Blade Ward 5e - D&D 5th Edition Spell Book
Blade Ward 5e Spell Effects
Abjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 round
You extend your hand and trace a sigil of warding in the air. Until the end of your next turn, you have resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage dealt by weapon attacks.
All information on Blade Ward 5e comes from the DnD Player's Handbook.
Classes That Can Cast Blade Ward 5e
As with many basic spells in D&D 5e, there are less classes (at least in the Player's Handbook) than you might expect who cast cast Blade Ward.
- Bard
- Sorcerer
- Warlock
- Wizard
With basic defensive cantrips like this, you would think that the spell would come as a standard option at least for clerics, if not also for paladins and druids.
Blade Ward 5e Spell Effectiveness
| Resistance | 1st-Level | 5th-Level | 11th-Level | 17th-Level | 20th-Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Damage | 11 | 19 | 30 | 41 | 45 |
| Resistance | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| Actual Damage | 5 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Calculations for Damage and Resistance
The damage values presented above are roughly based on average damage values (not accounting for hit chance) for 1st-20th level characters. Resistance in DnD 5e reduces damage taken by half, so the Blade Ward 5e spell effectively halves weapon damage that's bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing. In D&D 5e, halved values are always rounded down.
Blade Ward Usefulness
Blade Ward is honestly kind of a strange spell, when you think about it. Since the spell is a cantrip, it certainly has its useful moments though. Try to use Blade Ward 5e in some of the following optimal circumstances though, to maximize its value for you.
- Blade Ward 5e, since it's a cantrip, should probably be used (almost) only when you have no other spell slots available to use.
- Use Blade Ward when you're surrounded by enemies with weapons (not spell casters) that deal bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. If you're fighting spell casters, do not use Blade Ward 5e.
- Use Blade Ward 5e against enemies with particularly high physical/ weapon damage, to maximize your damage resisted.
- Cast Blade Ward as a last resort, when you know that your team is about to come in and save you. Since casting Blade Ward prevents you from using any other action (unless it's a bonus action), you're placed completely on the defensive. Without a healer nearby or allies to deal damage and save you, you're probably toast.
- Think of Blade Ward 5e as a stalling spell, where you're just dragging out the battle - trying to survive as long as possible - until help arrives.
Combine Blade Ward 5e with the Following Spells
Even though I'd typically only use Blade Ward 5e as a last-resort kind of spell, there are also some interesting combinations you can use to increase its value by quite a bit.
- Aid 5e: this spell grants temporary hit points, which last for 8-hours. Anyone who ends up in a situation where they need to continually cast Blade Ward 5e (probably while running for their lives) would certainly benefit from a little extra hit points, to survive. An alternative to aid would be armor of agathys, or any other spell that provides temporary hit points. Just note that temporary hit point effects do not stack, so you can't benefit from multiple of them at the same time.
- Aura of Vitality 5e: this may be one spell example that you can actually cast yourself, since once it's cast, it only requires a bonus action to provide healing each round. Using aura of vitality while protecting yourself with Blade Ward would allow you heal yourself each round while still giving yourself resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
- Cure Wounds 5e: since cure wounds requires an action to cast, this spell will have to be performed by an ally. Still though, if you can more or less tank damage with your weapon resistance while allies heal you up, you basically get double value from the cure wounds spell.
- Haste 5e: haste provides +2AC, doubled movement speed, and advantage on Dexterity saving throws, making it especially useful when you're trying to run away and survive, with Blade Ward 5e. Again, this is a situation where an ally would do better to caste haste on you, as you won't have the actions for it, continually casting blade ward, and taking damage might cause you to lose spell concentration, anyways.
- Hellish Rebuke 5e: this incredible, top-tier spell actually allows you to deal damage to enemies when they attack you, as a mere bonus action. So, you can protect yourself with Blade Ward 5e, then counterattack anyone who tries to harm you.
- Mage Armor 5e: since mage armor can be cast ahead of battle (with its 8-hour duration), you could have the spell raising your AC, making you not only harder to hit, but also causing you to take less damage when combined with Blade Ward 5e.
- Spiritual Weapon 5e: similarly to hellish rebuke, spiritual weapon - once cast - only requires a bonus action each round to attack enemies. The only problem with this spell is that if you're constantly being attack you can easily lose spell concentration. For this reason, combining spiritual weapon with Blade Ward 5e is probably only a fallback option.
Blade Ward 5e Counters
Blade Ward is a cantrip spell, so at least it doesn't take up spell slots. Aside from that, however, it's a pretty niche spell, and has many weaknesses.
For example, if you get overwhelmed by enemies, and an enemy spell caster notices that you're using Blade Ward to protect yourself, they can simply use Silence 5e on you to prevent you from casting it anymore. In all reality, Blade Ward is such a simple spell, that I doubt anyone would ever use dispel magic to remove the effect, but they could, if they so desired.
Additionally, enemies can just attack you with spell damage. Even cantrip spells such as Acid Splash 5e completely ignore the effects of Blade Ward, effectively making its effects worthless. Also, spells that deal bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage are exempt from the damage resistance blade ward 5e provides, as the spell only resists weapon attacks, specifically.
Finally, any enemy dealing half damage to a target affected by Blade Ward 5e is still dealing half damage, while the target uses their actions each turn doing no damage. Basically, enemies can still slowly wear down a spell caster who's using Blade Ward, and eventually defeat them, with nothing more than their basic weapon attacks.
Blade Ward-Type Spells in Eternity TTRPG
Each TTRPG system has its own list of spells, abilities, and specific rules for how the game works. Maybe you've been playing D&D for years, and it's the only game you've ever played, or you're new to tabletop gaming and have only ever heard of D&D.
Well, there are many games like DnD out there, and the Eternity TTRPG Game System is one of them. Of course, everyone knows and loves the largest tabletop RPGs, but many times, people are surprised at how much they enjoy playing smaller, independently-created games as well.
In case you're curious about trying out other games or seeing what they're like, I've included an ability from Eternity TTRPG (below) that's similar to Blade Ward in effect, so you can do some comparison of your own.
Royal Guard - Core Class Ability
Shield Wall: this Ability can only be used if you are wielding a shield. Move your Speed value -2, and gain +13Resilience, +13Dodge, and +13Will against attacks made from 3Range or more away, for 1turn.
- (Executor) You also “Charge” (see Chapter 14, “Additional Actions”) an enemy with your “Shield Wall.”
- (Life-Sworn) After you use this Critical, whenever an enemy attacks any target but you, you gain +7Strike Bonus the next time you attack them with “Shield Slam” (can stack to +14Strike Bonus).
- (Ancient Blade) Move your Speed value +2. You can also move up to your Speed value +2 when using this Ability, for Battle Duration.
Similar to Blade Ward 5e, the royal guard Shield Wall protects them from attacks - although in this case, from attacks made only from a distance. However, Shield Wall also allows the royal guard to move while defending themselves, and the ability also protects against spells (through the Will and Resilience stat bonuses).
Curious to learn more? Check out the
Eternity TTRPG Core Game!
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Author - Jacob Tegtman
Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.
I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.
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Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QklD9CbOoV0&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription “In the flames, there is purity and salvation. From the flames, she speaks…” Those aren’t the words of a prophet. They’re the twisted scripture of a zealot. Deep in the mountains of Druskenvald, a crimson light spills from stained glass windows. It’s not salvation. It’s a warning. Today, we’re venturing into one of the darkest D&D adventures I’ve ever read—The Crimson Monastery, from my new personal favorite, Crooked Moon. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your faithful companion through the wildest realms of Dungeons & Dragons. If you love your fantasy served with horror, vampires, and morally gray decisions, buckle in—we’re about to descend into a bloodstained cathedral of corruption. Let me tell you a story. Once, there was a noble knight named Marius Renathyr. A beacon of honor, clad in gold armor, championing justice in a cursed land. He loved a priestess of the Nightmother, and though they burned with passion, he kept his vows. But as his crusade wore on, so did his soul. Wrath replaced compassion. And that’s when she found him. Viraxys, a devil who fed on twisted souls, disguised her voice as that of a goddess—the Crimson Rose. On the verge of death, Marius accepted her offer of life eternal. But what she gave him was a curse. Now immortal, now a vampire, now a puppet to her whims, Marius returned to the world not as a hero… but as Father Renathyr, the Crimson Abbot. Real quick to interrupt, we now have free downloadable D&D cards at the Eternity TTRPG website that you can use at your table. Everything from combat actions to status effects – no more flipping through your book to see exactly what being “Petrified” does to your character. You can just take our graphics, print them out at home, and slap them on your table for fun and easy reference. Grab yours today using the link, below! Now, back to the video. Father Renathyr took over a mountain monastery, corrupted its clergy, and built a religion around his devil’s false divinity. In the village below—Dawn’s Gate—the people tremble under his sermons. Refuse his faith, and you’ll be burned alive. Embrace it, and you may become something far worse. This isn’t just a dungeon crawl. It’s a full-blown crusade to take down a vampire cult… from the inside. The Crimon Monastery is awesome – there’s just so much to it. But let’s start out by saying that Father Renathyr’s not alone. His cult is sustained by three terrifying Priors, each with their own tragic backstory and twisted gifts: There’s Houndmaster Jaeger , Friar Olaf , and perhaps the most terrifying , Inquisitor Cromwell . Each of them appears human at first. But when defeated, their monstrous Night Creature forms are revealed for a brutal second phase. They’re more than lieutenants—they’re potential successors. If you don’t take out all three, the cult might survive… without Renathyr. And then there’s the monastery itself. It’s not just a setting. It’s a trap. The whole thing. The monastery’s walls are made of bloodstone—a cursed material that prevents blood from drying. If you’re wounded, you leave a visible trail, and stealth becomes nearly impossible. All around are red stained-glass windows arranged in rose-petal patterns. They bathe everything in an eerie light. Inside, the rituals are disturbing: bodies bled at the altar, corpses hanging in the Dead Larder, prayers whispered under a false god. Oh—and there’s no sunlight. A blessing from the Crimson Rose means that even magical sunlight won’t harm vampires within these walls. This is their stronghold. You’re not just breaking in to your usual dungeon crawl. With the Crimon Monastery, you’re invading a fortress of the damned. Finally, this story doesn’t end with one death. Kill Father Renathyr without wiping out his Priors? You start a civil war. The survivors fight for control, leading to bloodshed across the region. But what if you expose the truth—that the Crimson Rose is a devil—and show proof to the faithful? You could cause the entire cult to collapse in one dramatic showdown. The townsfolk revolt. The Bloodless turn on each other. The Crimson Monastery falls into ruin. You get to choose the ending. But be warned: leave even one thread intact, and the nightmare may rise again. So, adventurer... if you haven’t picked up the Crooked Moon yet, it might just be time. If you’ve liked what you’ve heard, the Crimson Monastery is only one of many adventures within this beautiful new book. So, let me know what path you’d take in the comments below. Like this video if you love dark, story-rich adventures. Subscribe for more deep dives into the shadowy corners of D&D, and let us know you want us to cover next. Until next time—stay safe, roll high, and never trust a rose without thorns.
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKV7iRcC31c&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Wizards just dropped a bombshell—and no, it’s not another owlbear plushie. We’re finally heading back to the Forgotten Realms with a brand-new DM sourcebook—and it’s got survival horror, urban intrigue, and a ton of iconic locations. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your go-to for all things Dungeons & Dragons—rules, reveals, and Realm-shaking updates. Let’s start with the basics. Adventures in Faerûn is the brand-new Dungeon Master expansion dropping this November, and it's built specifically for the new rules update. That means it plays nice with the shiny new Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide. But unlike previous setting books, this one’s taking a genre-first approach. Instead of just a map and a lore dump, each of the five featured regions is tailored to a unique style of play. Think ‘Baldur’s Gate’ as gritty urban fantasy. ‘Icewind Dale’? Full-on survival horror. Yes please. Here’s the lineup of iconic locales we’re getting tools for: Baldur’s Gate – which you probably know from all our favorite, Baldur’s Gate 3. There’s urban crime, political tension, and maybe a little devilry. Calimshan – from older renditions of the Forgotten Realms Lore. You’ll fine scheming nobles and arcane secrets in an Arabian-Nights-esque setting. The Dalelands – from both 2e and 3e Forgotten Realms lore. This is classic high fantasy with lots of room for heroic sagas. Moonshae Isles – from The Moonshae Isles Regional Guide. It comes with Celtic vibes and druidic magic—great for mystery and folklore campaigns. Icewind Dale – which you can read about in the Legend of Drizzt Novels, by R.A. Salvatore. Here, you can expect Frostbitten survival, isolation, and ancient horrors. Each region comes with new adventure hooks, genre tone guides, and NPC inspiration tailored to the vibe. Real quick to interrupt, we now have free downloadable D&D cards at the Eternity TTRPG website that you can use at your table. Everything from combat actions to status effects – no more flipping through your book to see what exactly being “Petrified” does to your character. You can just take our graphics, print them out at home, and slap them on your table for fun and easy reference. Grab yours today using the link, below! Now, back to the video. Here’s the cool part—some of this material with the Forgotten Realms hasn’t been touched in Fifth Edition. Like, ever. They’re digging into the deeper lore of Faerûn and even pulling some artistic cues from Baldur’s Gate 3. You might recognize a few faces—or infernal contracts—from the game. And while it’s not confirmed, early previews suggest the book might come with poster maps—yes, actual tearaway maps. Which awesome. My table is ready. Adventures in Faerûn officially releases on November 11th, 2025. But—if you pre-order through D&D Beyond or an early-access local game store, you’ll get the digital version weeks in advance. Price isn’t locked yet, but it’ll probably sit around the usual $50 USD mark—same ballpark as Phandelver & Below and Vecna: Eve of Ruin. Now, you know how Wizards rolls: we’ll likely get tie-in minis from WizKids, and there’s a good chance Beadle & Grimm's will cook up one of their deluxe kits—metal coins, props, the works. To wrap it all up, here’s why this book matters: 5e hasn’t had a full Realms guide since 2015’s Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. That’s nearly a decade without a dedicated Realms setting book. With the new rules and player guide dropping alongside it, this feels like Wizards’ attempt to make the Forgotten Realms fresh again—for new players and you experience, veteran gamer-grognards, alike. So, what do you think? Which of the five locations would you run a campaign in first? Is this genre-based format the future of setting books? Drop your take in the comments, smash that like button like it’s a mimic, and subscribe for more D&D news, lore, and spicy takes. Until next time—may your dice roll high and your plot hooks land.
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJt6sfuolo8&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Civilization cut off. The solar system dimming. You’re not a hero—you’re just a soul, caught in the aftermath. Hey everyone! Today we’re unpacking Starset: The Great Dimming—the new 2nd‑edition tabletop RPG by Josiah Mork. It's a gritty, hope‑tinged sci‑fi RPG where ordinary lives shape the story. If you haven’t ever tried out TTRPGs besides D&D, this video is for you. I personally love finding the gems out there, especially from people who have fresh ideas in the RPG space. So, let’s dive into what makes this game truly unique. 1. Life‑Path Character Creation – “Your Story Shapes Your Stats” In most tabletop RPGs, you start by picking numbers—your strength, intelligence, gear, etc. Starset flips that completely. Here, you start with a life path : five origin stories to choose from— Combat , Common , Exploration , Mercenary , or Slave . These aren’t classes. They’re your character’s past. Were they a soldier in a forgotten war? A wanderer searching for hope? A prisoner stripped of identity? Once you’ve chosen, you roll dice to simulate major events in that character’s life. Each result gives you a moral choice , like “Did you steal the food to survive… or go hungry and keep your honor?” Your decision directly affects what skills, alliances, and scars your character carries—and even how old they are by the time the game begins. And yes, it’s possible to die before session one. That's how real and brutal the world of Starset is. You also collect keywords —these are mechanical tags that represent things like trauma, friendships, or defining traits. Some make you stronger. Others are burdens that shape how you grow. Either way, they evolve with you, like emotional milestones that actually change your abilities over time. In short: You don’t make a character—you live them. As creator Josiah Mork put it, this is “ backstory on mega-steroids. ” 2. Simultaneous Action Resolution – “It’s Not Your Turn—It’s Everyone’s Turn” In most tabletop RPGs, combat goes in turns: “You go, then I go, then the monster goes.” Starset changes the entire flow. Here’s how it works: Whenever someone targets you—say, with an attack or a persuasion attempt—that action is delayed until the end of your next turn . That delay is called a Floating Action . It gives you and your allies time to do something about it. Maybe you dodge out of the way. Maybe you talk them down . Maybe your teammate steps in with an assist , giving you a boost. These responses turn every round into a mini strategy session. So instead of sitting there waiting for your next turn, the idea is that you’re constantly engaged. Helping allies. Blocking threats. Choosing whether to defend, or risk it all. Your dice pool —which you use for actions—is also your health . Take a hit, and you lose dice. That means fewer options and more vulnerability next turn. The result? Combat is less “hit and wait” and more like chess with story beats— tactical, interactive, and team-driven. Even the quiet players at the table get a reason to act and shine. 3. Rich, Thought‑Provoking Worldbuilding – “Loneliness Is the Real Enemy” Starset isn’t just dark because it looks cool—it’s dark because it wants to say something. The game is set after a cosmic event collapses the Oort Cloud... did I pronounce that right? The Oort Cloud collapses, cutting off Earth from the rest of humanity. Civilization falls into chaos. Survivors are left scattered, alone, and desperate for connection. Every faction in the game is built around a different solution to loneliness : One turns to faith . Another to techno-utopia . One seeks control through power. Others build tight-knit communities . Each choice has promise… and danger. No side is “right”—they just reflect real human struggles. To support this, the game includes the 8 Edicts of Man , a set of philosophical rules that shape society post-collapse. The setting spans 1,000 years of history , giving Game Masters tons of material—from colony ships in deep space to dying cities on Earth. At the end of every game session, players earn experience not for killing monsters, but by sharing how their character helped others or fought against isolation . It’s a system that rewards empathy, as much as power. So yes, Starset is bleak—but it’s also hopeful. It’s a game about surviving the dark… by reaching for the light. Who Should Play Starset… and Why? So who is this game really for? Starset is for story lovers : If you're the kind of player who enjoys deep, emotional character arcs—where your decisions carry weight and shape your story—Starset was made for you. Every character is a layered person with a past, not just a collection of stats. Starset is for strategic thinkers : Starset rewards thoughtful play. Combat and problem-solving aren't just about rolling high—they're about making smart, team-based decisions. And because you’re always involved—even during someone else’s turn—there’s no dead time at the table. Starset is for sci-fi fans with a philosophical streak : Starset tackles big questions: How do we find connection in a broken world? What do we believe in when everything falls apart? If you love sci-fi that makes you think, you’ll feel right at home. And finally, Starset is for game masters who crave worldbuilding fuel : The game’s setting is rich with lore—factions, history, philosophy, politics. It's all there to spark story hooks, conversations, and custom adventures. Whether you’re building a gritty survival tale or a cosmic morality play, Starset gives you tools to explore both. To summarize, here’s Why Starset Stands Out You don’t just create a character—you live their backstory through interactive choices before the game even begins. The simultaneous action system keeps players engaged and reactive, almost all the time. Which is a fresh change to many D&D battles, if we’re being honest. The world of Starset is dark, yes—but it’s also filled with glimmers of hope , and it challenges you to explore themes like empathy, survival, and belief. And finally, every rule and system is designed to reward meaningful interaction —with the world and each other. The Bottom line? Starset doesn’t ask, “How do you win?” Instead, it asks, “What kind of person will you be when everything falls apart?” Intrigued? You can back it now on Kickstarter or check out the rulebook when it’s available. And lastly, let me know what you think of new game coverage like this, in the comments below. Eternity TTRPG is still feeling out who we are as a channel, so your insight helps me connect you with the content you want most. Until next time!