Guiding Bolt: Designated Punching Bag
Usable By: Cleric
Spell Level: 1
School: Evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Duration: 1 round
Components: V, S
A flash of light streaks toward a creature of your choice within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 4d6 radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against this target before the end of your next turn has advantage, thanks to the mystical dim light glittering on the target until then.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.
Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
Clerics: a class often delegated to be the “responsible” party member. If you’ve ever built characters with a bunch of friends, and you landed on a cleric, chances are you know the feeling when you hear “oh, we don’t NEED healing because the cleric’s got it!” It often will feel like it falls to you to be responsible for keeping everyone alive, buffing them up with Bless and Divine Favor, and being able to take a bunch of hits as well. Guiding Bolt sneaks its way into that by masquerading as a supporting spell, but functionally mainly as a damage option. Your buddies will love to see it, and you’ll still feel pretty great about dishing out decent damage.
Advantage on the next attack roll isn’t numerically a huge advantage, but it can feel like it. This will occasionally turn a miss to a hit or even a crit, and when that happens you’ll get to partake in the glory of the 20. Clerics aren’t getting a ton of other decent damaging options in the spells department early, especially at this range. While I don’t love spending spell slots on attack rolls, this is one of the better damage options you get.
At the end of the day Guiding Bolt probably isn’t something you’re building around or holding onto for very long, but supports the full caster cleric dream. This is something that helps you contribute to fights throughout the early game while giving you the feeling of playing a support style character. Cantrips will eventually out scale this, so it really only will be something you’ll want up into the mid tiers. It's not revolutionary, it's not game warping, but it's a handy option to have on your low level clerics.
Guiding Bolt FAQ:
Can Guiding Bolt crit?
Yes. If it requires an attack roll, it can crit. Ranged spells are no exception.
Can I cast Guiding Bolt at invisible creatures?
You can and you should! The spell description makes no mention of needing to see the creature you’re targeting, so there’s no reason you wouldn’t be able to. You’ll have disadvantage on your attack roll because the creature is invisible. But if you hit, the next person to attack that creature will do so with advantage because of the radiant glow your attack left behind.
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