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 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.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Harm