Animate Dead
Animate Dead is a level 3 necromancy spell in D&D 5e (2024 rules), available to the Cleric, Wizard. Casting time: 1 minute. Range: 10 feet. Duration: Instantaneous.
- Level
- Level 3
- School
- Necromancy
- Casting Time
- 1 minute
- Range
- 10 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- Instantaneous
M (a drop of blood, a piece of flesh, and a pinch of bone dust)
Description
This spell creates an Undead servant. Choose a pile of bones or a corpse of a Medium or Small Humanoid within range. Your spell imbues the target with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an Undead creature. The target becomes a Skeleton if you chose bones or a Zombie if you chose a corpse. On each of your turns, you can take a Bonus Action to mentally command any creature you made with this spell if the creature is within 60 feet of you. If you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one. You decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you've given it. To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to four creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating a new one.
At Higher Levels
You animate or reassert control over two additional Undead creatures for each spell slot level above 3.
Classes that can cast Animate Dead
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