How does Spiritual Weapon work against Mirror Image?











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So let's say that a Cleric and a Wizard are in combat, and the Wizard wins initiative. In the first round, the Wizard casts Magic Missile, and then the Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon. In the next round, the Wizard casts Mirror image. Would the Cleric have to roll to discern whether the Spiritual Weapon has the correct target, or was the Spiritual weapon already "locked on" to the correct target?










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    So let's say that a Cleric and a Wizard are in combat, and the Wizard wins initiative. In the first round, the Wizard casts Magic Missile, and then the Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon. In the next round, the Wizard casts Mirror image. Would the Cleric have to roll to discern whether the Spiritual Weapon has the correct target, or was the Spiritual weapon already "locked on" to the correct target?










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      So let's say that a Cleric and a Wizard are in combat, and the Wizard wins initiative. In the first round, the Wizard casts Magic Missile, and then the Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon. In the next round, the Wizard casts Mirror image. Would the Cleric have to roll to discern whether the Spiritual Weapon has the correct target, or was the Spiritual weapon already "locked on" to the correct target?










      share|improve this question















      So let's say that a Cleric and a Wizard are in combat, and the Wizard wins initiative. In the first round, the Wizard casts Magic Missile, and then the Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon. In the next round, the Wizard casts Mirror image. Would the Cleric have to roll to discern whether the Spiritual Weapon has the correct target, or was the Spiritual weapon already "locked on" to the correct target?







      dnd-5e spells






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      edited Nov 30 at 23:04









      Oblivious Sage

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      asked Nov 30 at 22:53









      user50432

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          The Spiritual Weapon does not have any feature to see through illusions, detect enemies in any way, or counter defences that make an enemy harder to hit.



          There is no rule about Spiritual Weapon "locking on" - in fact if an enemy moves away you have to move the Spiritual Weapon to keep up on your turn. It only moves/attacks when you spend a Bonus Action to make it do so.



          The in game effect of Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack on a Bonus Action that you get to make at a distance. Pretty much all effects that could cause you to have difficulty hitting, such as not being able to see the target, any spell defences - including Mirror Image - apply as normal. Some of them, such as cover, apply based on the location of the Spiritual Weapon. Others, including visual effects, apply based on what the caster can see. If the caster could see through the illusion (or cannot see it), then they could direct the attack to ignore Mirror Image, otherwise the attack should use the rules under the Mirror Image spell and roll to see whether the true target or an illusion is targeted.






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          • 1




            Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
            – Daniel Zastoupil
            Nov 30 at 23:48




















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          The spiritual weapon attacks would follow normal rules per mirror image.



          The spiritual weapon spell description says:




          When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 force damage + your spellcasting ability modifier.



          As a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.




          The spiritual weapon is not making the attack as a creature, you are making an attack with it.



          The mirror image spell description says:




          Three copies of you appear, moving in sync with you from the same space. Each time a creature attacks you, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of your copies instead.



          An opponent is immune to the effects of this spell if it can't see, relies on other senses to perceive the world, or if it can see through illusions.




          The sentence about an opponent being immune to the effects of mirror image if it can't see is not relevant here because the Cleric, who can see, is the one making the attack.



          So each turn, the Cleric would use a bonus action to move/attack with the spiritual weapon and roll an additional d20 to first determine if the attack is directed at the Wizard or one of the mirror images. Then the Cleric would roll the actual attack.






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            2 Answers
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            2 Answers
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            up vote
            12
            down vote













            The Spiritual Weapon does not have any feature to see through illusions, detect enemies in any way, or counter defences that make an enemy harder to hit.



            There is no rule about Spiritual Weapon "locking on" - in fact if an enemy moves away you have to move the Spiritual Weapon to keep up on your turn. It only moves/attacks when you spend a Bonus Action to make it do so.



            The in game effect of Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack on a Bonus Action that you get to make at a distance. Pretty much all effects that could cause you to have difficulty hitting, such as not being able to see the target, any spell defences - including Mirror Image - apply as normal. Some of them, such as cover, apply based on the location of the Spiritual Weapon. Others, including visual effects, apply based on what the caster can see. If the caster could see through the illusion (or cannot see it), then they could direct the attack to ignore Mirror Image, otherwise the attack should use the rules under the Mirror Image spell and roll to see whether the true target or an illusion is targeted.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
              – Daniel Zastoupil
              Nov 30 at 23:48

















            up vote
            12
            down vote













            The Spiritual Weapon does not have any feature to see through illusions, detect enemies in any way, or counter defences that make an enemy harder to hit.



            There is no rule about Spiritual Weapon "locking on" - in fact if an enemy moves away you have to move the Spiritual Weapon to keep up on your turn. It only moves/attacks when you spend a Bonus Action to make it do so.



            The in game effect of Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack on a Bonus Action that you get to make at a distance. Pretty much all effects that could cause you to have difficulty hitting, such as not being able to see the target, any spell defences - including Mirror Image - apply as normal. Some of them, such as cover, apply based on the location of the Spiritual Weapon. Others, including visual effects, apply based on what the caster can see. If the caster could see through the illusion (or cannot see it), then they could direct the attack to ignore Mirror Image, otherwise the attack should use the rules under the Mirror Image spell and roll to see whether the true target or an illusion is targeted.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
              – Daniel Zastoupil
              Nov 30 at 23:48















            up vote
            12
            down vote










            up vote
            12
            down vote









            The Spiritual Weapon does not have any feature to see through illusions, detect enemies in any way, or counter defences that make an enemy harder to hit.



            There is no rule about Spiritual Weapon "locking on" - in fact if an enemy moves away you have to move the Spiritual Weapon to keep up on your turn. It only moves/attacks when you spend a Bonus Action to make it do so.



            The in game effect of Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack on a Bonus Action that you get to make at a distance. Pretty much all effects that could cause you to have difficulty hitting, such as not being able to see the target, any spell defences - including Mirror Image - apply as normal. Some of them, such as cover, apply based on the location of the Spiritual Weapon. Others, including visual effects, apply based on what the caster can see. If the caster could see through the illusion (or cannot see it), then they could direct the attack to ignore Mirror Image, otherwise the attack should use the rules under the Mirror Image spell and roll to see whether the true target or an illusion is targeted.






            share|improve this answer














            The Spiritual Weapon does not have any feature to see through illusions, detect enemies in any way, or counter defences that make an enemy harder to hit.



            There is no rule about Spiritual Weapon "locking on" - in fact if an enemy moves away you have to move the Spiritual Weapon to keep up on your turn. It only moves/attacks when you spend a Bonus Action to make it do so.



            The in game effect of Spiritual Weapon is a melee spell attack on a Bonus Action that you get to make at a distance. Pretty much all effects that could cause you to have difficulty hitting, such as not being able to see the target, any spell defences - including Mirror Image - apply as normal. Some of them, such as cover, apply based on the location of the Spiritual Weapon. Others, including visual effects, apply based on what the caster can see. If the caster could see through the illusion (or cannot see it), then they could direct the attack to ignore Mirror Image, otherwise the attack should use the rules under the Mirror Image spell and roll to see whether the true target or an illusion is targeted.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Dec 1 at 9:09

























            answered Nov 30 at 23:23









            Neil Slater

            11.4k33768




            11.4k33768








            • 1




              Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
              – Daniel Zastoupil
              Nov 30 at 23:48
















            • 1




              Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
              – Daniel Zastoupil
              Nov 30 at 23:48










            1




            1




            Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
            – Daniel Zastoupil
            Nov 30 at 23:48






            Slightly related, cover is relevant only if the cover is in between the Spiritual Weapon and the Target, but not if the cover is between You and the Target. However, if the Target is Unseen, you would have Disadvantage to attack the Target with your Spiritual Weapon. So Physically, the area between the Target and the Weapon matter, but Visually, the visual between You and the Target matter, and Mirror Image is a Visual effect (implied by the fact that it does nothing against blind targets).
            – Daniel Zastoupil
            Nov 30 at 23:48














            up vote
            10
            down vote













            The spiritual weapon attacks would follow normal rules per mirror image.



            The spiritual weapon spell description says:




            When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 force damage + your spellcasting ability modifier.



            As a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.




            The spiritual weapon is not making the attack as a creature, you are making an attack with it.



            The mirror image spell description says:




            Three copies of you appear, moving in sync with you from the same space. Each time a creature attacks you, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of your copies instead.



            An opponent is immune to the effects of this spell if it can't see, relies on other senses to perceive the world, or if it can see through illusions.




            The sentence about an opponent being immune to the effects of mirror image if it can't see is not relevant here because the Cleric, who can see, is the one making the attack.



            So each turn, the Cleric would use a bonus action to move/attack with the spiritual weapon and roll an additional d20 to first determine if the attack is directed at the Wizard or one of the mirror images. Then the Cleric would roll the actual attack.






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              10
              down vote













              The spiritual weapon attacks would follow normal rules per mirror image.



              The spiritual weapon spell description says:




              When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 force damage + your spellcasting ability modifier.



              As a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.




              The spiritual weapon is not making the attack as a creature, you are making an attack with it.



              The mirror image spell description says:




              Three copies of you appear, moving in sync with you from the same space. Each time a creature attacks you, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of your copies instead.



              An opponent is immune to the effects of this spell if it can't see, relies on other senses to perceive the world, or if it can see through illusions.




              The sentence about an opponent being immune to the effects of mirror image if it can't see is not relevant here because the Cleric, who can see, is the one making the attack.



              So each turn, the Cleric would use a bonus action to move/attack with the spiritual weapon and roll an additional d20 to first determine if the attack is directed at the Wizard or one of the mirror images. Then the Cleric would roll the actual attack.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                10
                down vote










                up vote
                10
                down vote









                The spiritual weapon attacks would follow normal rules per mirror image.



                The spiritual weapon spell description says:




                When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 force damage + your spellcasting ability modifier.



                As a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.




                The spiritual weapon is not making the attack as a creature, you are making an attack with it.



                The mirror image spell description says:




                Three copies of you appear, moving in sync with you from the same space. Each time a creature attacks you, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of your copies instead.



                An opponent is immune to the effects of this spell if it can't see, relies on other senses to perceive the world, or if it can see through illusions.




                The sentence about an opponent being immune to the effects of mirror image if it can't see is not relevant here because the Cleric, who can see, is the one making the attack.



                So each turn, the Cleric would use a bonus action to move/attack with the spiritual weapon and roll an additional d20 to first determine if the attack is directed at the Wizard or one of the mirror images. Then the Cleric would roll the actual attack.






                share|improve this answer














                The spiritual weapon attacks would follow normal rules per mirror image.



                The spiritual weapon spell description says:




                When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 force damage + your spellcasting ability modifier.



                As a bonus action, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it.




                The spiritual weapon is not making the attack as a creature, you are making an attack with it.



                The mirror image spell description says:




                Three copies of you appear, moving in sync with you from the same space. Each time a creature attacks you, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of your copies instead.



                An opponent is immune to the effects of this spell if it can't see, relies on other senses to perceive the world, or if it can see through illusions.




                The sentence about an opponent being immune to the effects of mirror image if it can't see is not relevant here because the Cleric, who can see, is the one making the attack.



                So each turn, the Cleric would use a bonus action to move/attack with the spiritual weapon and roll an additional d20 to first determine if the attack is directed at the Wizard or one of the mirror images. Then the Cleric would roll the actual attack.







                share|improve this answer














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                edited Dec 1 at 2:03









                V2Blast

                18.9k252117




                18.9k252117










                answered Dec 1 at 0:20









                Rykara

                1,824318




                1,824318






























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