How To Use Sanctuary Strategically in D&D 5e

Sanctuary is a powerful spell in Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition that can provide great protection for yourself or allies. It is a 1st-level abjuration spell that can be cast as a bonus action, allowing you to still use your regular action to attack or cast another spell.

When you cast Sanctuary, you choose a creature within range (30 feet) and that creature becomes protected from attacks and harmful spells for one minute. If the target creature chooses to make an attack or cast a harmful spell, the spell ends. This means that Sanctuary only works as long as the target doesn’t take any aggressive actions.

The spell has a range of 30 feet, which means you can cast it on a creature within that range. You can also cast it multiple times on different creatures, as long as the previous cast has lasted for one minute or less. This can be helpful in protecting multiple allies during a battle.

It’s important to note that Sanctuary does not protect the caster of the spell, so it’s not a good idea to use it on yourself if you plan on attacking. It’s best used to protect allies who need to stay alive and not take damage, such as a low-level cleric who needs to heal others.

One important thing to keep in mind is that Sanctuary doesn’t protect against area of effect spells or attacks, such as fireball or a dragon’s breath weapon. It only protects against direct attacks and spells targeted at the protected creature.

Another thing to consider is that Sanctuary only lasts for one minute, so it’s important to use it strategically. You may want to cast it at the beginning of a battle to protect an ally while they’re casting a spell or uing a special ability, or you may want to save it for when an ally is in a particularly dangerous situation.

Sanctuary is a useful spell that can provide great protection for your allies in Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. It’s best used on creatures other than yourself, and it’s important to use it strategically to make the most of its one-minute duration.

Can You Cast Sanctuary After Attacking?

You can cast Sanctuary after attacking in D&D. However, casting Sanctuary is a bonus action and requires concentration, so you cannot cast any other spells requiring concentration during that time. Additionally, if you have attacked a creature before casting Sanctuary, the spell’s effect will only protect you from that creature’s attacks and not from any other creatures. Therefore, it is important to consider whether casting Sanctuary is the best course of action for your character in the situation.

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Is Sanctuary A Bonus Action?

The Sanctuary spell is a bonus action spell. According to the description of the spell in the Player’s Handbook, casting Sanctuary requires a bonus action. This means that a player can use their regular action to take another action, such as attacking or casting a spell, while also casting Sanctuary as a bonus action. It should be noted, however, that using Sanctuary will limit the player to using only cantrips on their next turn, unless they have a feature that allows them to cast spells as a bonus action.

How Long Does Sanctuary Last?

A sanctuary lasts for a period of 14 days from the date it is activated. It is important to note that a sanctuary becomes active as soon as the first creature is placed in it since the last reset. Once the sanctuary is active, the 14-day countdown begins. After the 14-day period has elapsed, the sanctuary will reset, and any creatures that were placed in it will be removed. It is essential to keep track of the date when a sanctuary is activated to ensure that it is reset in time to continue using it.

Can You Use Sanctuary With Spirit Guardians?

It is possible to use Sanctuary with Spirit Guardians. Sanctuary is a spell that provides protection to the caster, making them harder to hit in combat. Spirit Guardians, on the other hand, is a spell that creates a magical aura around the caster, dealing damage to any enemies that come within range.

The two spells can be used together, and thre is no rule that says one cancels out the other. The Sanctuary spell remains active even if the Spirit Guardians spell deals damage to enemies. However, it is important to note that if the caster takes any action that deals damage to an enemy, Sanctuary will end.

Sanctuary and Spirit Guardians can be used together, and the Sanctuary spell will remain active as long as the caster does not take any action that deals direct damage to an enemy.

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Conclusion

Sanctuary is a useful spell in 5e that can provide protection to other creatures within a 30-foot range. It can be cast on others while maintaining each previous cast for one minute. However, casting it on oneself is probably not the most effective use of the spell. It is important to note that spells with the same name cannot be stacked on the same target, so it is crucial to consider the timing and placement of casting Sanctuary. The limitations of bonus action spells and only being able to cast cantrips do not apply when Sanctuary itself is the bonus action. It is also important to keep in mind that Sanctuaries reset every 14 days and are activated as soon as the frst creature is placed in them since the last reset. While the RAW states that Sanctuary is not stopped if an already-cast spell deals damage, the RAI suggests that a damaging activity may end the spell. Sanctuary can be a valuable tool for protecting allies in battle and should be used strategically for maximum effectiveness.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.