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Necromancy

Necromancy shapes a character's supernatural focus, training, and power set.

Power index

Necromancy Powers

42 powers, grouped by tier. The rules needed for quick reference are shown directly in each row.

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Tier 0

2

Channel grave-cold at one creature within range. Make a ranged power attack. On a hit, the target takes 5 (1d10) necrotic damage and cannot regain hit points until the end of your next turn. Undead hit by this power also have disadvantage on the next attack roll they make before then.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 1d10
Type: Necrotic
Roll: Attack

For the duration, you sense corpses, dying creatures, undead, grave sites, and lingering death-echoes in the emanation that are not behind total cover. You know whether a body is living, dying, dead, undead, or soulless.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Self (30 ft.)
Duration: 10 Minutes
Effect: 30 ft.
Type: Detection

Tier 1

4

Bolster yourself with a thin shell of grave-force. Gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 + your WIS modifier. While you have these temporary hit points, you have advantage on death saving throws.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Self
Duration: 1 Hour
Effect: 1d10 + WIS
Type: Temp HP

Funerary Preparation

Touch one corpse or set of remains. Until the effect ends, the remains do not decay, cannot become undead except by your Necromancy powers, and count as prepared for the next Necromancy power you use on them.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 8 Hours
Type: Rite

Touch a corpse that died within the last day. You hear one brief death-echo: the corpse’s final emotion, final image, final spoken thought, or final injury, chosen by the GM.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 Minute
Type: Divination / Death

Point at one creature you can see within range. The target must make a WIS save, taking 9 (2d8) necrotic damage on a failed save. If the target is missing any hit points, it instead takes 13 (2d12) necrotic damage.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 2d8 / 2d12
Type: Necrotic
Save: WIS

Tier 2

4

Touch one willing creature. For the duration, an inky aura surrounds it. The target has advantage on death saving throws, and once per turn when a creature within 5 ft. hits it with a melee attack, the attacker takes 2d4 necrotic damage.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 Hour
Effect: 2d4
Type: Necrotic

Touch a corpse or other remains. For the duration, the target is protected from decay, cannot become undead except by your Necromancy powers, and days spent under this effect do not count against time limits for returning the target to life.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 10 Days
Type: Rite

Spectral hands grasp one target you can see within range. The target must make a STR save, taking 13 (3d8) necrotic damage and being grappled until the start of your next turn on a failed save, or half damage only on a success. A grappled target can be moved up to 20 ft. horizontally.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: 1 Round
Effect: 3d8
Type: Necrotic
Save: STR

Make a melee power attack against one creature within reach. On a hit, the target takes 16 (3d10) necrotic damage. If the target is dying, undead, or under a death curse, add your WIS modifier to the damage.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Effect: 3d10 + WIS
Type: Necrotic
Roll: Attack

Tier 3

4

Choose a pile of bones or a corpse of a Medium or Small humanoid within range. It becomes an undead creature: a Skeleton if bones, or a Zombie if a corpse. As a bonus action, command any undead created by this power within 60 ft. To maintain control for another 24 hours, use this power on the creature again before the duration ends.

Action: 1 Minute
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 24 Hours
Type: Undead

Corpse Stitching

Touch one corpse or one undead creature you control. A corpse is repaired enough to count as intact for questioning, preservation, animation, or transformation. An undead target you control regains 3d8 hit points and gains advantage on saves against being moved, knocked prone, or turned until the start of your next turn.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Effect: 3d8
Type: Healing / Undead

Create a ghostly sickle that hovers near you. When you use this power and as a bonus action on later turns, make a ranged power attack against one creature within 30 ft. On a hit, the target takes 9 (2d8) necrotic damage, and you gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt.

Action: Bonus Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Self
Duration: Concentration, 1 Minute
Effect: 2d8
Type: Necrotic / Temp HP
Roll: Attack

Speak with Dead

Grant a corpse the semblance of life, allowing it to answer up to five questions. The corpse must have a mouth, must not have been undead when it died, and must not have been targeted by this power within the past 10 days. Answers are brief and limited by what it knew in life.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 10 Minutes
Effect: 5 questions
Type: Divination / Death

Tier 4

4

Bind Restless Spirit

Call and bind the lingering spirit of a dead creature whose corpse or remains are within range. The spirit must answer up to three questions truthfully, though briefly. You may also command it to haunt one creature within 60 ft. of the remains, forcing a WIS save or subtracting 1d4 from the target’s next attack roll or saving throw before the effect ends.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 30 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 10 Minutes
Effect: 1d4
Type: Psychic / Spirit
Save: WIS

Corpse Explosion

When a creature dies or an undead you control is reduced to 0 hit points within range, cause the body to erupt. Creatures of your choice within 10 ft. of the corpse must make a DEX save, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage and 18 (4d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half on a success.

Action: Reaction
Use: At-Will
Range: 120 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 4d8 / 4d8
Type: Necrotic / Acid
Save: DEX

Gravebound Servitor

Choose one prepared corpse or pile of bones within range. It rises as a temporary undead servant bound to a simple task such as guard, carry, dig, retrieve, or follow. It uses the Zombie or Skeleton stat block. It cannot attack unless directly attacked first. When the effect ends, it collapses.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 8 Hours
Type: Undead

Choose up to three undead creatures you control within range. Each target gains 10 temporary hit points and has advantage on saving throws against being turned, frightened, charmed, knocked prone, or controlled by creatures other than you.

Action: Bonus Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: 1 Minute
Effect: 10
Type: Temp HP / Undead

Tier 5

4

Animate up to five Small or Medium corpses you can see within range as Skeletons or Zombies. Each gains a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your WIS modifier. As a bonus action, command all creatures created by this power within 60 ft. If you issue no command, they defend themselves.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 1 Hour
Effect: 5 undead
Type: Undead
Roll: Attack

Negative Energy Flood

Send negative energy at one creature within range. Unless the target is undead, it must make a CON save, taking 27 (5d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half on a success. A humanoid killed by this damage rises as a Zombie at the start of your next turn. If the target is undead, it gains temporary hit points equal to 5d10 instead.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 5d10
Type: Necrotic / Temp HP
Save: CON

Revive a dead creature if it has been dead no longer than 10 days and was not undead when it died. The creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This closes mortal wounds and neutralizes poisons present at death, but does not restore missing body parts. The target suffers a -4 penalty to d20 tests, reduced by 1 after each long rest.

Action: 1 Hour
Use: 1/Long Rest
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Effect: 1 HP
Type: Resurrection

When a humanoid dies within range, trap a soul-fragment. You can exploit the soul up to six times before release: regain 2d8 hit points, ask a brief question and receive a truthful telepathic answer, gain advantage on your next d20 test, or perceive through an invisible sensor in a place the creature saw in life for up to 10 minutes.

Action: Reaction
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: 8 Hours
Effect: 2d8
Type: Soul / Healing

Tier 6

4

Circle of Death

Negative energy ripples from a point within range in a 30-ft. radius sphere. Creatures of your choice in the area must make a CON save, taking 44 (8d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half on a success. Undead you control in the area instead gain temporary hit points equal to your WIS modifier.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 150 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 8d10
Type: Necrotic / Temp HP
Save: CON

Choose up to three Medium or Small humanoid corpses within range. Each becomes a Ghoul under your control. As a bonus action, command any number of undead created by this power within 120 ft. If you give no command, they Dodge and avoid harm. Reuse this power before the duration ends to maintain control.

Action: 1 Minute
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 24 Hours
Effect: 3 undead
Type: Undead

Spirits of dead riders charge from you in a 90-ft. line that is 20 ft. wide. Creatures of your choice in the line must make a WIS save, taking 33 (6d10) necrotic damage and becoming frightened until the start of your next turn on a failed save, or half damage only on a success.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Self (90-ft. line)
Duration: Instant
Effect: 6d10
Type: Necrotic / Fear
Save: WIS

Necromantic Dominion

Your Necromancy powers ignore necrotic resistance from undead and dying creatures. Undead you control add your WIS modifier to saves against being turned, frightened, charmed, or controlled by creatures other than you.

Action: Passive
Use: At-Will
Range: Self
Duration: Permanent
Effect: WIS
Type: Necromancy / Undead

Tier 7

4

Finger of Death

Unleash killing negative energy at one creature within range. The target must make a CON save, taking 65 (7d8 + 30) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half on a success. A humanoid killed by this power rises at the start of your next turn as a Zombie that follows your verbal commands.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 60 ft.
Duration: Instant
Effect: 7d8 + 30
Type: Necrotic
Save: CON

Choose one prepared corpse or pile of bones within range. It rises as an elite undead servant, such as a Wight, Ghast, or other comparable undead chosen by the GM. It obeys your verbal or mental commands. You can have only one Grave Thrall at a time.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 24 Hours
Effect: 1 thrall
Type: Undead

Master Embalming

Perform an advanced mortuary rite on one corpse, set of remains, or undead creature you control. A corpse does not decay, cannot be animated or transformed except by your Necromancy powers, and counts as prepared. An undead target you control gains 30 temporary hit points, resistance to necrotic damage, and advantage on saves against being turned or controlled by others.

Action: 1 Hour
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 30 Days
Effect: 30
Type: Temp HP / Rite

Bind a lingering soul fragment to one corpse, object, or undead creature you touch. While within 120 ft. of the anchor, when a creature you can see drops to 0 hit points, draw a death-echo into the anchor. Before the end of your next turn, you may consume that echo to add 4d8 to a Necromancy damage, healing, or temporary hit point roll.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: 8 Hours
Effect: 4d8
Type: Soul

Tier 8

4

Field of the Unquiet Dead

Create a 40-ft. radius field of restless spirits centered on a point within range. The area is difficult terrain for enemies. When an enemy enters for the first time on a turn or starts there, it must make a WIS save, taking 33 (6d10) necrotic damage and becoming frightened until the start of its next turn on a failed save, or half damage only on a success. Undead you control ignore the terrain.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 120 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 1 Minute
Effect: 6d10
Type: Necrotic / Fear
Save: WIS

Greater Create Undead

Choose up to three Medium or Small humanoid corpses within range. Each becomes a Ghast, Wight, or comparable undead chosen by the GM. They are under your control for the duration. As a bonus action, command any number within 120 ft. Reuse this power before the duration ends to maintain control.

Action: 1 Minute
Use: At-Will
Range: 10 ft.
Duration: 24 Hours
Effect: 3 undead
Type: Undead

Transform a prepared corpse, pile of bones, or mass grave into a stationary necromantic engine occupying a 10-ft. cube. It preserves corpses within 30 ft. and grants undead you control that start within 30 ft. temporary hit points equal to your WIS modifier. As an action while within 120 ft., lash one creature within 30 ft. of it; the target makes a CON save, taking 33 (6d10) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half on a success. Only one Ossuary Engine can be active.

Action: 10 Minutes
Use: At-Will
Range: 30 ft.
Duration: 24 Hours
Effect: 6d10
Type: Necrotic / Temp HP
Save: CON

Summon screaming souls in a 30-ft. radius sphere centered on a point within range. Creatures of your choice in the area must make a CHA save, taking 45 (10d8) psychic damage on a failed save, or half on a success. Once per turn when a creature dies in the storm, one creature you choose in the storm regains 18 (4d8) hit points or gains advantage on its next d20 test before the end of its next turn.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 90 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 1 Minute
Effect: 10d8 / 4d8
Type: Psychic / Healing
Save: CHA

Tier 9

4

Grave Sovereign

Undead you control gain resistance to necrotic damage and add your WIS modifier to initiative rolls. Your Necromancy powers treat necrotic immunity of undead and dying creatures as resistance unless the creature is Artifact-grade, divine, or story-protected.

Action: Passive
Use: At-Will
Range: Self
Duration: Permanent
Effect: WIS
Type: Necromancy / Undead

Legion of the Grave

Choose up to twelve corpses or piles of bones within range. Each rises as a Zombie, Skeleton, Ghoul, or other lesser undead chosen by the GM. They are friendly to you and obey your verbal or mental commands. As a bonus action, issue the same command to any number within 120 ft. When the effect ends, they collapse.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 120 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 1 Hour
Effect: 12 undead
Type: Undead

Perfected Corpse Rite

Perform a supreme mortuary rite on one corpse or set of remains. Choose one: restore it to perfect condition for questioning, animation, or later resurrection; make it an ideal vessel so the next Necromancy power used to animate it creates undead with maximum hit points; or preserve it indefinitely so it cannot decay, be animated, transformed, or destroyed by powers of Tier 8 or lower unless you allow it.

Action: 1 Hour
Use: At-Will
Range: Touch
Duration: Until Dispelled
Type: Rite

Choose up to six creatures within range. Each target must make a CHA save. On a failed save, its soul is partially bound. While bound, it cannot regain hit points, has disadvantage on death saving throws, and the first time it drops to 0 hit points during the duration, you may trap its soul as with Soul Cage or cause it to rise at the start of your next turn as an undead servant for 1 hour.

Action: Action
Use: At-Will
Range: 90 ft.
Duration: Concentration, 1 Minute
Effect: 6 creatures
Type: Soul / Necromancy
Save: CHA

Tier 10

4

Army of the Dead

Call an army of the dead to rise around you. Choose up to fifty corpses, piles of bones, or grave-spaces within range. Each rises as a Zombie or Skeleton, organized into groups or swarms as the GM determines. They obey your verbal or mental commands. When the effect ends, they collapse.

Action: Action
Use: 1/Long Rest
Range: Self (120 ft.)
Duration: Concentration, 10 Minutes
Effect: 50 undead
Type: Undead

Harbinger of the Grave

Declare a legendary necromantic dominion over a graveyard, battlefield, tomb-city, mass grave, or death-haunted region. Corpses do not decay unless you allow it, undead you create there remain loyal unless released, and the dead may whisper truths to you. The dominion can be ended only by Tier 10 sanctification, divine intervention, or a story condition set when used.

Action: Action
Use: 1/Ever
Range: 1 Mile
Duration: Until Dispelled
Effect: Unique
Type: Necromancy / Story
Roll: Varies
Save: Varies

Your soul no longer releases cleanly into death. When you die, your soul clings to a prepared corpse, phylactery, grave-site, or undead servant you designated during a long rest. If that vessel is on the same plane and remains intact, your body reforms there after 1d10 days with all hit points and no equipment. If the vessel is destroyed before you reform, you die normally. You can have only one vessel prepared at a time.

Action: Passive
Use: At-Will
Range: Self
Duration: Permanent
Effect: 1d10 days
Type: Immortality / Death

Untrue Resurrection

Touch a creature that has been dead for no longer than 200 years and did not die of old age. If the soul is free and willing, it returns to life with all hit points, but its creature type becomes undead and it is bound to you by grave-oath. While bound, it is charmed by you and can communicate telepathically with you while on the same plane. It may repeat a WIS save once every 30 days, ending the charm on a success, though it remains undead unless restored by a Tier 10 restoration or story effect.

Action: 1 Hour
Use: 1/Long Rest
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Type: Resurrection / Undead
Save: WIS