Using the optional flanking rule, would a Spiritual Weapon on the other side of an enemy allow a character to...
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Using the optional rules on flanking in the DMG on page 251, would a caster who gains access to the Spiritual Weapon spell be able to use said weapon to trigger the advantage from flanking?
dnd-5e spells optional-rules flanking
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
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HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Using the optional rules on flanking in the DMG on page 251, would a caster who gains access to the Spiritual Weapon spell be able to use said weapon to trigger the advantage from flanking?
dnd-5e spells optional-rules flanking
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
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[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
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– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Using the optional rules on flanking in the DMG on page 251, would a caster who gains access to the Spiritual Weapon spell be able to use said weapon to trigger the advantage from flanking?
dnd-5e spells optional-rules flanking
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
$endgroup$
Using the optional rules on flanking in the DMG on page 251, would a caster who gains access to the Spiritual Weapon spell be able to use said weapon to trigger the advantage from flanking?
dnd-5e spells optional-rules flanking
dnd-5e spells optional-rules flanking
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
20.3k357127
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
asked 2 days ago
HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066
65516
65516
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[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
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– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago
$begingroup$
[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
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– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago
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[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
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– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago
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1 Answer
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By RAW: No, it wouldn't help with flanking.
The flanking rules require that two creatures (specifically allies) are on opposite sides of the creature they flank.
When a creature and at
least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on
opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they
flank that enemy [...]
However, a spiritual weapon does not count as a creature or an ally of any other creature, it is simply a floating weapon. It does not occupy space and cannot be attacked.
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.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Jeremy Crawford that Spiritual Weapon does not count as another enemy for sneak attack, which is nearly the same condition.
While many DMs may quite reasonably rule that a floating, spectral weapon would be a sufficient condition to provide advantage, by RAW it does not.
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
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$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
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– guest
yesterday
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
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active
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votes
$begingroup$
By RAW: No, it wouldn't help with flanking.
The flanking rules require that two creatures (specifically allies) are on opposite sides of the creature they flank.
When a creature and at
least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on
opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they
flank that enemy [...]
However, a spiritual weapon does not count as a creature or an ally of any other creature, it is simply a floating weapon. It does not occupy space and cannot be attacked.
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.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Jeremy Crawford that Spiritual Weapon does not count as another enemy for sneak attack, which is nearly the same condition.
While many DMs may quite reasonably rule that a floating, spectral weapon would be a sufficient condition to provide advantage, by RAW it does not.
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
By RAW: No, it wouldn't help with flanking.
The flanking rules require that two creatures (specifically allies) are on opposite sides of the creature they flank.
When a creature and at
least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on
opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they
flank that enemy [...]
However, a spiritual weapon does not count as a creature or an ally of any other creature, it is simply a floating weapon. It does not occupy space and cannot be attacked.
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.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Jeremy Crawford that Spiritual Weapon does not count as another enemy for sneak attack, which is nearly the same condition.
While many DMs may quite reasonably rule that a floating, spectral weapon would be a sufficient condition to provide advantage, by RAW it does not.
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
By RAW: No, it wouldn't help with flanking.
The flanking rules require that two creatures (specifically allies) are on opposite sides of the creature they flank.
When a creature and at
least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on
opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they
flank that enemy [...]
However, a spiritual weapon does not count as a creature or an ally of any other creature, it is simply a floating weapon. It does not occupy space and cannot be attacked.
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.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Jeremy Crawford that Spiritual Weapon does not count as another enemy for sneak attack, which is nearly the same condition.
While many DMs may quite reasonably rule that a floating, spectral weapon would be a sufficient condition to provide advantage, by RAW it does not.
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
$endgroup$
By RAW: No, it wouldn't help with flanking.
The flanking rules require that two creatures (specifically allies) are on opposite sides of the creature they flank.
When a creature and at
least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on
opposite sides or corners of the enemy's space, they
flank that enemy [...]
However, a spiritual weapon does not count as a creature or an ally of any other creature, it is simply a floating weapon. It does not occupy space and cannot be attacked.
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.
Additionally, it was confirmed by Jeremy Crawford that Spiritual Weapon does not count as another enemy for sneak attack, which is nearly the same condition.
While many DMs may quite reasonably rule that a floating, spectral weapon would be a sufficient condition to provide advantage, by RAW it does not.
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
edited 2 days ago
V2Blast
20.3k357127
20.3k357127
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
answered 2 days ago
guestguest
72938
72938
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
How do you determine it's not an ally? That's not a defined mechanical term and there are lots of ways a sufficiently creative player could create a character's worldview such that they think of said weapon as an ally.
$endgroup$
– the dark wanderer
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
$begingroup$
You are correct that the term "ally" is not strictly defined in 5e. And I agree that your DM could very reasonably allow it to be used as an ally for flanking. However, 5e uses the English definition of "ally", and a weapon does not constitute a "A person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity." [1: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129130/… ]. Furthermore, if a Spiritual Weapon does not count as an enemy for sneak attack, then it can hardly be an ally for flanking.
$endgroup$
– guest
yesterday
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
[Related] Use of Mage Hand during combat to gain advantage?
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
2 days ago