Dirge
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 6th-level enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric
Deathly power fills a 60-foot Emanation originating from you for the duration.
When you cast this spell, you can designate creatures to be unaffected by it. Any other creature can't regain Hit Points while in the Emanation.
Whenever the Emanation enters a creature's space and whenever a creature enters the Emanation or ends its turn there, the creature makes a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 3d10 Necrotic damage and has the Prone condition. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and its Speed is halved. A creature makes this save only once per turn.
Casting as a Circle Spell. Casting this as a Circle spell requires a minimum of two secondary casters. If the spell is cast as a Circle spell, it's duration becomes Concentration, up to 10 minutes.
A creature that fails its save against the spell's effect also gains 1 Exhaustion level. While the creature has Exhaustion levels, finishing a Long Rest neeither restores lost Hit Points nor reduces the creature's Exhaustion level.
When the spell is cast, each secondary caster must expend a level 4+ spell slot; otherwise, the spell fails.
Dirge 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Dirge is a new spell for the 2024 edition.
Dirge popularity
How popular is Dirge? 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.
- #2 picked level 6 Bard spell
- Top 50% picked level 6 Cleric spell
- Top 50% of all level 6 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Spells similar to Dirge
Spirit Guardians 3rd-level conjuration
Both create a persistent emanation centered on the caster that repeatedly damages creatures that enter or end their turn there and shapes the area around the caster.
Players prefer Spirit Guardians over Dirge
Hunger of Hadar 3rd-level conjuration
This spell produces a lingering zone that damages and penalizes creatures that move through it, making it tactically similar as an area-denial effect you cast on yourself.
Players prefer Hunger of Hadar over Dirge
Evard's Black Tentacles 4th-level conjuration
Black Tentacles creates a sustained hazardous zone that restrains or impedes creatures while dealing repeated effects, matching the target's role of area control plus ongoing harm.
Players prefer Evard's Black Tentacles over Dirge
Cloudkill 5th-level conjuration
Cloudkill is a moving, persistent damaging cloud that punishes creatures over time and is chosen for controlling battlefield movement much like the target spell.
Players prefer Cloudkill over Dirge
Circle of Death 6th-level necromancy
Circle of Death is a high-level necromantic area-damage option that covers many enemies at once and appeals to casters seeking mass necrotic damage like the target spell.
Players prefer Circle of Death over Dirge