V, S, M (A diamond worth at least 500 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Necromancy
Level
5
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.
How Raise Dead plays
You spend an hour with a body that has been dead for no more than 10 days, and consume a diamond worth at least 500 gp. If the soul is willing and free to return, the creature comes back to life with 1 hit point. The spell closes mortal wounds and neutralizes poisons and ordinary diseases that were on the creature when it died.
It has three hard limits. It doesn’t restore missing body parts, so if the head or another vital organ is gone, the spell fails. It doesn’t lift curses or magical diseases, which come back with the creature. And it can’t work on an undead creature. The returned character also takes a −4 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws and ability checks, which drops by 1 each time they finish a long rest.
When to pick Raise Dead
Clerics and bards should keep it available from 9th level, and carry a 500 gp diamond. Paladins can cast it too once they have 5th-level slots, at 17th level.
It’s the slow backup to Revivify. Revivify only works within a minute of death; Raise Dead covers the character you couldn’t reach in time or had to carry out of the dungeon.
Plan around the penalty. Four long rests of −4 to nearly every roll is a real cost. If you can, raise the character and rest before the next big fight.
Common questions
How long after death can Raise Dead work?
Up to 10 days. Gentle Repose stops the clock: days spent under it don’t count against the limit, so a 2nd-level spell can buy weeks for the party to find a diamond or a cleric.
What does the −4 penalty affect?
All attack rolls, saving throws and ability checks. Each long rest reduces it by 1, so it’s gone after four long rests.
Can Raise Dead bring back someone who lost their head?
No. It closes wounds but doesn’t restore missing body parts, and if a part the creature needs to live is missing, the spell fails. Resurrection restores missing parts.
Can Raise Dead return a creature that became undead?
No. The spell can’t return an undead creature to life, so a friend who has become a zombie or a vampire spawn has to be destroyed before anyone tries to bring them back.
What if the soul doesn’t want to come back?
Then the spell fails. The soul has to be both willing and free to return, so a character who has moved on happily, or whose soul is trapped, can’t be raised this way.
Does the diamond get used up?
Yes. It must be worth at least 500 gp, and the spell consumes it. Keep a spare if you can: the diamond is often harder to find than the cleric.
Raise Dead compared with other ways to return the dead
The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:
Same level, casting time, range, components, duration and dice; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.
Casting time
1 hour
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (a diamond worth 500+ GP, which, the spell consumes)
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Necromancy
Level
5
Classes
Bard, Cleric, Paladin
With a touch, you revive a dead creature if it has been dead no longer than 10 days and it wasn't Undead when it died.
The creature returns to life with 1 Hit Point. This spell also neutralizes any poisons that affected the creature at the time of death.
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 D20 Tests. Every time the target finishes a Long Rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it becomes 0.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
