Vampiric Touch 5e spell

3rd-level necromancy (concentration) · 2024 version below

Casting time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, Up to 1 minute
School: Necromancy
Level: 3
Attack: Melee spell attack
Damage type: Necrotic

The touch of your shadow-wreathed hand can siphon life force from others to heal your wounds. Make a melee spell attack against a creature within your reach. On a hit, the target takes 3d6 necrotic damage, and you regain hit points equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt. Until the spell ends, you can make the attack again on each of your turns as an action.

At higher levels

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.

Vampiric Touch damage by spell slot level

Spell slot level	Damage	Average
3rd	3d6 necrotic	10.5
4th	4d6 necrotic	14
5th	5d6 necrotic	17.5
6th	6d6 necrotic	21
7th	7d6 necrotic	24.5
8th	8d6 necrotic	28
9th	9d6 necrotic	31.5

Averages are the dice’s expected total. Roll any row in the dice roller.

Classes that can cast Vampiric Touch

Class	First available	Spellcasting ability
Warlock spells	5th character level	Charisma
Wizard spells	5th character level	Intelligence

Vampiric Touch in the 2024 rules

The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:

Added to the Sorcerer spell list.

Casting time: Action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
School: Necromancy
Level: 3
Classes: Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Tags: concentration

The touch of your shadow-wreathed hand can siphon life force from others to heal your wounds. Make a melee spell attack against one creature within reach. On a hit, the target takes 3d6 Necrotic damage, and you regain Hit Points equal to half the amount of Necrotic damage dealt.

Until the spell ends, you can make the attack again on each of your turns as a Magic action, targeting the same creature or a different one.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 3.

2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.

Other 3rd-level necromancy spells

Other necrotic spells

Blight 4th level

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