Guardian Of Faith
- Level: 4
- School: Conjuration
- Class: Cleric
- Casting Time: Action
- Range: 30 feet
- Components: V
- Duration: 8 hours
A Large spectral guardian appears and hovers for the duration in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. The guardian occupies that space and is invulnerable, and it appears in a form appropriate for your deity or pantheon.
Any enemy that moves to a space within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 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.
Tactical Usage
Guardian of Faith provides exceptional area denial through its 8-hour duration and automatic damage delivery. Position the guardian to control chokepoints, protect important areas, or create safe zones for party recovery. The 10-foot threat radius effectively controls a 20-foot diameter area.
The guardian's 60 total damage capacity makes it most effective against multiple weaker enemies rather than single powerful foes. Use it to thin crowds of minions or deter repeated approaches to protected areas. The Dexterity save allows some damage mitigation but still provides consistent threat.
Resource management benefits from the extended duration and lack of concentration requirement. Cast Guardian of Faith before anticipated encounters to establish defensive positions. The spell works excellently for overnight camp protection or securing areas during short rests.
Spell Combinations
Guardian of Faith synergizes powerfully with area control spells to create nearly impenetrable defensive zones. Combine with Spirit Guardians for overlapping radiant damage areas. Wall of Fire or Wall of Thorns can funnel enemies into the guardian's threat range.
Layer with Sanctuary on the guardian's caster to prevent enemy targeting while maintaining the defensive zone. Bless can improve allies' saving throws when fighting near the guardian. Guidance provides tactical advantages for creatures maneuvering around the protected area.
For enhanced control, combine with Hold Person or Web to trap enemies within the guardian's damage radius. Command can force enemies to move into the guardian's range. Banishment can eliminate threats that successfully bypass the guardian.
Material Component Details
Guardian of Faith requires only verbal components, making it exceptionally reliable for defensive spellcasting. The lack of material components means the spell cannot be disrupted through component destruction or environmental interference, providing consistent accessibility in emergency situations.
The purely verbal nature allows for subtle casting modifications in appropriate circumstances. Experienced clerics might incorporate the verbal component into prayers or religious chants, disguising the spell casting as routine religious observance.
However, the verbal requirement means Silence effects completely prevent casting. Plan accordingly when operating in areas where magical detection or countermeasures might be employed. The clear verbal component also makes the spell unsuitable for completely covert operations.
Creator Notes
Guardian of Faith provides excellent area control without requiring ongoing concentration from the caster. The 8-hour duration allows for strategic planning around defensive positions, creating opportunities for complex encounter design around fixed defensive points.
The guardian's appearance should reflect the caster's deity or pantheon, providing excellent roleplay and worldbuilding opportunities. Different faiths might manifest guardians with unique appearances, abilities, or behavioral patterns that enhance campaign flavor.
For encounter balance, remember that the guardian deals significant damage but has limited total capacity. Design encounters that either respect the guardian's area control or provide methods for bypassing or eliminating it without trivializing the spell's utility.
Environmental Interactions
Guardian of Faith adapts to various environments while maintaining its protective function. In outdoor settings, the guardian might appear as a towering figure of light, while indoor environments could produce more contained manifestations appropriate to the space.
Certain terrains enhance the guardian's effectiveness. Narrow corridors force enemies to approach through the damage zone, while open areas allow for easier circumvention. Elevated positions provide better oversight but might limit the guardian's reach.
Sacred environments might enhance the guardian's power or duration, while desecrated areas could reduce effectiveness or require higher-level casting. Some locations might be inappropriate for divine guardians due to conflicting energies or religious restrictions.
Common Rulings & Clarifications
Damage Tracking: The guardian vanishes after dealing 60 total damage, regardless of how many creatures it damages. Track cumulative damage dealt rather than individual creature interactions.
Positioning Requirements: The guardian occupies a large space but its damage aura extends 10 feet in all directions. Creatures entering or starting their turn within this area trigger the save.
Save Timing: The Dexterity save occurs when creatures first enter the area on their turn or start their turn there. Multiple entries in the same turn don't trigger additional saves.
Invulnerability: The guardian cannot be targeted or damaged by any means. It occupies space but cannot be physically interacted with beyond its automatic damage effect.
Alternative Applications
Guardian of Faith excels in protection and deterrence scenarios beyond combat. Use it to protect important locations, valuable objects, or vulnerable NPCs during dangerous periods. The visible divine presence provides both mechanical and psychological deterrence.
For religious applications, the guardian can protect sacred sites, temples, or religious ceremonies from disruption. The divine manifestation reinforces the caster's religious authority while providing practical protection.
Security applications include protecting campsites, guarding prisoners, or securing important documents. The 8-hour duration provides excellent coverage for extended periods without requiring ongoing attention from the caster.
Related Spells
Divine Protection: Spirit Guardians provides mobile area control with similar radiant damage. Sanctuary offers personal protection for the caster. Protection from Evil and Good provides broader creature type protection.
Area Denial: Wall of Fire creates linear barriers with damage. Spike Growth provides area denial with different damage types. Entangle offers control without damage.
Summoning Alternatives: Conjure Celestial provides controllable divine allies. Planar Ally offers more powerful but expensive divine assistance. Spiritual Weapon creates mobile divine attackers.
Scaling Analysis
As a 4th-level spell, Guardian of Faith provides consistent utility throughout mid-to-high level campaigns. The fixed 60 damage capacity becomes proportionally less threatening as creature hit points increase, but the area control remains valuable.
The 8-hour duration provides excellent value for defensive operations, making the spell economical for extended protection needs. The lack of concentration requirement allows for simultaneous casting of other spells without interference.
Cost-effectiveness improves with encounter frequency and defensive needs. Multiple encounters within the 8-hour window maximize the spell's value, while single encounters might not justify the 4th-level slot expenditure.
Narrative Flavor
Guardian of Faith manifestation should reflect the caster's deity and religious tradition. Describe the guardian as an imposing figure of divine light, bearing symbols or characteristics associated with the patron deity. The appearance should inspire awe and reverence.
The guardian's presence should feel otherworldly and powerful. Describe radiant energy surrounding the figure, divine symbols appearing in the air, or holy sounds accompanying its manifestation. The guardian should seem both protective and intimidating.
Different faiths might produce unique guardian appearances. War deities could manifest armored warriors, while nature deities might create guardians of living light shaped like trees or animals. The guardian should reflect the caster's religious convictions and divine connection.