Sanctuary: Why is it so Highly Rated?

[Edgerunner]

For a Low lvl Cleric I always wondered Why this particular spell seems to be a prized spell over something like Shield of Faith.
I've played a few Clerics in my time and always felt the spell was particularly Situational at best with the If the warded creature makes an attack or casts a spell that affects an enemy creature, this spell ends. rider attached to it.

Honestly I can see it's uses at a much Higher lvl but could never figure out it's uses at lvl 9 and below.

Is there something I am missing?

[sophontteks]

No concentration, bonus action, cheap.
Compared to Shield of faith, it requires concentration and there's a zillion better concentration spells.

[Howax]

If It's a Sorlock (Divine Soul Sorcerer).
You can blast at 1200' eldritch blast and cast Heightein Metamagic + Sanctuary (Bonus action) in your turn.

[MrStabby]

For a Low lvl Cleric I always wondered Why this particular spell seems to be a prized spell over something like Shield of Faith.
I've played a few Clerics in my time and always felt the spell was particularly Situational at best with the If the warded creature makes an attack or casts a spell that affects an enemy creature, this spell ends. rider attached to it.

Honestly I can see it's uses at a much Higher lvl but could never figure out it's uses at lvl 9 and below.

Is there something I am missing?

I think some people use it as the rider is narrower than it might have been. it doesn't affect spells that have already been cast as long as they don't involve an attack roll. Conjure animals, spirit guardians and similar can be cast in advance and still used from the safety of sanctuary.

[mephnick]

I've found it really depends on how your DM uses enemies. If your DM likes to rush the back lines it can give your other casters a chance to get out of their situation. It's very useful to protect allies making death saves if your DM likes to cut down unconscious PCs. If any of your allies are on their last legs it can protect them while they drink potions or wait for support. It only ends if you harm an enemy creature, so the target is still able to heal and cast buffs or manipulate the environment while being protected. All for a bonus action. It's pretty good.

[tatsuyashiba]

It’s great for healers and support oriented casters. No concentration requirement means they can keep up Bless.

[Kyrinthic]

Its priceless for protecting important NPCs, or players doing a non-offensive action for plot reasons (picking a lock or finishing a ritual or whatever).

Its very useful if you are going to do some battlefield medicine or buffing, even if its just a couple rounds.
As a level 1 spell that is a bonus action with no concentration, it is probably the cheapest non-cantrip spell around.

It makes a solid deterrent even for enemies that have good odds on the save, a melee enemy has to move to you and risk a save or potentially lose the attack, they will usually prioritize someone else.

It fills a pretty unique niche, and deserves a place on most cleric lists, even if you dont use it every day, when the right opportunity presents itself, it is an amazing spell.

[Willie the Duck]

Note also that there are plenty of actions which contribute to combat that do not trip up a Sanctuary spell, including buffing, healing, aiding, and so forth. If the batman wizard is concentrating on keeping the fighter flying (so that he can melee the big bad), and that's their last Fly spell possible for the day, perhaps them sitting back and concentrating is more important than the Firebolts they might also have at their disposal, and perhaps your 1st level spell slot is better spent on stopping them from having to make Con saves.

Regardless, if you can find a situation where someone doesn't need to attack, using a 1st level slot to keep them from dropping in the first place is usually preferable to the Healing Word needed to get them back up later.

[Edgerunner]

I think some people use it as the rider is narrower than it might have been. it doesn't affect spells that have already been cast as long as they don't involve an attack roll. Conjure animals, spirit guardians and similar can be cast in advance and still used from the safety of sanctuary.

Can Spiritual Weapon continue to be used if Sanctuary is cast much in the same way as the Spirit Guardians you mentioned?

[Willie the Duck]

Can Spiritual Weapon continue to be used if Sanctuary is cast much in the same way as the Spirit Guardians you mentioned?

That involves an attack roll.

[mephnick]

Conjure animals, spirit guardians and similar can be cast in advance and still used from the safety of sanctuary.

I guess this is RAW but is it intended? I feel like as a DM I'd rule your Spirit Guardians goes against the intended use of Sanctuary but I may be wrong.

[smcmike]

If It's a Sorlock (Divine Soul Sorcerer).
You can blast at 1200' eldritch blast and cast Heightein Metamagic + Sanctuary (Bonus action) in your turn.

Heightened Spell does not work wth Santuary.

[Howax]

Heightened Spell does not work wth Santuary.

Wrongly, It requires saving throw.

[RSP]

I've found the spell to be amazingly effective. Keep in mind it can target anyone within 30'. The last campaign I played in, my Lore Bard would use it on the tank, when they were acting as a meat shield. A 1st level spell in exchange for a round's worth of say, Fire Giant's attacks (assuming the Giants go before the meat shield)? I'll take negating those probable hits as a win.

[smcmike]

Wrongly, It requires saving throw.

Heightened Spell works on targets of a spell. The target of Sanctuary is the protected creature.

[smcmike]

I've found the spell to be amazingly effective. Keep in mind it can target anyone within 30'. The last campaign I played in, my Lore Bard would use it on the tank, when they were acting as a meat shield. A 1st level spell in exchange for a round's worth of say, Fire Giant's attacks (assuming the Giants go before the meat shield)? I'll take negating those probable hits as a win.

This assumes the fire giant can’t just target someone else.

[Howax]

Heightened Spell works on targets of a spell. The target of Sanctuary is the protected creature.

Until the spell ends, any creature who targets the warded creature with an attack or a harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw


It forces who target the warded creature make a saving throw. Heightein works normally. The target of Sanctuary is who target the Wardeds creature. The target is forced to make a saving throw or fail.

[RSP]

I guess this is RAW but is it intended? I feel like as a DM I'd rule your Spirit Guardians goes against the intended use of Sanctuary but I may be wrong.

Pretty sure JC has tweeted it's not intended to work that way and the intent is [cause damage=breaks Sanctuary].

Summoning, I believe, is different as it's a different creature's actions that ultimately do the damage.

[RSP]

This assumes the fire giant can’t just target someone else.

Indeed, hence why we always had the meat shield up in front away from the casters.

[smcmike]

And, Heightein doesn't work on target of Spells, It isn't required.

Sorry, but you are incorrect.

Heightened Spell:

“When you cast a spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw to resist its effects, you can spend 3 sorcery points to give one target of the spell disadvantage on its first saving throw against the spell.”

[Howax]

Sorry, but you are incorrect.

Heightened Spell:

“When you cast a spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw to resist its effects, you can spend 3 sorcery points to give one target of the spell disadvantage on its first saving throw against the spell.”
Alread, Edited.

Until the spell ends, any creature who targets the warded creature with an attack or a harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw.

It explicitly force that creature make a make saving throw or fail. It's the target of the spell, It works normally.

[smcmike]

Alread, Edited.

Until the spell ends, any creature who targets the warded creature with an attack or a harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw.

It explicitly force that creature make a make saving throw or fail. It's the target of the spell, It works normally.

No. The warded creature is obviously the target of the spell. You haven’t targeted any other creature.

[Howax]

No. The warded creature is obviously the target of the spell. You haven’t targeted any other creature.

The target is the creature who is forced to make a saving throw.

Anyway, It's ambiguous a lot.

[smcmike]

The target is the creature who is forced to make a saving throw.

Anyway, It's ambiguous a lot.

Which creature that is forced to make a saving throw?

Let’s say you cast Sanctuary on a person, who then runs out of your sight through a crowd of enemies. The enemies are completely unknown to you and out of the range of the spell. They all try to attack the warded creature. Who does the heightened spell apply to? The first?

Let’s say, instead, that you cast Sanctuary, but no creature attempts to attack. The spell therefore does not cause any creature to make a saving throw, and Heightened cannot be applied to it.

No, the obvious answer is that you targeted the warded person with the spell. Heightened spell doesn’t apply.

[Kyrinthic]

Which creature that is forced to make a saving throw?

Let’s say you cast Sanctuary on a person, who then runs out of your sight through a crowd of enemies. The enemies are completely unknown to you and out of the range of the spell. They all try to attack the warded creature. Who does the heightened spell apply to? The first?

Let’s say, instead, that you cast Sanctuary, but no creature attempts to attack. The spell therefore does not cause any creature to make a saving throw, and Heightened cannot be applied to it.

No, the obvious answer is that you targeted the warded person with the spell. Heightened spell doesn’t apply.

You realize Howax is the guy that does the nameless king spam, I wouldnt expend the effort arguing this with him. At the _very_ least, this is going to be a GM call, as it is not explicitly stated in the rules one way or the other, and good arguments can be made for both sides.

Similar to how Spirit guardians or spiritual weapons working with sanctuary is a longstanding debate that will have variation from one GM to the next. I believe the writers stated that using pre-cast attack spells while it was up was against RAI, but probably works RAW. GM opinions will vary.

[Willie the Duck]

Anyway, It's ambiguous a lot.

"Anyway, It's ambiguous a lot?"

Do you understand why we might not be coming to you to parse the English language for us?

[smcmike]

You realize Howax is the guy that does the nameless king spam, I wouldnt expend the effort arguing this with him. At the _very_ least, this is going to be a GM call, as it is not explicitly stated in the rules one way or the other, and good arguments can be made for both sides.

Similar to how Spirit guardians or spiritual weapons working with sanctuary is a longstanding debate that will have variation from one GM to the next. I believe the writers stated that using pre-cast attack spells while it was up was against RAI, but probably works RAW. GM opinions will vary.

I don’t think this is particularly ambiguous.

[Kyrinthic]

I don’t think this is particularly ambiguous.

As written, I agree, it probably should not work with heighten.
But the concept of it working makes good sense, and feels like a logical extention of those two things together.
I could definitely see a GM allowing it in reasonable circumstances (Ie, using the spell to protect someone about to die or the like)

[Tanarii]

Escort missions. At least, that's why my players rate it highly.

[ImproperJustice]

My achemist has the healer feat.
I frequently cast this in major battles, then do aforementioned battlefield surgery, distribute healing potions and droughts, posion my allies weapons for them, and hand out infused magical potions.

It’s a solid panic button.
I have also used it to spare an ally from certain doom as he was being crushed in battle, so we could buy him a turn to retreat, secon wind and get healed up.

There was another incident where I was trapped alone with a Doppleganger by a wall of fire spell. I cast Sanctuary and ignored him while I waited for the Fire Wall to cease.


Very, very useful spell.

[Merudo]

For a Low lvl Cleric I always wondered Why this particular spell seems to be a prized spell over something like Shield of Faith.


Sanctuary is not really a low level spell. Early on, you probably have better uses for the spell slot. Having Bless up for the whole fight, saving someone with Healing Word, or helping your buddies land a hit through Guiding Bolt are much more important.

However, later on, you'll be much less reliant on Level 1 slots. The impact of say a Level 1 Cure Wound sharply diminishes as you progress - the benefits from Sanctuary do not. In fact, Sanctuary becomes even more helpful at higher levels, because a spellcaster you cast this on will be able to contribute to the fight through buffs, healing, summons, and previously cast concentration spells without breaking the Sanctuary.

Once you are high level enough, you can use Sanctuary like you would a Shield spell, except with the possibility to target someone else. Even if the recipient breaks the Sanctuary on their turn, they still have a full round of protection.

Finally, I suspect some folks rank the spell so highly because they play with the variant (intentionally or not!) that you can cast 2 non-cantrip spells in a round if one is a bonus action.

[ImproperJustice]

You realize Howax is the guy that does the nameless king spam, I wouldnt expend the effort arguing this with him. At the _very_ least, this is going to be a GM call, as it is not explicitly stated in the rules one way or the other, and good arguments can be made for both sides.

Similar to how Spirit guardians or spiritual weapons working with sanctuary is a longstanding debate that will have variation from one GM to the next. I believe the writers stated that using pre-cast attack spells while it was up was against RAI, but probably works RAW. GM opinions will vary.

At least he is finally participating in some posts outside of his spam posts. There may be hope for him yet to join the community in a positive way :)

[smcmike]

At least he is finally participating in some posts outside of his spam posts. There may be hope for him yet to join the community in a positive way :)

Yeah, I don’t respond to spam, but I’m not going to avoid responding to non-spam based upon the person posting it.

[Edgerunner]

Finally, I suspect some folks rank the spell so highly because they play with the variant (intentionally or not!) that you can cast 2 non-cantrip spells in a round if one is a bonus action.

As I said in the OP... I see it's uses at Higher lvls.

Also; My DM is using the Variant Spell rules so I can cast a lvl'd Bonus Action spell and also cast a lvl'd Action spell. How does Sanctuary rate under these circumstances?

[Tanarii]

Also; My DM is using the Variant Spell rules so I can cast a lvl'd Bonus Action spell and also cast a lvl'd Action spell. How does Sanctuary rate under these circumstances?There's a variant that does that? Sounds like a house rule to me.

[Merudo]

As I said in the OP... I see it's uses at Higher lvls.

Also; My DM is using the Variant Spell rules so I can cast a lvl'd Bonus Action spell and also cast a lvl'd Action spell. How does Sanctuary rate under these circumstances?

It's pretty amazing, especially for major fights! You can cast a normal spell turning your turn, keep concentrating on another, then use your bonus action to protect yourself or a teammate. Even stopping a single attack from landing is almost always a better move than doing ~6-7 damage with Spiritual Weapon.

Of course, the effectiveness of Sanctuary depends on the composition of the battle lines, the turn order, and how the DM plays the creatures.

Sanctuary is best used on yourself or players immediately before you in the turn order. That way, even if they choose to break Sanctuary on their turn, they still have a full round of protection.

Sanctuary also works better if an hostile creature can't outright attack two party members from the same position. That way, any attack that can't go through Sanctuary is a wasted attack.

Usually, a good DM will play intelligent hostile creatures so they focus fire on a single target to take it down first. Cast Sanctuary on said target once its hitpoints have been depleted, and hostile creatures will either have to switch target, or waste precious attacks trying to get through.

[Edgerunner]

There's a variant that does that? Sounds like a house rule to me.

I Know.
When I brought up the fact that I was casting Healing Word and then cast Toll the Dead they were all asking me Why I didn't cast Cure Wounds on the downed PC beside me.... I told them that I always played BA lvl'd spell and then a Cantrip only.
They proceeded to act like I was a Noob who didn't know the Rules. I let that go LOL.

[sophontteks]

That would only make it better. Again, No concentration

[lperkins2]

So, there's an impressive list of things you can do to hinder enemies while under the effect of Sanctuary. Most obvious is just placing yourself at a choke point to control where they can go. Other options include taking the Help Action, activating magic items (wand of magic missile), and my favourite, activating offensive psionic powers. Dragonborn's breath attack is also a non-spell, non-attack offensive action, and there are a handful of others. It's not the most powerful combination, but if the DM tracks morale of the enemies, being an unassailable source of magic missiles and breath weapons can break a unit really fast.

[Tanarii]

They proceeded to act like I was a Noob who didn't know the Rules. I let that go LOL.You're a better person than me. :smallwink:

[mephnick]

I Know.
When I brought up the fact that I was casting Healing Word and then cast Toll the Dead they were all asking me Why I didn't cast Cure Wounds on the downed PC beside me.... I told them that I always played BA lvl'd spell and then a Cantrip only.
They proceeded to act like I was a Noob who didn't know the Rules. I let that go LOL.

Probably something they picked up from Crit Role. Mercer has all kind of stupid rules like that.

[stoutstien]

I'd say it's as good as Shield as a lv one spell. It one of the spells that appreciate in value as you gain higher slots without upcasting.

[charlesrwest]

Also, vampires + item which makes sunlight + sanctuary = win.

[Zalabim]

So, there's an impressive list of things you can do to hinder enemies while under the effect of Sanctuary. Most obvious is just placing yourself at a choke point to control where they can go. Other options include taking the Help Action, activating magic items (wand of magic missile), and my favourite, activating offensive psionic powers. Dragonborn's breath attack is also a non-spell, non-attack offensive action, and there are a handful of others. It's not the most powerful combination, but if the DM tracks morale of the enemies, being an unassailable source of magic missiles and breath weapons can break a unit really fast.
I'm imagining a tank who keeps enemy attention from under Sanctuary by "thinking of you" and "breathing heavily." I just wanted to share that.