Contagion
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 7 days
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Your touch inflicts a magical contagion. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 11d8 Necrotic damage and have the Poisoned condition. Also, choose one ability when you cast the spell. While Poisoned, the target has Disadvantage on saving throws made with the chosen ability.
The target must repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns until it gets three successes or failures. If the target succeeds on three of these saves, the spell ends on the target. If the target fails three of the saves, the spell lasts for 7 days on it.
Whenever the Poisoned target receives an effect that would end the Poisoned condition, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or the Poisoned condition doesn't end on it.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 5th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 7 days
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
Your touch inflicts disease. Make a melee spell attack against a creature within your reach. On a hit, the target is poisoned.
At the end of each of the poisoned target's turns, the target must make a Constitution saving throw. If the target succeeds on three of these saves, it is no longer poisoned, and the spell ends. If the target fails three of these saves, the target is no longer poisoned, but choose one of the diseases below. The target is subjected to the chosen disease for the spell's duration.
Since this spell induces a natural disease in its target, any effect that removes a disease or otherwise ameliorates a disease's effects apply to it.
Blinding Sickness. Pain grips the creature's mind, and its eyes turn milky white. The creature has disadvantage on Wisdom checks and Wisdom saving throws and is blinded.
Filth Fever. A raging fever sweeps through the creature's body. The creature has disadvantage on Strength checks, Strength saving throws, and attack rolls that use Strength.
Flesh Rot. The creature's flesh decays. The creature has disadvantage on Charisma checks and vulnerability to all damage.
Mindfire. The creature's mind becomes feverish. The creature has disadvantage on Intelligence checks and Intelligence saving throws, and the creature behaves as if under the effects of the confusion spell during combat.
Seizure. The creature is overcome with shaking. The creature has disadvantage on Dexterity checks, Dexterity saving throws, and attack rolls that use Dexterity.
Slimy Doom. The creature begins to bleed uncontrollably. The creature has disadvantage on Constitution checks and Constitution saving throws. In addition, whenever the creature takes damage, it is stunned until the end of its next turn.
Contagion 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Contagion popularity
How popular is Contagion? 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 50% of all level 5 spells
- Top 50% picked level 5 Cleric spell
- Top 50% picked level 5 Druid spell
- Bottom 50% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Contagion
Harm 6th-level necromancy
Both spells are high-level cleric necromancy attacks that use necrotic energy to severely weaken an enemy.
Players prefer Harm over Contagion
Blight 4th-level necromancy
This is another cleric-or-druid-compatible necromancy spell centered on a large burst of necrotic damage against one creature.
Players prefer Blight over Contagion
Bestow Curse 3rd-level necromancy
Both are touch-range necromancy spells that impose a lasting debilitating curse after a saving throw.
Players prefer Contagion over Bestow Curse
Geas 5th-level enchantment
Its long-lasting consequence after a failed save resembles Contagion's unusual emphasis on persistent effects beyond the initial casting.
Players prefer Contagion over Geas
Ray of Sickness 1st-level necromancy
The poison-focused saving throw and harmful disease-like flavor make it a lower-level counterpart to Contagion.
Players prefer Contagion over Ray of Sickness
Negative Energy Flood 5th-level necromancy
It matches the fifth-level necromantic theme and delivers substantial necrotic damage to a chosen target.
Players prefer Contagion over Negative Energy Flood