Cheating Death: 5E Resurrection Spells

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While 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons has a reputation for being very player powerful – in that there are so many ways to cheat death or romp through a challenge that should have been harder according to Challenge Rating, sometimes the DM throws a curve ball or a group finds themselves in a challenging campaign. Knowing all the 5E resurrection spells available to your party

The 5E Resurrection spells that can help save a dying party member or NPC or bring them back from the dead are:

  • Spare the Dying (not technically a resurrection spell but it should be included in this list)
  • Revivify
  • Raise Dead
  • Reincarnate
  • Resurrection
  • True Resurrection
  • Wish

Many of these are high level spells or require a great deal of resources to cast, but there are some low level options that will work well for most adventuring parties in any 5E campaign, including one that can frankly be funny and a lot of fun depending how the d100 dice roll.

So let’s dive into all your options for 5E spells that bring back the dead!

5e resurrection spells druid
Druids might not compete with clerics for resurrection spells in 5E, but theirs is certainly the most interesting!

The Best 5E Resurrection Spells

The following list of 5E resurrection spells are listed in order from lowest level to highest level, since this will be the most useful for players. This will help you understand what options are available at each level. Let’s go over each spell, the pros and cons, who can cast it, and by the end you will have a thorough understanding of

Spare The Dying

Spare the Dying technically isn’t a 5E resurrection spell, but it belongs with this group because it can stop a teammate from dying, and at low levels that is as good or better than having to level up and spend the resources to bring them back.

Spare the Dying

Necromancy Cantrip

  • Casting Time: 1 Action
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A living creature that has 0 hit points
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Cleric

You touch a living creature that has 0 hit points. The creature becomes stable. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs.

IMPORTANT: This means that death throws are reset to 0. So if the party member was on 2 failed death saving throws, gets stabilized by spare the dying, then is hit again, they are still alive because the death throws had reset.

The most junior spell on this list, inherently only Clerics know it however this is a spell that can be learned through many other methods including the many feats like Magic Initiate or Artificer Initiate which allow the player to learn cantrips. Even feats like the 5E Shadow Touched Feat can work if the DM rules you can downgrade that 1st level spell learned into a cantrip – which is odd, but if you don’t have any healers in the party it might be worth considering.

I’ve played in multiple campaigns where a quickly thrown spare the dying was crucial to help a downed PC get through a fight or stop their terrible dice rolling from ending them as the battle wound down towards the end.

So while not technically a 5E resurrection spell, it is a spell that can save a character and cut off the need for a more expensive resurrection spell that your party may or may not have access to at that point in the campaign.

Revivify

The lowest level resurrection spell in 5E, Revivify is available relatively early since it’s only a 3rd level spell and while it won’t work if you find a body on the road (unless it’s super fresh) it’s a great spell for combat since very few fights go 10 rounds or more, meaning the time limit on this spell isn’t a major concern in most cases.

Revivify

Necromancy 3rd Level Spell

  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A creature who has died within the last minute
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic, Material (diamonds worth 300 gp, which the spell consumes)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Clerics, Paladins

You touch a creature that has died within the last minute. That creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell can’t return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it restore any missing body parts.

Also called “Resurrection Lite” in our group, it’s a spell that is more than enough for 99% of in-party needs, although that “can’t bring back those who die form old age” is important to note because if you have an Orc or Half-Orc die to the Ghost’s Horrifying Visage ability, that means revivify won’t work on them.

Which brings up a very, very interesting potential situation and/or in-game quest since you can’t cast Greater Restoration on a corpse, which is the only way to cure that Horrifying Visage ability – and you’re on a timeline for that, too.

Talk about a race against time to the nearest city temple with high-level Clerics!

This is a solid take for Clerics or Paladins and can help to give a fallen party member a chance, especially if your group is split up during battle.

Raise Dead

Raise Dead is when you really start getting into the stronger resurrection spells. This spell can work on a dead creature that died within the last 10 days, assuming it doesn’t have a magical curse or is missing body parts that it needs in order to survive.

This spell also opens up the time to 10 days to bring them back, which gives you a lot more time. The 5E Raise Dead spell is more often used on NPCs versus player characters, but can be very useful in multiple circumstances.

Raise Dead

5th Level Necromancy Spell

  • Casting Time: 1 hour
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A dead creature you touch
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic, Material (a diamond worth at least 500 gp, which the spell consumes)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Bard, Cleric, Paladin

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 non-magical 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 – it’s 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.

While the normal suspects of Clerics and Paladins have access to this spell, this is also a 5E resurrection spell bards can use, all without having to use their limited Secret Lore options.

Excellent spell for someone in the party to be carrying so you can bring back a teammate who has been dead longer than expected or finding NPCs who have been killed recently who can come back and tell you what’s going on.

Reincarnate

Reincarnate is one of the most interesting 5e resurrection spells, or at least it was before the variant builds that came from Tasha’s on forward, because it messes with the race of the character and as a result can change the beginning base stats that come with them.

Reincarnation is a natural process, which means this is the only resurrection spell that Druids can throw, and it makes sense that if you have to rely on a Druid to bring back the dead, there’s going to be a twist to it!

Reincarnate

5th Level Transmutation Spell

  • Casting Time: 1 hour
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A dead humanoid or a piece of a dead humanoid
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic, Material (Rare oils and unguents worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Druid

You touch a dead humanoid or a piece of a a dead humanoid. Provided that the creature has been dead no longer than 10 days, the spell forms a new adult body for it and then calls the soul to enter that body.

If the target’s soul isn’t free or willing to do so, the spell fails.

The magic fashions a new body for the creature to inhabit, which likely causes the creature’s race to change. The GM rolls a d100 and consults the following table to determine what form the creature takes when restored to life, or the GM chooses a form.

d100 Race

  • 01-04 Dragonborn
  • 05-13 Dwarf, Hill
  • 14-21 Dwarf, Mountain
  • 22-25 Elf, Dark
  • 26-34 Elf, High
  • 35-42 Elf, Wood
  • 43-46 Gnome, Forest
  • 47-52 Gnome, Rock
  • 53-56 Half-Elf
  • 57-60 Half-Orc
  • 61-68 Halfling, Lightfoot
  • 69-76 Halfling, Stout
  • 77-96 Human
  • 97-00 Tiefling

The reincarnated creature recalls its former life and experiences. It retains the capabilities it had in its original form, except it exchanges its original race for the new one and changes its racial traits accordingly.

Personally, I think this is a great spell and it’s one where as DM in my groups while I’ll allow the variant build options for starting stats so players can mix any number of ability scores with any race they want, if reincarnate comes into play then it resorts to the base stats for that race. This adds a lot more spice to the spell that gets neutered without that rule change post-Tasha’s.

Also, since the dice range for each initial race aren’t even, that leaves rooms to dice up some of those number ranges for races out of Volo’s, Tasha’s, and other books, allowing the DM to mix and match other races into play as they personally see fit.

Resurrection

The true 5E resurrection spells shows up as a 7th level necromancy spell, and this is when the spells that bring back the dead really start pumping up their muscles in 5th Edition.

This is a spell that allows you to bring back a dead creature that didn’t die of old age, isn’t undead, and has been dead up to a century, which is pretty impressive.

Resurrection

7th Level Necromancy

  • Casting Time: 1 hour
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A dead creature that has been dead for no more than a century, that didn’t die of old age, and that isn’t undead
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic, Material (A diamond worth at least 1,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Bard, Cleric

You touch a dead creature that has been dead for no more than a century, that didn’t die of old age, and that isn’t undead. If its soul is free and willing, the target returns to life with all its hit points.

This spell neutralizes any poisons and cures normal diseases afflicting the creature when it died. It doesn’t, however, remove magical diseases, curses, and the like; if such effects aren’t removed prior to casting the spell, they afflict the target on its return to life.

This spell closes all mortal wounds and restores any missing body parts.

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.

Casting this spell to restore life to a creature that has been dead for one year or longer taxes you greatly.

Until you finish a long rest, you can’t cast spells again, and you have disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

This is a spell that can be learned by Bards and Clerics, and while the person brought back is going to need several long rests to get back to speed, and you’ll need one as this is a draining process, it is a possibility to bring back a hero or important person of old.

True Resurrection

True resurrection is basically resurrection on steroids and is the strongest pure 5E resurrection spell in the game. This 9th level spells allows you to bring back a creature that has been dead for up to 200 years, and it lifts all curses, neutralizes any poison, and heals wounds in addition to fixing damaged or missing body parts.

That is powerful, and it will also be draining, but for a Cleric or Druid that can cast 9th level spells, it is definitely worth a look in a high power, high level campaign.

True Resurrection

9th Level Necromancy

  • Casting Time: 1 hour
  • Range: Touch
  • Target: A creature that has been dead for no longer than 200 years and that died for any reason except old age
  • Components: Verbal, Somatic, Material (A sprinkle of holy water and diamonds worth at least 25,000 gp, which the spell consumes)
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Cleric, Druid

You touch a creature that has been dead for no longer than 200 years and that died for any reason except old age. If the creature’s soul is free and willing, the creature is restored to life with all its hit points.

This spell closes all wounds, neutralizes any poison, cures all diseases, and lifts any curses affecting the creature when it died. The spell replaces damaged or missing organs and limbs.

The spell can even provide a new body if the original no longer exists, in which case you must speak the creature’s name. The creature then appears in an unoccupied space you choose within 10 feet of you.

The fact this spell can even create a new body shows just how powerful and reality-altering this spell can be.

Wish

While not technically a pure resurrection spell, Wish can be used in lieu of any lower level spell or can be used to bring someone back, meaning this can be swapped out for every resurrection spell with the exception of True Resurrection. For classes that don’t have a Cleric or Druid, but have wizards, this use of wish might make a lot of sense to have that ability to bring fallen party members back.

Wish

9th Level Conjuration

  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: Self
  • Target: Self
  • Components: Verbal
  • Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard

Wish is the mightiest spell a mortal creature can cast. By simply speaking aloud, you an alter the very foundations of reality in accord with your desires.

The basic use of this spell is to duplicate any other spell of 8th level or lower (NOTE: This covers every resurrection spell in the game with the exception of true resurrection, which is also a 9th level spell). You don’t need to meet any requirements in that spell, including costly components. The spell simply takes effect.

Alternatively, you can create one of the following effects of your choice:

  • You create one object of up to 25,000 gp in value that isn’t a magic item. The object can be no more than 300 feet in any dimension, and it appears in an unoccupied space you can see on the ground.
  • You allow up to 20 creatures that you can see to regain all hit points, and you end all effects on them described in the greater restoration spell.
  • You grant up to ten creatures that you can see resistance to a damage type you choose.
  • You grant up to ten creatures you can see immunity to a single spell or other magical effect for 8 hours. For instance, you could make yourself and all your companions immune to a lich’s life drain attack.
  • You undo a single recent event by forcing a reroll of any roll made within the last round (including you last turn). Reality reshapes itself to accommodate the new result. For example, a wish spell could undo an opponent’s successful save, a foe’s critical hit, or a friend’s failed save. You can force the reroll to be made with advantage or disadvantage, and you can choose whether to use the reroll or the original roll.

You might be able to achieve something beyond the scope of the above examples. State your wish to the GM as precisely as possible. The GM has great latitude in ruling what occurs in such an instance; the greater the wish, the greater the likelihood that something goes wrong. This spell might simply fail, the effect you desire might only be partly achieved, or you might suffer some unforeseen consequence as a result of how you worded the wish.

For example, wishing that a villain were dead might propel you forward in time to a period when that villain is no longer alive, effectively removing you from the game.

Similarly, wishing for a legendary magic item or artifact might instantly transport you to the presence of the item’s current owner.

The stress of casting this spell to produce any effect other than duplicating another spell weakens you. After enduring that stress, each time you cast a spell until you finish a long rest, you take 1d10 necrotic damage per level of that spell. This damage can’t be reduced or prevented in any way. In addition, your Strength drops to 3, if it isn’t 3 or lower already, for 2d4 days. For each of those days that you spend resting and doing nothing more than light activity, your remaining recovery time decreases by 2 days.

Finally, there is a 33% chance that you are unable to cast wish ever again if you suffer this stress.

Wish will normally be used for something else, especially if you have a Bard or Cleric in your party, but it is an option for returning a dead player character or non-player character and so still needs to be included in any list of 5E resurrection spells to bring back the dead.

The Best 5E Resurrection Spells, Concluding Thoughts

Bringing back the dead is a powerful thing, even in worlds full of magic and wonder like Dungeons & Dragons. The good news is that now that you’ve read this blog post, you know everything I’ve learned from years of firsthand games as a player and DM. There’s no question that resurrection spells are interesting, there’s a reason so many bloggers have covered this topic and each taken their own spin on it.

When paired with a decent healer, a few good resurrection spells to bring back fallen party members can help your party be prepared to make a name for themselves in your imaginary world and take their place as heroes and legends of old.

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