Protection from Malevolence (spell)

Protection from malevolence provides the recipient with a greater armour class against the weapons and bodily attacks of malicious humanoids and intelligent monsters. For the purpose of the spell, malevolent is defined as having the intentions of causing grievous harm against, or a desire to kill, a combatant; malevolent beings are ill-disposed, spiteful and unnaturally violent.

Protection from Malevolence

Range	touch
Duration	6 rounds per level
Area of Effect	1 creature
Casting Time	1 round
Saving Throw	none
Level	cleric (1st); mage (1st)

Therefore, the spell cannot be used to defend against animals or creatures lacking sense, who cannot distinguish one form of food from another; nor is it an effective spell against someone who is defending themselves, their home or their family, from player characters who are themselves the malevolent party. That said, some creatures, such as the undead or manifestations from the underworld, may always be treated as "malevolent."

Provides protection from creatures with malicious intent against the recipient, improving armour class by 2 points against weapons and 4 points against bodily attacks (such as by claws, bite, horns and so on). The spell also improves the recipient's saving throw by +2 (applying to saving throws against items as well).

When attacking a creature who acts in defense and does not have malicious intent, the recipient does not receive any of these bonuses. The spell is intended to protect, not encourage malevolence in the recipient.