Gentle Repose
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action or Ritual
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (2 Copper Pieces, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- 10 days
- Classes
- Cleric, Paladin, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You touch a corpse or other remains. For the duration, the target is protected from decay and can't become Undead.
The spell also effectively extends the time limit on raising the target from the dead, since days spent under the influence of this spell don't count against the time limit of spells such as Raise Dead.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 2nd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action or Ritual
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a pinch of salt and one copper piece placed on each of the corpse's eyes, which must remain there for the duration)
- Duration
- 10 days
- Classes
- Cleric, Paladin, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You touch a corpse or other remains. For the duration, the target is protected from decay and can't become undead.
The spell also effectively extends the time limit on raising the target from the dead, since days spent under the influence of this spell don't count against the time limit of spells such as raise dead.
Gentle Repose 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Gentle Repose popularity
How popular is Gentle Repose? It is a commonly found spell in the game, but is chosen less than other options when available. This spell may be situational for many spellbooks.
- Top 25% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% of all level 2 spells
- Top 50% picked level 2 Wizard spell
- Bottom 25% picked level 2 Cleric spell
- Bottom 10% picked level 2 Paladin spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Gentle Repose
Revivify 3rd-level necromancy
It serves the same life-restoration purpose, though its short time limit makes Gentle Repose especially useful alongside it.
Players prefer Revivify over Gentle Repose
Resurrection 7th-level necromancy
Like Gentle Repose, this spell concerns returning a dead creature to life and is available to clerics.
Players prefer Resurrection over Gentle Repose
True Resurrection 9th-level necromancy
It provides the most powerful form of corpse-independent revival, making it conceptually close despite the much higher level.
Players prefer True Resurrection over Gentle Repose
Clone 8th-level necromancy
Both prepare for death through necromantic means and involve a touch-range safeguard intended to preserve a path back to life.
Players prefer Clone over Gentle Repose
Raise Dead 5th-level necromancy
Both are touch-based necromancy spells closely tied to preserving or restoring a dead creature, with overlapping cleric and paladin access.
Players prefer Raise Dead over Gentle Repose
Reincarnate 5th-level necromancy
This necromancy spell is another touch-based way to bring a dead creature back, sharing the target's long-term recovery theme.
Players prefer Reincarnate over Gentle Repose