Guardian of Faith Spell Guide 5e

Clerics need all the help they can get, and Guardian of Faith is one spell that can really make a difference in combat. It summons a floating, spectral warrior that will fight for you and can even help protect your allies. Here’s everything you need to know about this powerful spell.

In this piece, we’ll break down Guardian of Faith‘s mechanics, discuss which classes can cast it, and analyze how good of a spell choice it is for different situations. We’ll also provide tips and examples of how to use Guardian of Faith.

So whether you’re a Cleric looking for a powerful ally in combat or just curious about this spell, read on for our comprehensive guide to Guardian of Faith!

Guardian of Faith

  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: 30 feet
  • Duration: 8 hours
  • School: Conjuration
  • Class: Cleric, Ranger
  • Level: 4
  • Damage: Radiant
  • Save: DEX Save
  • Components: V
  • Concentration: No
  • Ritual: No

Spell Description: A Large spectral guardian appears and hovers for the duration in an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within range. The guardian occupies that space and is indistinct except for a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of your deity.

Any creature hostile to you that moves to a space within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw. The creature takes 20 radiant damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. The guardian vanishes when it has dealt a total of 60 damage.

What Is Guardian of Faith?

Guardian of Faith is a powerful Cleric spell that can be used to protect an area or person. As the party’s designated healers, Clerics are often the ones responsible for healing and protecting their allies. But who protects the Cleric? That’s where Guardian of Faith comes in.

With Guardian of Faith, Clerics can conjure a spectral ally to defend themselves or their team. The guardian will attack any hostile creatures who come near it. While the guardian can only deal a total of 60 damage before dissipating, this is usually enough to take down most foes.

This spell is handy against enemies with a high armor class. It is also helpful against creatures that are immune to physical damage because the guardian deals radiant damage.

How Does Guardian of Faith Work?

This spell will conjure a ghostly guardian to float near the caster for the spell’s duration. The guardian is armed with a gleaming sword and shield, and any creature hostile to the caster that comes within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 20 radiant damage.

One of the great things about this spell is that it doesn’t require concentration, so the Cleric can continue to focus on healing and leave the guardian to do its job.

Another benefit of this spell is that the only component it requires is verbal, so it can be cast even if the Cleric is in combat or has been disarmed. On the other hand, once the guardian has dealt 60 damage, it dissipates. So the Cleric will need to be strategic about when and where they summon the guardian.

Pros:

  • It can be used to protect an area or person.
  • It doesn’t require concentration.
  • It only requires a verbal component.
  • Good against creatures immune to physical damage.

Cons:

  • The guardian can only deal 60 damage before dissipating.
  • You can’t move the guardian once it has been summoned.
  • 60 points of damage might not be enough to take down a powerful foe, especially at higher levels.

Who Can Cast Guardian of Faith?

Clerics and some Paladins can cast this spell. Clerics are the obvious choice as they are responsible for healing and protection in most parties. Used strategically, Guardian of Faith can be an excellent spell for Clerics to keep their allies from harm.

Clerics gain access to this spell at level 7. Because this spell lacks upcasting, it may not be worth slotting it into a Cleric’s spell list at higher levels. However, this spell can be extremely useful for protecting the party at lower levels.

Paladins can also make good use of this spell to protect their allies. In order to learn this spell, Paladins must either take the Oath of Devotion or the Oath of the Crown (available in the Sword Coast’s Adventurer’s Guide).

Guardian Tactics

When it comes to playing D&D,  there are two ways to use Guardian of Faith: defensively or offensively.

Defensively, Guardian of Faith can be used to protect an area or person. For example, if the party is resting and you want to make sure they’re not disturbed, you can conjure a guardian to watch over them while they sleep.

Offensively, Guardian of Faith can be used to ambush enemies or block off escape routes. If you know enemies are going to be coming through a specific door, you can conjure a guardian on the other side to surprise them. 

Since you can’t move the guardian, placing it in a strategically advantageous position is essential. A good tactic is to set the guardian near a doorway or other choke point to prevent enemies from getting past it. 

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your guardian:

  • The spectral guardian will attack any hostile creature that comes within 10 feet of it, so try to place it in an area where it can cover as much ground as possible.
  • The guardian can only deal 60 damage before vanishing, so use it to take down weaker enemies or to soften up tougher foes for your party to finish off.
  • If you’re using the guardian to protect a specific person or object, make sure to place it between the target and the enemy.
  • The guardian deals radiant damage, so it’s particularly effective against creatures that are immune to physical damage.

Common Questions About Guardian of Faith

While this spell may appear straightforward, there are a few things about it that can trip up players and DMs alike. Here are some common questions about Guardian of Faith.

Can You Move the Guardian of Faith?

No, the guardian is stationary for the duration of the spell. It can, however, attack any creature that comes within its 10-foot radius. Be sure to position the guardian carefully, as it cannot be moved once summoned and can only defend the area it is in.

What Does Guardian of Faith Look Like?

The guardian appears as a luminous sword and shield hovering in midair. The shield is decorated with the symbol of your deity, but other than these features, the guardian is indistinct. Some enemies may not even realize it is there until it attacks. 

Can You Cast Multiple Guardians of Faith?

No, you can only have one guardian active at a time. If you cast this spell again, the first guardian will disappear. For this spell to be effective, the guardian should be placed in an area with a clear line of sight to the enemies you want it to attack.

Can Guardian of Faith Take Damage?

The guardian cannot take damage, but it will dissipate after dealing 60 points of damage. It will also end after 8 hours, but this is more than enough time to finish most encounters (or a long rest). The guardian of faith can also be removed by an antimagic field or dispel magic.