Speak with Dead
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
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
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, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
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
Speak with Dead popularity
How popular is Speak with Dead? It is a commonly found spell in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a reliable addition to any spellbook.
- Top 25% of all level 3 spells
- Top 25% picked level 3 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
- Top 50% picked level 3 Bard spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Cleric spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Speak with Dead
Commune 5th-level divination
Each lets the caster ask a limited number of questions to obtain supernatural guidance or facts.
Players prefer Commune over Speak with Dead
Speak with Animals 1st-level divination
Like the target, it grants the ability to question a creature that normally cannot communicate with the party.
Players prefer Speak with Animals over Speak with Dead
Speak with Plants 3rd-level transmutation
The spells enable a timed conversation with an otherwise unconventional nonhuman source of knowledge.
Players prefer Speak with Plants over Speak with Dead
Sending 3rd-level divination
Both center on magical communication and exchanging information across otherwise impossible conversational barriers.
Players prefer Speak with Dead over Sending
Clairvoyance 3rd-level divination
This spell also serves investigative purposes by granting access to information beyond the caster's immediate perception.
Players prefer Speak with Dead over Clairvoyance
Divination 4th-level divination
Both are question-based magical investigations that provide information unavailable through ordinary senses.
Players prefer Speak with Dead over Divination