Spare the Dying
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- Necromancy cantrip
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 15 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Artificer, Cleric, Druid
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
Choose a creature within range that has 0 Hit Points and isn't dead. The creature becomes Stable.
Cantrip Upgrade. The range doubles when you reach levels 5 (30 feet), 11 (60 feet), and 17 (120 feet).
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- Necromancy cantrip
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Touch
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Artificer, Cleric
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You touch a living creature that has 0 hit points. The creature becomes stable. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs.
Spare the Dying 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Spare the Dying popularity
How popular is Spare the Dying? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.
- Top 10% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% of all cantrips
- Top 50% picked Artificer cantrip
- Top 50% picked Cleric cantrip
- Top 50% picked Druid cantrip
Spells similar to Spare the Dying
Revivify 3rd-level necromancy
Though higher level, it addresses the same life-and-death space by restoring a creature from near or actual death.
Players prefer Revivify over Spare the Dying
Guidance Divination cantrip
As a cantrip available to clerics and druids that supports allies, it mirrors Spare the Dying's utility-level, low-action support role.
Players prefer Guidance over Spare the Dying
Cure Wounds 1st-level abjuration
Both are healer-focused spells used by clerics and druids to restore a creature's vitality in immediate danger.
Players prefer Cure Wounds over Spare the Dying
Healing Word 1st-level abjuration
This spell serves the same on-the-spot rescue purpose at range, letting a caster quickly bring a downed ally back into the fight.
Players prefer Healing Word over Spare the Dying
Gentle Repose 2nd-level necromancy
It interacts with death and corpses in a cleric/necromancy context, making it thematically close to a spell that stabilizes dying creatures.
Players prefer Spare the Dying over Gentle Repose