Divine Favor is a powerful 1st-level evocation spell in Dungeons & Dragons 5e that grants a divine blessing to the caster’s weapon attacks. When cast, the spell imbues your strikes with radiant energy, adding 1d4 radiant damage to every hit. Commonly used by Paladins and Clerics, Divine Favor enhances both offense and role-playing moments where divine intervention is key. With its bonus action casting time and concentration requirement, this spell is perfect for boosting damage during intense battles while staying true to your character’s holy purpose.
What is Divine Favor in DnD 5e?
Divine Favor is a spell that allows the caster to call upon their deity for temporary strength. Once cast, the spell empowers your weapon attacks to deal 1d4 additional radiant damage on each successful hit. The extra damage represents your deity’s blessing, making your strikes deadlier against foes, especially those vulnerable to radiant damage like undead or fiends.
Divine Favor 5e Spell Guide: When and How to Use It Effectively
- Spell Level: 1st
- School: Evocation
- Casting Time: 1 bonus action
- Range: Self
- Components: V (Verbal)
- Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Classes: Paladin, Cleric (optional through certain domains)
How Does Divine Favor Work?
Divine Favor requires a bonus action to cast, making it a great option for characters who want to boost their offensive capabilities without sacrificing their main action. Once cast, your weapon attacks deal an extra 1d4 radiant damage for as long as you maintain concentration. The radiant damage adds a divine element to your attacks, making it particularly useful against enemies with weaknesses to holy power.
Best Uses of Divine Favor
- Early Combat Buff: Cast Divine Favor at the start of combat to maximize the damage you deal in the first few rounds.
- Undead and Fiend Battles: Radiant damage is highly effective against undead creatures and fiends, making this spell a perfect choice for campaigns featuring such enemies.
- Boss Fights: Use Divine Favor in longer battles where every extra point of damage can make a difference.
- Dual Wielding or Multi-Attacks: The spell works on every weapon attack, making it especially valuable for characters who attack multiple times per turn.
Limitations of Divine Favor
While Divine Favor is a powerful spell, it does have some drawbacks:
- Concentration Requirement: If you take damage, you must make a concentration saving throw to maintain the spell.
- Limited Duration: The spell only lasts for up to one minute, requiring careful timing.
- Bonus Action Casting: It uses your bonus action, which could compete with other spells or class abilities.
Who Should Use Divine Favor?
- Paladins: As the primary class for Divine Favor, Paladins can boost their smites and regular attacks with radiant damage.
- Clerics: Some Cleric domains, such as the War Domain, can access Divine Favor, making it a useful tool for battle-focused Clerics.
- Multiclass Characters: A combination of Paladin and Fighter or Paladin and Ranger can benefit greatly from this spell’s extra damage.
Is Divine Favor Worth It?
Divine Favor is a solid damage-boosting spell for characters who rely on weapon attacks. While the extra 1d4 radiant damage may seem small, it can add up quickly over multiple attacks, especially in longer battles. The spell’s bonus action casting time and radiant damage type make it a highly effective tool for divine warriors.
Conclusion
Divine Favor is a spell that perfectly blends role-playing flavor with combat effectiveness. Whether you’re smiting undead, facing fiends, or simply enhancing your weapon attacks, this spell can be a game-changer in battle. Its combination of radiant damage, quick casting, and thematic significance makes it one of the best choices for Paladins and battle-ready Clerics in Dungeons & Dragons 5e.
Divine Favor Spell FAQs
What does Divine Favor do in DnD 5e?
Divine Favor grants the caster’s weapon attacks an extra 1d4 radiant damage for up to one minute while they maintain concentration.
Can Divine Favor be used with ranged attacks?
No, Divine Favor only affects melee weapon attacks unless specified otherwise by a special feature or ability.
Does Divine Favor stack with other damage buffs?
Yes, Divine Favor stacks with other damage buffs like Hunter’s Mark or Divine Smite, making it an excellent combo option.
What happens if I lose concentration during Divine Favor?
If you lose concentration, the spell ends immediately, and your weapon attacks will no longer deal the bonus radiant damage.
Can Divine Favor be cast on allies?
No, Divine Favor only affects the caster’s own weapon attacks and cannot be used on other creatures.