Clone
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 8th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a diamond worth 1,000+ GP, which the spell consumes, and a sealable vessel worth 2,000+ GP that is large enough to hold the creature being cloned)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You touch a creature or at least 1 cubic inch of its flesh. An inert duplicate of that creature forms inside the vessel used in the spell's casting and finishes growing after 120 days; you choose whether the finished clone is the same age as the creature or younger. The clone remains inert and endures indefinitely while its vessel remains undisturbed.
If the original creature dies after the clone finishes forming, the creature's soul transfers to the clone if the soul is free and willing to return. The clone is physically identical to the original and has the same personality, memories, and abilities, but none of the original's equipment. The creature's original remains, if any, become inert and can't be revived, since the creature's soul is elsewhere.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 8th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a diamond worth at least 1,000 gp and at least 1 cubic inch of flesh of the creature that is to be cloned, which the spell consumes, and a vessel worth at least 2,000 gp that has a sealable lid and is large enough to hold the creature being cloned, such as a huge urn, coffin, mud-filled cyst in the ground, or crystal container filled with salt water)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
This spell grows an inert duplicate of a living creature as a safeguard against death. This clone forms inside the vessel used in the spell's casting and grows to full size and maturity after 120 days; you can also choose to have the clone be a younger version of the same creature. It remains inert and endures indefinitely, as long as its vessel remains undisturbed.
At any time after the clone matures, if the original creature dies, its soul transfers to the clone, provided that the soul is free and willing to return. The clone is physically identical to the original and has the same personality, memories, and abilities, but none of the original's equipment. The original creature's physical remains, if they still exist, become inert and can't thereafter be restored to life, since the creature's soul is elsewhere.
Clone 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Clone popularity
How popular is Clone? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell could be a valuable addition for spellbooks.
- Top 25% picked level 8 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all level 8 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Clone
Resurrection 7th-level necromancy
Like Clone, this spell restores a deceased creature without requiring the original body to remain intact.
Players prefer Resurrection over Clone
True Resurrection 9th-level necromancy
Both provide an exceptionally powerful path back from death, with True Resurrection rebuilding the body directly.
Players prefer True Resurrection over Clone
Reincarnate 5th-level necromancy
It also preserves a dead creature’s continued existence by placing its soul in a newly formed body.
Players prefer Clone over Reincarnate
Simulacrum 7th-level illusion
Both are wizard spells that create a lasting duplicate of a creature, though Simulacrum produces an active copy immediately.
Players prefer Clone over Simulacrum
Create Homunculus 6th-level transmutation
A wizard uses it to create a permanent artificial living companion, making it thematically close to Clone’s long-term body creation.
Players prefer Clone over Create Homunculus
Magic Jar 6th-level necromancy
The two necromancy spells prominently involve transferring a creature’s soul between bodies.
Players prefer Clone over Magic Jar