V, S, M (Snow or ice in quantities sufficient to made a life-size copy of the duplicated creature; some hair, fingernail clippings, or other piece of that creature's body placed inside the snow or ice; and powdered ruby worth 1,500 gp, sprinkled over the duplicate and consumed by the spell)
Duration
Until dispelled
School
Illusion
Level
7
You shape an illusory duplicate of one beast or humanoid that is within range for the entire casting time of the spell. The duplicate is a creature, partially real and formed from ice or snow, and it can take actions and otherwise be affected as a normal creature. It appears to be the same as the original, but it has half the creature's hit point maximum and is formed without any equipment. Otherwise, the illusion uses all the statistics of the creature it duplicates.
The simulacrum is friendly to you and creatures you designate. It obeys your spoken commands, moving and acting in accordance with your wishes and acting on your turn in combat. The simulacrum lacks the ability to learn or become more powerful, so it never increases its level or other abilities, nor can it regain expended spell slots.
If the simulacrum is damaged, you can repair it in an alchemical laboratory, using rare herbs and minerals worth 100 gp per hit point it regains. The simulacrum lasts until it drops to 0 hit points, at which point it reverts to snow and melts instantly.
If you cast this spell again, any currently active duplicates you created with this spell are instantly destroyed.
How Simulacrum plays
Over a 12-hour casting, you shape a duplicate of a beast or humanoid out of snow or ice, with a piece of the original inside and 1,500 gp of powdered ruby sprinkled over it. The original has to stay within reach for the whole casting. The result is a creature that looks exactly like the original and has all its statistics, except that it has half its hit point maximum and none of its equipment.
The simulacrum is friendly to you and creatures you choose, obeys your spoken commands, and acts on your turn. It can’t learn, gain levels or regain spell slots it spends. It lasts until it drops to 0 hit points, when it melts, and casting the spell again destroys the one you already have.
When to pick Simulacrum
Wizards at 13th level with gold to spare. The most common use is a copy of yourself: a second you with all your spells and slots, fighting beside you.
Copy a strong ally or monster instead: a fighter or a giant beast with half its hit points still hits just as hard.
Spend its slots wisely. A simulacrum of a caster never gets its spell slots back, so every one it uses is gone for good.
Common questions
Can I make a simulacrum of myself?
Yes. You’re a humanoid within range for the whole casting, so you can copy yourself. The copy has your spells and spell slots, at half your hit point maximum.
Does a simulacrum regain spell slots?
No. It starts with the original’s spell slots but can never regain any it spends, and it never gains levels.
Does the simulacrum have my magic items?
No. It’s formed without any equipment. You can hand it gear afterwards, but it would need to attune to items that require attunement.
How do you heal a simulacrum?
The spell gives one method: repair it in an alchemical laboratory with herbs and minerals worth 100 gp per hit point. Whether ordinary healing spells work too is up to the DM; the 2024 version says repair is the only way.
Can I have more than one simulacrum?
Not from your own castings. Casting Simulacrum again instantly destroys every duplicate you made with it before.
Can Wish cast Simulacrum?
Yes. Wish can duplicate any spell of 8th level or lower with no components, so it skips the 12-hour casting and the 1,500 gp of ruby.
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
12 hours
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (powdered ruby worth 1,500+ GP,, which the spell consumes)
Duration
Until dispelled
School
Illusion
Level
7
Classes
Wizard
You create a simulacrum of one Beast or Humanoid that is within 10 feet of you for the entire casting of the spell. You finish the casting by touching both the creature and a pile of ice or snow that is the same size as that creature, and the pile turns into the simulacrum, which is a creature. It uses the game statistics of the original creature at the time of casting, except it is a Construct, its Hit Point maximum is half as much, and it can't cast this spell.
The simulacrum is Friendly to you and creatures you designate. It obeys your commands and acts on your turn in combat. The simulacrum can't gain levels, and it can't take Short or Long Rests.
If the simulacrum takes damage, the only way to restore its Hit Points is to repair it as you take a Long Rest, during which you expend components worth 100 GP per Hit Point restored. The simulacrum must stay within 5 feet of you for the repair.
The simulacrum lasts until it drops to 0 Hit Points, at which point it reverts to snow and melts away. If you cast this spell again, any simulacrum you created with this spell is instantly destroyed.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
