Difference between revisions of "Animate Dead (spell)"
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'''Animate Dead''' is a spell that raises dead humanoids as either [[Zombie|zombies]] or [[Skeleton|skeletons]], depending on the state of decomposition at the time of animation. If the corpse retains more than 50% of its flesh, it is raised as a zombie; otherwise, it becomes a skeleton. | '''Animate Dead''' is a spell that raises dead humanoids as either [[Zombie|zombies]] or [[Skeleton|skeletons]], depending on the state of decomposition at the time of animation. If the corpse retains more than 50% of its flesh, it is raised as a zombie; otherwise, it becomes a skeleton. | ||
Revision as of 15:40, 12 March 2025
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Animate Dead is a spell that raises dead humanoids as either zombies or skeletons, depending on the state of decomposition at the time of animation. If the corpse retains more than 50% of its flesh, it is raised as a zombie; otherwise, it becomes a skeleton.
| Range | 10 ft. |
| Duration | permanent |
| Area of Effect | 1 hit dice per level |
| Casting Time | 2 rounds |
| Saving Throw | none |
| Level | cleric (3rd) |
Contents
Once animated, the undead conform to their standard forms as they would normally appear in combat. They are mindless, unable to think or act of their own accord, and exist solely to obey the commands of the caster. These creatures remain animated until they are destroyed—either by combat, magic, or other means. All undead, regardless of their number of hit dice (HD), share the same THAC0 of 18, ensuring their combat effectiveness remains predictable. For each hit die, skeletons roll a d6, while zombies roll a d8.
Damage done to a zombie can be restored through cure light, cure serious and cure critical wounds, but not through the heal spell nor through any other means of healing.
Number and Hit Dice
Undead are animated according to their original size, at a limit of one hit die per level of the caster. Thus, a 9th level caster can create 9 hit dice of creatures. Zombies of 1 HD can be raised, though they usually have two. Ordinary skeletons, typically possessing 1 HD +1 hit point (1+1) count as 1 HD. Larger humanoids, standing between 7 and 9 feet tall, when raised have 4 HD, regardless of their form. Giants that are 10 to 15 ft. tall have 8 HD when raised. Larger humanoids have 12 HD.
Soul-drinking
Skeletons or zombies attack have the ability to grow stronger through killing. When dealing out 8 or more damage in a single hit, these creatures permanently add 1 additional hit point to themselves. If this damage also results as a killing blow, the undead creature gains a full hit die, with either 1-6 or 1-8 additional hit points instead of just 1; this does not increase their THAC0, but does have other effects with regards to saving throws of in how they're affected by spells, or their destruction through turning undead.
This "soul-drinking" has no known limitation.
