The mitotic dance of life and death in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) takes a fascinating turn with Undead spells. These necromantic utilities, ranging from inflicting negative statuses to raising legions of minions, add an intriguing layer of strategy to your magical repertoire. Let's explore the best Undead spells in 5e, categorized for your convenience.
First, a quick brush-up on undead taxonomy for context. Undead creatures are generally classified into broad types like Zombies, Skeletons, Wights, and Wights due to their origin and characteristics. Our spell selection will consider these types to provide a well-rounded guide.
Incantations of Life Drain
This section deals with spells that convert living structures into undead forms, inflicting Negative Energy damage, or directly animating corpses.
Undead are powerful allies, particularly in numerical advantage scenarios. The following two incantations bestow this boon.
Animate Dead
5th level Necromancy
This versatile spell animates a corpse to serve as an undead servant, with varying capabilities based on the target's original form. Zombies and Skeletons are common results, but higher-level corpses can yield Wights or even Wights.
Remember, the corpse must be within 10 feet, and you can control up to 4 HD worth of Undead. Use this strategically to maximize your minion manufacturing.
Simulacrum
7th level Illusion
While not strictly an Undead spell, Simulacrum creates a near-perfect duplicate of a creature, retaining their memories and abilities. With a bit of necromantic tweaking, you can transform the simulacrum into an undead version of the original upon its demise.
This spell requires high-level investment but rewards you with a faithful, high-CR undead ally. Ideal for anchoring your gaming group's undead efforts.
Spells of Noxious Negation
This segment delves into spells that hinder or incapacitate living creatures, essentially nearing them to Undead status.
These incantations provide tactical advantage when facing overwhelming numbers or powerful foes.
Blight: Chill Touch
1st level Necromancy
This cantrip delivers 1d8 necrotic damage and has a chance to inflict level 3 exhaustion on a living creature, making them increasingly ineffective over time.
It's an excellent tool for harassing high-level foes,-use it liberally alongside other damaging cantrips for maximum effect.
Harm
6th level Evocation
Targeted at living creatures, this spell deals 70 (20d6) necrotic damage and has a chance to instantly kill them. Additionally, it banishes celestial creatures and hastens the death of fiends.
Harm is brutal and versatile. Save it for when you need a lethal, desperate measure or to remove dangerous celestial or fiend threats.
Potions of Raising
These spells directly raise fallen allies or foes to the status of Undead, transforming them into temporary or permanent minions.
Frugally use these incantations to counterloop your enemies' tactics or resurrect fallen comrades for a second wind.
Revivify
3rd level Evocation
This spell raises a 0-HP creature to 1 HP with a single hit die, removing all conditions and stabilization effects. It's an essential tool in dire situations, bringing allies back from the brink of destruction.
Revivify's swift casting time (1 action) makes it ideal for high-stakes encounters, so keep it at the ready.
Resurrection
7th level Necromancy
Resurrection is the heavy hitter of Undead spells. It grants full recovery to a deceased creature, plus 1d10 hit points. The creature retains all contingent effects and memories, making it an ideal solution for bringing key allies back into the fold.
Resurrection's high level and expensive cost (300 gp diamond) should be reserved for critical situations, but its potency makes it invaluable when employed judiciously.
Mastery of Undead spells grants you formidable necromantic powers, fueling your campaigns with undead hordes and maneuvering adversaries on the brink of death. Keep these spells at the forefront of your tactical considerations.