The Unwavering Faith: Guardian's Endurance After Caster's Death

The Guardian of Faith is a 4th-level cleric spell that conjures a spectral guardian that hovers in an unoccupied space within range. This guardian deals damage to hostile creatures that move within 10 feet of it, vanishing only after dealing a total of 60 damage or when dispelled by magic. The spell does not require concentration and has a duration of 8 hours, independent of the caster's status. Therefore, the guardian remains active even if the caster is incapacitated or dies.

Guardian of Faith is a 4th-level cleric spell

The spell is particularly useful for zone control and can be cast before combat to great effect. It can be used to block entry points such as dungeon corridors or temple doorways, making it more difficult for enemies to get inside. The 8-hour duration also makes it ideal for casting before taking a long rest. Additionally, the spell does not require concentration, allowing clerics to cast other spells simultaneously.

When comparing Guardian of Faith to Spirit Guardians, a 3rd-level cleric spell, Guardian of Faith has some advantages and disadvantages. It deals more damage (20 vs. 18) and has a longer duration (8 hours vs. 10 minutes). However, Spirit Guardians can deal unlimited damage, move with the caster, and halve enemy movement speed, making it more versatile in battle.

It is important to note that the caster's state does not affect the spell unless it is a concentration spell. Therefore, if the caster drops to 0 HP, the spell will remain active until it has dealt 60 damage or the 8-hour duration has ended.

The guardian deals 20 damage on a failed save, or half on a successful one

The Guardian of Faith is a 4th-level cleric spell that conjures a large spectral guardian that hovers in an unoccupied space of the caster's choice within range. This guardian is armed with a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of the caster's deity and deals damage to hostile creatures that approach it.

When a hostile creature moves within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on its turn, it must make a Dexterity saving throw. The amount of damage the guardian deals depends on the outcome of this saving throw: on a failed save, the creature takes 20 radiant damage, and on a successful save, it takes half as much damage (i.e., 10 radiant damage).

The guardian continues to deal this damage until it has dealt a total of 60 damage, at which point it vanishes. Importantly, the guardian's damage is not reduced if the creature saves against it, meaning that the total possible damage it can deal is 70 (5 instances of 20 damage and 1 instance of 10 damage).

The guardian remains active for the spell's duration, regardless of what happens to the caster. The only ways to dispel the guardian early are for it to deal 60 total damage or for a spell such as Dispel Magic to be used against it.

The guardian vanishes after dealing 60 damage

In the game Dungeons & Dragons, the Guardian of Faith is a 4th-level cleric spell. A Large spectral guardian appears and hovers in an unoccupied space of the caster's choice within range. The guardian is armed with a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of the caster's deity. Any hostile creature that moves within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 20 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

The spell does not specify a damage cap, only a trigger that ends the spell when a certain amount of total damage has been dealt. Therefore, it is reasonable to interpret the spell as allowing the guardian to deal more than 60 damage. However, the spell will always end once the guardian has reached this threshold.

Additionally, the rules differentiate between damage dealt and damage taken. The guardian factors in the actual damage done, accounting for saves, multipliers (such as resistance and vulnerability), and modifiers. For example, if a creature is resistant to radiant damage and fails its saving throw, the 20 damage dealt by the guardian is halved, and the creature takes 10 damage. The guardian would count this as 20 damage dealt towards its total of 60, not 10.

The Guardian of Faith spell is also found in Baldur's Gate 3, where it functions similarly to its D&D counterpart.

The spell lasts for 8 hours, regardless of the caster's status

The Guardian of Faith spell is a powerful tool for any adventurer in Dungeons & Dragons. This fourth-level cleric spell conjures a spectral guardian that hovers in an unoccupied space within range, brandishing a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of your deity. This guardian serves as a formidable protector, dealing damage to hostile creatures that venture too close.

One question that often arises is whether the fate of the guardian is linked to that of the caster. Specifically, if the caster dies or is incapacitated, what happens to the guardian?

The answer lies in the intricacies of the spell's duration. The Guardian of Faith spell has a duration of 8 hours, and notably, this duration is not dependent on the caster's status. In other words, the spell lasts for the full 8 hours, regardless of what happens to the caster. This means that even if the caster drops to 0 HP or perishes, the guardian will remain active until the duration ends or it is dispelled.

The only ways to prematurely end the spell are for the guardian to deal a total of 60 damage or for it to be dispelled by a spell like Dispel Magic. The guardian's damage output is also unaffected by the caster's status, and it will continue to deal 20 radiant damage on a failed Dexterity saving throw or half as much damage on a successful one.

This aspect of the spell is particularly advantageous for long-term protection or when the caster is unable to maintain concentration. It provides a sense of security, knowing that even if the caster is incapacitated, the guardian will persist and offer a layer of defence for the remaining party members.

In conclusion, the Guardian of Faith spell is a resilient and reliable asset in precarious situations. With its 8-hour duration, independence from the caster's condition, and substantial damage output, it serves as a stalwart protector that can turn the tide of battle in your favour.

The spell does not require concentration

The Guardian of Faith spell does not require concentration. This means that once cast, the spell lasts for its full duration regardless of the state of the caster. The only ways to end the spell early are for it to deal 60 damage to a hostile creature or for it to be dispelled by a feature such as Dispel Magic.

The spell can be acquired by Cleric, Life Domain, and Light Domain classes. It is a level 4 spell from the Conjuration school. When cast, a large spectral guardian appears and hovers in an unoccupied space of the caster's choice within range. The guardian is armed with a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of the caster's deity. Any hostile creature that moves within 10 feet of the guardian for the first time on a turn must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 20 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The guardian vanishes once it has dealt a total of 60 damage.

The guardian is stationary and cannot be repositioned. It has a range of 3m and its attacks are guaranteed hits, making it useful against targets with high AC. It also deals and takes a lot of damage, so it is a good idea to cast Warding Bond to prolong its life.

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