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Raise Dead

Necromancy
Level: 5th-level
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Duration: Instantaneous
Components: V, S, M
Materials: A diamond worth at least 500gp, which the spell consumes.

You return a dead creature you touch to life, provided that it has been dead no longer than 10 days. If the creature's soul is both willing and at liberty to rejoin the body, the creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell also neutralizes any poisons and cures nonmagical diseases that affected the creature at the time it died. This spell doesn't, however, remove magical diseases, curses, or similar effects; if these aren't first removed prior to casting the spell, they take effect when the creature returns to life. The spell can't return an undead creature to life. This spell closes all mortal wounds, but it doesn't restore missing body parts. If the creature is lacking body parts or organs integral for its survival-its head, for instance-the spell automatically fails. Coming back from the dead is an ordeal. The target takes a -4 penalty to all attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks. Every time the target finishes a long rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it disappears.

Spell Details

School: Necromancy
Level: 5
Ritual: No
Concentration: No
Classes: Bard, Cleric, Paladin
S-Tier Essential utility spell that enables permanent resource recovery and counteracts enemy tactics of killing party members.

Player Guide

Raise Dead is a mission-critical spell best cast safely outside of combat after victory or during downtime, as the 1-hour casting time makes it impractical for combat use. Position yourself and the corpse in a secure location, as interruption ruins the spell and wastes the 500gp diamond component. Coordinate with your party about who has access to this spell for strategic resurrection planning, and confirm the target's soul is willing before casting to avoid wasted resources.

DM Tips

Respect the 10-day limit and soul-willingness requirement to maintain meaningful consequences for character death. Remember that returning a creature still requires it to be mostly intact—creative killing methods like disintegration or total incineration can permanently prevent resurrection.