Finger of Death
- Level & School
- 7th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
You unleash negative energy toward a creature you can see within range. The target makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 7d8 + 30 Necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
A Humanoid killed by this spell rises at the start of your next turn as a Zombie that follows your verbal orders.
- Level & School
- 7th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
You send negative energy coursing through a creature that you can see within range, causing it searing pain. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. It takes 7d8 + 30 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
A humanoid killed by this spell rises at the start of your next turn as a zombie that is permanently under your command, following your verbal orders to the best of its ability.
Finger of Death 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Both versions deal 7d8 + 30 necrotic damage on a failed save, half on success, with an instantaneous duration. The 2024 version clarifies "unleash negative energy" and "a Humanoid" (capitalized), but no mechanical differences in damage, saving throw, or resurrection effects are present.
Spells similar to Finger of Death
Harm, 6th-level necromancy
A high-level necromancy spell that deals a huge burst of necrotic damage to a single creature at range, making it a close functional analogue.Power Word Kill, 9th-level enchantment
Both are high-tier finishers that can outright remove a creature and are chosen when you want a decisive, lethal effect.Create Undead, 6th-level necromancy
It shares the undead-creation angle, turning victims or constructs into servants as part of a necromancer’s toolkit.Disintegrate, 6th-level transmutation
This spell is a single-target, high-damage finisher at a similar power tier and is often picked for killing or incapacitating tough foes.Circle of Death, 6th-level necromancy
A necromantic burst that deals large necrotic damage to multiple targets, serving a similar damage-first combat role but on an area scale.