If you have cast Spiritual Weapon and then you are polymorphed, can you make melee spell attacks?
I have a player that would like to cast Polymorph on the party's cleric.
If the cleric has already cast Spiritual Weapon on himself (this is not a concentration spell) and he is Polymorphed into say a Giant Ape, does he still have the ability to make Melee spell attacks as a bonus action?
I know that you can continue to concentrate on spells that you cast before you Polymorph, and that you cannot cast new spells. But would a great ape be able to make a "melee spell attack"?
dnd-5e spells polymorph
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
add a comment |
I have a player that would like to cast Polymorph on the party's cleric.
If the cleric has already cast Spiritual Weapon on himself (this is not a concentration spell) and he is Polymorphed into say a Giant Ape, does he still have the ability to make Melee spell attacks as a bonus action?
I know that you can continue to concentrate on spells that you cast before you Polymorph, and that you cannot cast new spells. But would a great ape be able to make a "melee spell attack"?
dnd-5e spells polymorph
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
add a comment |
I have a player that would like to cast Polymorph on the party's cleric.
If the cleric has already cast Spiritual Weapon on himself (this is not a concentration spell) and he is Polymorphed into say a Giant Ape, does he still have the ability to make Melee spell attacks as a bonus action?
I know that you can continue to concentrate on spells that you cast before you Polymorph, and that you cannot cast new spells. But would a great ape be able to make a "melee spell attack"?
dnd-5e spells polymorph
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
I have a player that would like to cast Polymorph on the party's cleric.
If the cleric has already cast Spiritual Weapon on himself (this is not a concentration spell) and he is Polymorphed into say a Giant Ape, does he still have the ability to make Melee spell attacks as a bonus action?
I know that you can continue to concentrate on spells that you cast before you Polymorph, and that you cannot cast new spells. But would a great ape be able to make a "melee spell attack"?
dnd-5e spells polymorph
dnd-5e spells polymorph
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:08
Rubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
48.8k6243369
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
asked Nov 12 '18 at 17:28
VVilliamVVilliam
383214
383214
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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oldest
votes
Nothing about being polymorphed prevents you from being able to do melee spell attacks
As you say, casting the spell and keeping it up is not an issue in polymorphed form regardless of what you turn into. In fact, there are no mechanics that say this will not work.
A melee spell attack is something granted by an effect of a spell. If the spell says that you get a melee spell attack and the creature you polymorph into meets all the qualifications for that spell, then you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
In your example case specifically, the ape would still be in control of the spell and there is no rules that say anything against an animal being able to do melee spell attacks from spiritual weapon. There are no limitations put on the spell beyond what is written in it and an ape does not run afoul of any of them. So, nothing in the rules prevents an ape from making melee spell attacks with spiritual weapon.
DM's decision
The only area that might even come close to preventing you from using this effectively as an ape would be the DM adding additional conditions outside the rules preventing you from being able to do this. For example they might take issue with the ape's intelligence which you assume when you polymorph into it. It isn't clear from the spell what is involved narratively with regards to the bonus action to move and attack with the spiritual weapon, but a DM might say that the ape is not intelligent enough to understand how the spell works enough to use it effectively.
This would be outside the rules since the spell makes no such rules or limitations however.
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
add a comment |
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Nothing about being polymorphed prevents you from being able to do melee spell attacks
As you say, casting the spell and keeping it up is not an issue in polymorphed form regardless of what you turn into. In fact, there are no mechanics that say this will not work.
A melee spell attack is something granted by an effect of a spell. If the spell says that you get a melee spell attack and the creature you polymorph into meets all the qualifications for that spell, then you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
In your example case specifically, the ape would still be in control of the spell and there is no rules that say anything against an animal being able to do melee spell attacks from spiritual weapon. There are no limitations put on the spell beyond what is written in it and an ape does not run afoul of any of them. So, nothing in the rules prevents an ape from making melee spell attacks with spiritual weapon.
DM's decision
The only area that might even come close to preventing you from using this effectively as an ape would be the DM adding additional conditions outside the rules preventing you from being able to do this. For example they might take issue with the ape's intelligence which you assume when you polymorph into it. It isn't clear from the spell what is involved narratively with regards to the bonus action to move and attack with the spiritual weapon, but a DM might say that the ape is not intelligent enough to understand how the spell works enough to use it effectively.
This would be outside the rules since the spell makes no such rules or limitations however.
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
add a comment |
Nothing about being polymorphed prevents you from being able to do melee spell attacks
As you say, casting the spell and keeping it up is not an issue in polymorphed form regardless of what you turn into. In fact, there are no mechanics that say this will not work.
A melee spell attack is something granted by an effect of a spell. If the spell says that you get a melee spell attack and the creature you polymorph into meets all the qualifications for that spell, then you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
In your example case specifically, the ape would still be in control of the spell and there is no rules that say anything against an animal being able to do melee spell attacks from spiritual weapon. There are no limitations put on the spell beyond what is written in it and an ape does not run afoul of any of them. So, nothing in the rules prevents an ape from making melee spell attacks with spiritual weapon.
DM's decision
The only area that might even come close to preventing you from using this effectively as an ape would be the DM adding additional conditions outside the rules preventing you from being able to do this. For example they might take issue with the ape's intelligence which you assume when you polymorph into it. It isn't clear from the spell what is involved narratively with regards to the bonus action to move and attack with the spiritual weapon, but a DM might say that the ape is not intelligent enough to understand how the spell works enough to use it effectively.
This would be outside the rules since the spell makes no such rules or limitations however.
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
add a comment |
Nothing about being polymorphed prevents you from being able to do melee spell attacks
As you say, casting the spell and keeping it up is not an issue in polymorphed form regardless of what you turn into. In fact, there are no mechanics that say this will not work.
A melee spell attack is something granted by an effect of a spell. If the spell says that you get a melee spell attack and the creature you polymorph into meets all the qualifications for that spell, then you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
In your example case specifically, the ape would still be in control of the spell and there is no rules that say anything against an animal being able to do melee spell attacks from spiritual weapon. There are no limitations put on the spell beyond what is written in it and an ape does not run afoul of any of them. So, nothing in the rules prevents an ape from making melee spell attacks with spiritual weapon.
DM's decision
The only area that might even come close to preventing you from using this effectively as an ape would be the DM adding additional conditions outside the rules preventing you from being able to do this. For example they might take issue with the ape's intelligence which you assume when you polymorph into it. It isn't clear from the spell what is involved narratively with regards to the bonus action to move and attack with the spiritual weapon, but a DM might say that the ape is not intelligent enough to understand how the spell works enough to use it effectively.
This would be outside the rules since the spell makes no such rules or limitations however.
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
Nothing about being polymorphed prevents you from being able to do melee spell attacks
As you say, casting the spell and keeping it up is not an issue in polymorphed form regardless of what you turn into. In fact, there are no mechanics that say this will not work.
A melee spell attack is something granted by an effect of a spell. If the spell says that you get a melee spell attack and the creature you polymorph into meets all the qualifications for that spell, then you can make a melee spell attack in that form.
In your example case specifically, the ape would still be in control of the spell and there is no rules that say anything against an animal being able to do melee spell attacks from spiritual weapon. There are no limitations put on the spell beyond what is written in it and an ape does not run afoul of any of them. So, nothing in the rules prevents an ape from making melee spell attacks with spiritual weapon.
DM's decision
The only area that might even come close to preventing you from using this effectively as an ape would be the DM adding additional conditions outside the rules preventing you from being able to do this. For example they might take issue with the ape's intelligence which you assume when you polymorph into it. It isn't clear from the spell what is involved narratively with regards to the bonus action to move and attack with the spiritual weapon, but a DM might say that the ape is not intelligent enough to understand how the spell works enough to use it effectively.
This would be outside the rules since the spell makes no such rules or limitations however.
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
edited Nov 12 '18 at 18:09
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
answered Nov 12 '18 at 17:45
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.8k6243369
48.8k6243369
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
add a comment |
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
2
2
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
In this case, what would the modifier be? +1 for the Giant Ape's WIS?
– NautArch
Nov 12 '18 at 18:03
2
2
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
@NautArch: That is an excellent question. I think that could even be asked as a separate question potentially.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:06
1
1
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
IIRC, when polymorphed, don't you keep your Int, Wis, and Cha? If so your spell attack would not change...
– JP Chapleau
Nov 12 '18 at 18:25
4
4
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
@JPChapleau you may be thinking of wild shape. With polymorph, all your stats change.
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 12 '18 at 18:33
add a comment |
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