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.
  
 
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| level = [[Cleric 3rd Level Spells|cleric (3rd)]]
 
| level = [[Cleric 3rd Level Spells|cleric (3rd)]]
 
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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|hit dice]] (HD), share the same [[THAC0]] of 18, ensuring their combat effectiveness remains predictable. For each [[Hit Points per Die|hit die]], skeletons roll a d6, while zombies roll a d8.
  
Raises dead humanoids as either [[Zombie|zombies]] or [[Skeleton|skeletons]], depending upon the state of the dead at the time of raising. If the creature retains more than 50% of its body flesh, it will be raised as a zombie; otherwise, as a skeleton.
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[[Damage (hit points)|Damage]] done to a zombie can be restored through [[Cure Light Wounds (spell)|cure light]], [[Cure Serious Wounds (spell)|cure serious]] and [[Cure Critical Wounds (spell)|cure critical wounds]], but not through the [[Heal (spell)|heal spell]] nor through any other means of [[Healing|healing]].
  
The zombie or skeleton raised will conform to the creature as normally encountered.
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== Number and Hit Dice ==
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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.
  
Animated undead will obey the commands of the caster, and cannot think or act on their own accord. The creatures will exist until they are destroyed.
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== Soul-drinking ==
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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 [[Turn Undead (sage ability)|turning undead]].
  
The cleric cannot create more hit dice (HD) than he or she has levels, even though the spell may become available again; each day, however, lost undead may be replaced if the spell is reused. Note that bodies that have been [[Burial (sage ability)|buried]] by a priest cannot be transformed into undead.
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This "soul-drinking" has no known limitation.
  
Undead created from man-sized humanoids or smaller, regardless of what they were in life, will have 1 HD when raised. Undead created from humanoids between 7 and 9 feet tall will have 4 HD. Undead created from humanoids between 10 and 15 feet tall will have 8 HD. The spell will not raise humanoids larger than 15 feet in height.
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[[Category: Clerical Spells]][[Category: Reviewed]]
 
 
Large undead, those with 4 HD, will cause double the damage of ordinary forms. Huge undead will cause triple the damage. All undead, regardless of their size, have a [[THAC0]] of 18.
 
 
 
All skeletons have d6 [[Hit Points|hit points]] (h.p.) per HD. Zombies have d8 h.p. per die.
 
 
 
If the undead creature succeeds in killing a living humanoid, causing at least 8 h.p. to the victim prior to its death, then the skeleton or zombie will gain 1 HD permanently.  Thus a 2 HD zombie could become a 3 HD zombie, or more, through killing.  The maximum number of HD that can be gained will equal the level of the caster at the time when the skeleton or undead was animated.  Regardless of their number of HD, all skeletons and zombies are [[Turn Undead|turned]] with the same success.
 
 
 
The living beings that are killed must possess a minimum of 1 HD.
 
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Latest revision as of 15:51, 12 March 2025

Animate Dead (spell).jpg

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.

Animate Dead
Range 10 ft.
Duration permanent
Area of Effect 1 hit dice per level
Casting Time 2 rounds
Saving Throw none
Level cleric (3rd)

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.