Aura of Life

A
Support

Aura of Life is a Support spell. Support spells strengthen, protect, or buff allies.

See all Support spells →
 spell that shields your party from necrotic harm, preserves their vitality, and
revives nearby allies

Aura of Life is a Healing spell. Healing spells restore hit points and bring characters back to life.

See all Healing spells →
 while affecting
multiple allies

Aura of Life is a Multi Target spell. Multi Target spells have an area of effect or can explicitly target multiple allies or enemies.

See all Multi Target spells →
.

2024 Rules
Level & School
4th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric, Paladin

An aura radiates from you in a 30-foot Emanation for the duration. While in the aura, you and your allies have Resistance to Necrotic damage, and your Hit Point maximums can't be reduced. If an ally with 0 Hit Points starts its turn in the aura, that ally regains 1 Hit Point.

2014 Rules
Level & School
4th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self (30-foot radius)
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Classes
Cleric, Paladin

Life-preserving energy radiates from you in an aura with a 30-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. Each non-hostile creature in the aura (including you) has resistance to necrotic damage, and its hit point maximum can’t be reduced. In addition, a non-hostile, living creature regains 1 hit point when it starts its turn in the aura with 0 hit points.

Aura of Life 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The aura now only affects you and your allies, instead of every non-hostile creature, so neutral creatures no longer benefit. The 0 HP healing also changed from any non-hostile living creature to only an ally, and it no longer requires the target to be living.

Aura of Life popularity

Aura of Life is a commonly chosen level 4 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Aura of Life

  • Aura of Purity 4th-level abjuration

    It’s the closest match in level, classes, range and form—both are self-centered auras that protect and aid nearby allies for a short, concentration-limited duration.

  • Death Ward 4th-level abjuration

    Though single-target, it protects a creature from dying effects in a way thematically similar to preventing hit point loss and preserving allies from lethal consequences.

  • Aura of Vitality 3rd-level abjuration

    This aura-based healing spell shares the same self-origin, short-duration concentration usage and is chosen to keep allies alive in the thick of combat.

  • Beacon of Hope 3rd-level abjuration

    It’s a multi-target cleric spell that boosts healing reliability and benefits the whole party while concentrating, making it a common alternative for teams needing sustained support.

  • Aid 2nd-level abjuration

    Aid directly affects hit point totals for multiple allies and is often used for the same tactical goal of bolstering a party’s survivability ahead of danger.