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Guiding Bolt

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Guiding Bolt
  • Level: 1
  • School: Evocation
  • Class: Cleric
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 120 feet
  • Components: V, S
  • Duration: 1 round

You hurl a bolt of light toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, it takes 4d6 Radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against it before the end of your next turn has Advantage.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.

Tactical Usage​

Radiant Striker: Guiding Bolt provides reliable ranged damage with tactical advantage generation. This 1st-level evocation spell excels as primary divine attack with team support benefits.

Optimal Timing: Use as primary ranged attack, when radiant damage is advantageous, or to set up advantage for allies.

Resource Management: Uses a 1st-level spell slot - available from character level 1+. Instantaneous damage with advantage benefit.

Target Selection: 120-foot range allows tactical positioning while providing damage and advantage generation.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Attack Enhancement: Combine with advantage-granting spells for improved accuracy
  • Damage Magic: Layer with other attack spells to capitalize on advantage
  • Team Support: Pair with ally positioning for maximum advantage utilization

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Spell Attack Bonuses: Higher spellcasting ability improves accuracy for consistent damage
  • Divine Strike: Class features that enhance weapon attacks benefit from advantage
  • Radiant Damage: Features that interact with radiant damage enhance effectiveness

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple guiding bolts can mark different targets for team advantage.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: No material components required - only verbal and somatic components needed.

Component Handling: Simple V, S casting allows quick combat deployment.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different radiant manifestations reflect divine connections or holy traditions.

Economic Considerations: No costs make this economically viable as primary divine attack option.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Reliable damage plus advantage generation affects encounter balance and team coordination.

NPC Usage: Divine spellcaster NPCs frequently use guiding bolt as primary ranged attack option.

Environmental Considerations: 120-foot range provides excellent positioning. Advantage benefits team coordination.

Campaign Integration: Essential divine attack magic that defines cleric ranged combat effectiveness.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: 120-foot range allows tactical positioning across most encounter areas.

Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather conditions, providing reliable damage regardless of environment.

Structural Interactions: Radiant energy works in any environment without environmental limitations.

Elemental Interactions: Radiant damage interacts with creature resistances and undead vulnerabilities.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with instantaneous effect. Spell attack roll required.

Target Limitations: Single creature within 120 feet. Ranged spell attack required.

Duration Interactions: Instantaneous damage. Advantage effect lasts until end of next turn.

Mechanical Interactions: 1d6 base damage, scaling with spell slot level. Next attack against target has advantage.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Illumination displays, demonstrating divine power, or creating radiant light sources.

Social Encounters: Impressive divine demonstrations, showing holy authority, or creating dramatic lighting.

Exploration Applications: Providing radiant illumination, demonstrating divine capabilities, or marking targets.

Utility Functions: Divine demonstration, illumination assistance, target marking, or holy display.

Same School: Other evocation spells like sacred flame (cantrip radiant damage), spiritual weapon (2nd level divine force), flame strike (5th level divine fire).

Similar Effects: fire bolt (cantrip reliable damage), sacred flame (cantrip radiant damage), spiritual weapon (2nd level divine attack).

Progression Options: guiding bolt (1st level divine attack), spiritual weapon (2nd level sustained divine), flame strike (5th level area divine).

Complementary Magic: bless (attack enhancement), spiritual weapon (additional attacks), cure wounds (healing support).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Remains competitive throughout campaigns when upcast for enhanced damage.

Upcast Benefits: Additional 1d6 damage per slot level above 1st makes higher-level casting effective.

Campaign Phases: Peak effectiveness in early-to-mid level play where reliable damage provides maximum value.

Comparative Value: Excellent divine attack that provides damage plus team support for reasonable resource investment.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Divine radiance coalesces into a brilliant bolt of holy energy that streaks toward your target with divine purpose.

Effect Manifestation: A flash of radiant light strikes the target while marking them with divine energy for allied advantage.

Personal Style: Different clerics manifest unique radiant effects - some blazing with solar energy, others glowing with gentle divine light.

World Integration: Represents fundamental divine attack magic available to holy casters, often associated with divine warfare, holy light, or celestial power.