Question about spiritual weapon spell

[GerryWright]

My reading of the description of the spiritual weapon spell is that in turns following having cast it, you can, as a bonus action, both move the spiritual weapon and attack with it. In addition to that, on the same turn, you can take your regular action. So, as an example, I could move the spiritual weapon and attack with it, and on the same turn cast a spell.

Am I reading this correctly, or does the bonus only include moving the spiritual weapon, after which you need to use your action for the attack with the spiritual weapon?

[Olmac1]

You move and attack with the spiritual weapon as a bonus action. You still have your action to do whatever, even cast a spell.

[Ludd_G]

as long as it doesn't require Concentration as I think Spiritual Weapon needs concentration for the duration?

[Olmac1]

Spiritual Weapon is not a concentration spell.

[Ludd_G]

I stand corrected, apologies! Teach me to trust my memory! :D

[Olmac1]

No worries, no one is perfect. I have been known to get it wrong on more than one occasion. ;)

[GerryWright]

Thanks, folks, for the quick response to my question. :D

[Atua]

Please note you cannot cast a spell (with the exception of a cantrip) on the turn that you cast a bonus action spell. Subsequent turns where you are just activating Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action, it is fine to cast a levelled spell

[GerryWright]

Please note you cannot cast a spell (with the exception of a cantrip) on the turn that you cast a bonus action spell. Subsequent turns where you are just activating Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action, it is fine to cast a levelled spell

Yes. My understanding is that on the turn you actually cast the Spiritual Weapon Spell, casting it is the bonus action and making a melee attack with the spiritual weapon would be your action. On subsequent turns, the 2 acts combined of moving the spiritual weapon and making a melee attack would be a bonus action. I could then take my regular action to cast a heal spell, shoot a crossbow at an enemy, drink a potion, do some help action for another party member, etc. Am I understanding it correctly?

[mdrichey]

Yes. My understanding is that on the turn you actually cast the Spiritual Weapon Spell, casting it is the bonus action and making a melee attack with the spiritual weapon would be your action. On subsequent turns, the 2 acts combined of moving the spiritual weapon and making a melee attack would be a bonus action. I could then take my regular action to cast a heal spell, shoot a crossbow at an enemy, drink a potion, do some help action for another party member, etc. Am I understanding it correctly?

On the turn that you actually cast the spiritual weapon spell, making that initial melee spell attack is part of the casting, i.e., part of the bonus action. You still have your action to do something else on that turn, but it cannot be casting a spell other than a cantrip. The rest is correct.

[GerryWright]

On the turn that you actually cast the spiritual weapon spell, making that initial melee spell attack is part of the casting, i.e., part of the bonus action. You still have your action to do something else on that turn, but it cannot be casting a spell other than a cantrip. The rest is correct.

Okay. Got it.

[GerryWright]

Another question about Spiritual Weapon. In a game last night I cast the spell to attack one of a group of ghouls. On a subsequent round a ghoul did a successful claw attack on me and I failed the constitution save, and so became paralyzed. That prevented me from moving, speaking, taking an action or taking a reaction. Our party discussed whether or not I could do the bonus action of mentally moving the spiritual weapon and attacking a ghoul, even despite the paralysis. We eventually decided that the spiritual weapon could be moved. Is there an "official stand" on this, or is it up to the DM?

[mdrichey]

PHB ch. 9, in the section on bonus actions, states "anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action." It's easy to miss.