Holy Weapon

• Level: 5th-level
• School: Evocation
• Casting Time: 1 bonus action
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

Description

Holy Weapon imbues a weapon you touch with divine energy, enhancing its power and granting it additional radiant damage and a potent area-of-effect ability.

Effects:

• Weapon Enhancement:

  • The weapon becomes imbued with holy power. For the duration of the spell, the weapon emits bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.
  • The weapon is considered magical if it isn't already.
  • When a creature is hit by an attack using the weapon, that creature takes an additional 2d8 radiant damage.

• Burst of Radiance:

  • As an action, you can dismiss the spell early to release a burst of radiant energy. When you do so, the weapon emits a flash of light. Each creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 4d8 radiant damage and is blinded for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't blinded.
  • A creature blinded by this spell can make another Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Components:

• Verbal (V): You must speak an incantation to invoke the holy power.
• Somatic (S): You need to make a gesture to transfer the divine energy into the weapon.

Strategic Applications:

• Combat Enhancement: Holy Weapon significantly boosts the damage output of a weapon, making it ideal for empowering a strong melee fighter or yourself if you're a paladin or cleric.
• Area Control: The radiant burst can serve as a powerful tool for crowd control, dealing substantial damage and potentially blinding multiple enemies, which can turn the tide of battle.
• Long Duration: The spell lasts for up to 1 hour with concentration, making it effective for extended combat scenarios or a series of skirmishes.

Limitations:

• Concentration: The spell requires concentration, so taking damage might cause you to lose the spell's effect prematurely.
• Weapon Dependency: The spell is only useful when you or an ally is relying heavily on weapon attacks.
• Resource Management: Being a 5th-level spell, it's a significant resource, so it should be used in situations where its effects will have a meaningful impact on the encounter or series of encounters.

Notes:

• Holy Weapon is particularly effective for paladins and clerics who engage in melee combat, allowing them to combine their divine spellcasting with potent weapon attacks.
• The spell's ability to produce a radiant burst can be a strategic game-changer, especially against undead or fiendish foes who are vulnerable to radiant damage.
• The long duration of the spell allows for its use across multiple battles, provided concentration is maintained.