Summon Undead
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a gilded skull worth 300+ GP)
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 hour
- Classes
- Warlock, Wizard
You call forth an Undead spirit. It manifests in an unoccupied space that you can see within range and uses the Undead Spirit stat block. When you cast the spell, choose the creature's form: Ghostly, Putrid, or Skeletal. The spirit resembles an Undead creature with the chosen form, which determines certain details in its stat block. The creature disappears when it drops to 0 Hit Points or when the spell ends.
The creature is an ally to you and your allies. In combat, the creature shares your Initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you). If you don't issue any, it takes the Dodge action and uses its movement to avoid danger.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. Use the spell slot's level for the spell's level in the stat block.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- 90 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a gilded skull worth at least 300 gp)
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 hour
- Classes
- Warlock, Wizard
You call forth an undead spirit. It manifests in an unoccupied space that you can see within range. This corporeal form uses the Undead Spirit stat block. When you cast the spell, choose the creature’s form: Ghostly, Putrid, or Skeletal. The spirit resembles an undead creature with the chosen form, which determines certain traits in its stat block. The creature disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
The creature is an ally to you and your companions. In combat, the creature shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you). If you don’t issue any, it takes the Dodge action and uses its move to avoid danger.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, use the higher level wherever the spell’s level appears in the stat block.
Summon Undead 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Summon Undead popularity
Summon Undead is one of the rarest level 3 spells in the game. Choosing it will set you apart from all other casters.
- Bottom 10% level 3 Warlock spell
- Bottom 10% level 3 Wizard spell
Spells similar to Summon Undead
Summon Fey 3rd-level conjuration
It’s the same spell level, range, duration, and a summoned creature that fights for you and follows simple commands.
Conjure Constructs 3rd-level conjuration
Like this spell, it creates a temporary allied creature at range that acts on your side and emphasizes action-economy in combat.
Animate Dead 3rd-level necromancy
Both call forth undead allies using necromancy and scale with higher-level slots, making them close mechanical and thematic cousins.
Conjure Animals 3rd-level conjuration
It summons one or more allied creatures to the battlefield for a limited time, providing similar tactical options and positioning choices.
Summon Beast 2nd-level conjuration
A lower-level summoned-companion spell with the same focus on creating a single useful ally that shares your initiative and aids in combat.