Bestow Curse
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You touch a creature, which must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become cursed for the duration. Until the curse ends, the target suffers one of the following effects of your choice:
- Choose one ability. The target has Disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws made with that ability.
- The target has Disadvantage on attack rolls against you.
- In combat, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns or be forced to take the Dodge action on that turn.
- If you deal damage to the target with an attack roll or a spell, the target takes an extra 1d8 Necrotic damage.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. If you cast this spell using a level 4 spell slot, you can maintain Concentration on it for up to 10 minutes. If you use a level 5+ spell slot, the spell doesn't require Concentration, and the duration becomes 8 hours (level 5-6 slot) or 24 hours (level 7-8 slot). If you use a level 9 spell slot, the spell lasts until dispelled.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You touch a creature, and that creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become cursed for the duration of the spell. When you cast this spell, choose the nature of the curse from the following options:
- Choose one ability score. While cursed, the target has disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws made with that ability score.
- While cursed, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls against you.
- While cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. If it fails, it wastes its action that turn doing nothing.
- While the target is cursed, your attacks and spells deal an extra 1d8 necrotic damage to the target.
A remove curse spell ends this effect. At the DM's option, you may choose an alternative curse effect, but it should be no more powerful than those described above. The DM has final say on such a curse's effect.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration is concentration, up to 10 minutes. If you use a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the duration is 8 hours. If you use a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the duration is 24 hours. If you use a 9th level spell slot, the spell lasts until it is dispelled. Using a spell slot of 5th level or higher grants a duration that doesn't require concentration.
Bestow Curse 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Bestow Curse popularity
How popular is Bestow Curse? It is a commonly found spell in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a reliable addition to any spellbook.
- Top 25% of all level 3 spells
- Top 50% picked level 3 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% picked level 3 Bard spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Cleric spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Bestow Curse
Hex 1st-level enchantment
Both place a lingering curse on one creature, hinder a chosen ability, and can add necrotic damage when the target is attacked.
Players prefer Hex over Bestow Curse
Bane 1st-level enchantment
Both rely on a saving throw and impose ongoing penalties that make the afflicted creature less effective in combat.
Players prefer Bane over Bestow Curse
Blindness/Deafness 2nd-level transmutation
A failed saving throw leaves one enemy impaired for an extended duration without requiring concentration.
Players prefer Blindness/Deafness over Bestow Curse
Ray of Enfeeblement 2nd-level necromancy
This is another necromantic concentration spell that weakens a single enemy for about a minute.
Players prefer Bestow Curse over Ray of Enfeeblement
Crown of Madness 2nd-level enchantment
The spells occupy a similar niche by forcing a failed-save enemy into disadvantageous combat behavior while concentration is maintained.
Players prefer Bestow Curse over Crown of Madness
Enemies Abound 3rd-level enchantment
Both are third-level, single-target-oriented control effects that use a saving throw and persist for roughly a minute with concentration.
Players prefer Bestow Curse over Enemies Abound