Resurrection
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a diamond worth 1,000+ GP, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric
With a touch, you revive a dead creature that has been dead for no more than a century, didn't die of old age, and wasn't Undead when it died.
The creature returns to life with all its Hit Points. This spell also neutralizes any poisons that affected the creature at the time of death. This spell closes all mortal wounds and restores any missing body parts.
Coming back from the dead is an ordeal. The target takes a −4 penalty to D20 Tests. Every time the target finishes a Long Rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it becomes 0.
Casting this spell to revive a creature that has been dead for 365 days or longer taxes you. Until you finish a Long Rest, you can't cast spells again, and you have Disadvantage on D20 Tests.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 7th-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- 1 hour
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S, M (a diamond worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Bard, Cleric
You touch a dead creature that has been dead for no more than a century, that didn't die of old age, and that isn't undead. If its soul is free and willing, the target returns to life with all its hit points.
This spell neutralizes any poisons and cures normal diseases afflicting the creature when it died. It doesn't, however, remove magical diseases, curses, and the like; if such effects aren't removed prior to casting the spell, they afflict the target on its return to life.
This spell closes all mortal wounds and restores any missing body parts.
Coming back from the dead is an ordeal. The target takes a -4 penalty to all attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks. Every time the target finishes a long rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it disappears.
Casting this spell to restore life to a creature that has been dead for one year or longer taxes you greatly. Until you finish a long rest, you can't cast spells again, and you have disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.
Resurrection 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Resurrection popularity
How popular is Resurrection? 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.
- #1 picked level 7 Bard spell
- #3 picked level 7 Cleric spell
- Bottom 50% of all level 7 spells
- Bottom 25% of all 5e spells
Spells similar to Resurrection
Revivify 3rd-level necromancy
This is the emergency, lower-level resurrection that brings someone back with a touch, sharing the same core purpose but with much tighter time and power limits.
Players prefer Revivify over Resurrection
True Resurrection 9th-level necromancy
As the ultimate form of bringing the dead back, it mirrors Resurrection's intent and restrictions but at a higher power tier and broader scope.
Players prefer Resurrection over True Resurrection
Regenerate 7th-level transmutation
Though not a straight resurrection, it is a same-level restorative spell that heals severe wounds and can restore lost body parts, matching Resurrection's recovery aspects.
Players prefer Resurrection over Regenerate
Raise Dead 5th-level necromancy
It's the lower-level version that also restores a dead creature to life and removes death's lingering effects, making it the most direct mechanical relative.
Players prefer Resurrection over Raise Dead
Reincarnate 5th-level necromancy
This alternative revival option also returns a dead creature to life with effects on the body, making it a functionally similar way to fix death's consequences.
Players prefer Resurrection over Reincarnate