Vampiric Touch
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
The touch of your shadow-wreathed hand can siphon life force from others to heal your wounds. Make a melee spell attack against one creature within reach. On a hit, the target takes 3d6 Necrotic damage, and you regain Hit Points equal to half the amount of Necrotic damage dealt.
Until the spell ends, you can make the attack again on each of your turns as a Magic action, targeting the same creature or a different one.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 3.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 3rd-level necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 minute
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
The touch of your shadow-wreathed hand can siphon life force from others to heal your wounds. Make a melee spell attack against a creature within your reach. On a hit, the target takes 3d6 necrotic damage, and you regain hit points equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt. Until the spell ends, you can make the attack again on each of your turns as an action.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.
Vampiric Touch 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Vampiric Touch popularity
How popular is Vampiric Touch? 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% picked level 3 Wizard spell
- Top 50% of all level 3 spells
- Top 50% picked level 3 Sorcerer spell
- Top 50% picked level 3 Warlock spell
- Top 50% of all 5e spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Vampiric Touch
Hex 1st-level enchantment
The spell shares necrotic damage, concentration, class overlap, and a focus on maintaining pressure against one target over multiple turns.
Players prefer Hex over Vampiric Touch
Witch Bolt 1st-level evocation
Its concentration duration and repeated attacks against a chosen target create a very similar sustained-damage rhythm.
Players prefer Vampiric Touch over Witch Bolt
Spirit Shroud 3rd-level necromancy
Both are self-centered, concentration-based combat spells that reward staying close to enemies and dealing repeated damage.
Players prefer Vampiric Touch over Spirit Shroud
Life Transference 3rd-level necromancy
Both are third-level necromancy spells that connect damaging magic with restoring hit points, though this one sacrifices the caster's health instead.
Players prefer Vampiric Touch over Life Transference
Enervation 5th-level necromancy
It is a concentration necromancy spell that repeatedly deals necrotic damage while restoring the caster's hit points.
Players prefer Vampiric Touch over Enervation
Shadow Blade 2nd-level illusion
This is another self-cast concentration spell built around making recurring attacks at close range.
Players prefer Vampiric Touch over Shadow Blade