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Reincarnate

Transmutation
Level: 5th-level
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Duration: Instantaneous
Components: V, S, M
Materials: Rare oils and unguents worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes.

You touch a dead humanoid or a piece of a dead humanoid. Provided that the creature has been dead no longer than 10 days, the spell forms a new adult body for it and then calls the soul to enter that body. If the target's soul isn't free or willing to do so, the spell fails. The magic fashions a new body for the creature to inhabit, which likely causes the creature's race to change. The DM rolls a d 100 and consults the following table to determine what form the creature takes when restored to life, or the DM chooses a form.

01-04 Dragonborn 05-13 Dwarf, hill 14-21 Dwarf, mountain 22-25 Elf, dark 26-34 Elf, high 35-42 Elf, wood 43-46 Gnome, forest 47-52 Gnome, rock 53-56 Half-elf 57-60 Half-orc 61-68 Halfling, lightfoot 69-76 Halfling, stout 77-96 Human 97-00 Tiefling
The reincarnated creature recalls its former life and experiences. It retains the capabilities it had in its original form, except it exchanges its original race for the new one and changes its racial traits accordingly.

Spell Details

School: Transmutation
Level: 5
Ritual: No
Concentration: No
Classes: Druid
B-Tier Reincarnate is a powerful out-of-combat resurrection tool with unique mechanics, but its 10-day window, soul-availability requirement, and random new form limit its tactical combat value.

Player Guide

Use Reincarnate as your primary long-term resurrection spell when Raise Dead isn't available or when you want to avoid material component costs. The spell's main tactical advantage is flexibility—position it as a backup plan for fallen allies during extended campaigns, and coordinate with your party to ensure someone can perform it within 10 days of a death. Be aware the reincarnated character may return as a different race with different ability scores, which can dramatically alter their effectiveness; use this either as an interesting roleplay opportunity or strategically pick races that benefit your party's weaknesses.

DM Tips

Reincarnate's random race table (per PHB) can create unexpected party compositions; consider discussing with players beforehand whether you'll allow rerolls or if the randomness is part of the fun. The spell's soul-availability clause is your tool to prevent resurrection in cases where the soul is imprisoned, unwilling, or trapped—use it as a plot hook rather than a simple roadblock.