Harm

A
Damage

Harm is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
spell that floods one creature with virulent necrotic magic, dealing devastating damage and sapping away its vitality.

2024 Rules

Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

You unleash virulent magic on a creature you can see within range. The target makes a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 14d6 Necrotic damage, and its Hit Point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the Necrotic damage it took. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage only. This spell can't reduce a target's Hit Point maximum below 1.

2014 Rules

Level & School
6th-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V, S
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Cleric
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

You unleash a virulent disease on a creature that you can see within range. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 14d6 necrotic damage, or half as much damage on a successful save. The damage can't reduce the target's hit points below 1. If the target fails the saving throw, its hit point maximum is reduced for 1 hour by an amount equal to the necrotic damage it took. Any effect that removes a disease allows a creature's hit point maximum to return to normal before that time passes.

Harm 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Failed saves no longer leave the target at 1 hit point; the damage can drop it to 0. The hit point maximum reduction is now permanent until healed by other magic, with no 1-hour limit or disease-removal cure. On a success, it’s just half damage.

Harm popularity

How popular is Harm? It is one of the rarest spells in the game, but is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a rare and unique offering.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Harm