Speak with Dead

A
Utility

Speak with Dead is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell that questions the dead for
hidden clues

Speak with Dead is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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 and brief answers from a corpse’s memories.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
10 feet
Components
V, S, M (burning incense)
Duration
10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Wizard

You grant the semblance of life to a corpse of your choice within range, allowing it to answer questions you pose. The corpse must have a mouth, and this spell fails if the deceased creature was Undead when it died. The spell also fails if the corpse was the target of this spell within the past 10 days.

Until the spell ends, you can ask the corpse up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew in life, including the languages it knew. Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are antagonistic toward it or it recognizes you as an enemy. This spell doesn't return the creature's soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level necromancy
Casting Time
Action
Range
10 feet
Components
V, S, M (burning incense)
Duration
10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Cleric

You grant the semblance of life and intelligence to a corpse of your choice within range, allowing it to answer the questions you pose. The corpse must still have a mouth and can't be undead. The spell fails if the corpse was the target of this spell within the last 10 days.

Until the spell ends, you can ask the corpse up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew in life, including the languages it knew. Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy. This spell doesn't return the creature's soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events.

Speak with Dead 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Now also available to Wizards.

Speak with Dead popularity

Speak with Dead is a commonly chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Speak with Dead

  • Speak with Plants 3rd-level transmutation

    It grants long conversation with a non-sentient or non-hostile target to extract information and influence, and is the same spell level and a similar conversational utility.

  • Tongues 3rd-level divination

    Both let you overcome language barriers to converse and gather information from beings you otherwise couldn't communicate with.

  • Sending 3rd-level divination

    This spell also provides a reliable way to communicate and exchange information across distance, filling a similar role of directed interrogation or messaging.

  • Speak with Animals 1st-level divination

    It provides temporary conversational access to a creature type to get knowledge you couldn’t otherwise obtain, making it a close lower-level analogue.

  • Gentle Repose 2nd-level necromancy

    While not conversational, it specifically interacts with corpses and affects what can be learned or done with them, so it pairs conceptually with asking the dead questions.