Death Ward
- Level & School
- 4th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Cleric, Paladin
You touch a creature and grant it a measure of protection from death. The first time the target would drop to 0 Hit Points before the spell ends, the target instead drops to 1 Hit Point, and the spell ends.
If the spell is still in effect when the target is subjected to an effect that would kill it instantly without dealing damage, that effect is negated against the target, and the spell ends.
- Level & School
- 4th-level abjuration
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Classes
- Cleric, Paladin
You touch a creature and grant it a measure of protection from death.
The first time the target would drop to 0 hit points as a result of taking damage, the target instead drops to 1 hit point, and the spell ends.
If the spell is still in effect when the target is subjected to an effect that would kill it instantaneously without dealing damage, that effect is instead negated against the target, and the spell ends.
Death Ward 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
The 2024 version specifies "before the spell ends" for dropping to 0 hit points, clarifying timing; otherwise, mechanics are the same. No significant mechanical differences are present.