloud that continuously damages creatures who enter or remain inside, offering long-duration area denial similar to the spirit emanation.

  • Flaming Sphere 2nd-level conjuration

    A concentration conjuration that creates a persistent damaging entity you can move to threaten and damage multiple foes over several rounds.

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