Can You Heal Undead in D&D?
In the world of Dungeons and Dragons, death is not the end. Undead creatures, such as zombies, skeletons, and liches, can be revived and healed, but only under certain circumstances. In this article, we’ll explore the rules and possibilities of healing undead in D&D.
Can Undead Be Revived?
Unlike many video games, undead in D&D are not resistant to being healed. Cure Wounds, a common healing spell, will revive an undead character’s health just as much as a regular, living person. This means that, with the right spell and circumstances, it is possible to bring an undead creature back to life.
How to Heal Undead
There are several ways to heal undead creatures in D&D. Here are a few methods:
- Cure Wounds: As mentioned earlier, Cure Wounds is a common healing spell that can be used to revive an undead creature.
- Temporary HP: Undead creatures can receive temporary hit points through various means, such as magical items, spells, or abilities.
- Short and Long Rests: Undead creatures can use short and long rests to recover from injuries and regain health.
- Inspiring Leader: The Inspiring Leader feat allows a character to inspire their allies, including undead creatures, to fight on and recover from injuries.
Necrotic Damage
Necrotic damage is a type of damage that is particularly deadly to undead creatures. While undead creatures are resistant to certain types of damage, necrotic damage can still be deadly. Fortunately, there are ways to heal necrotic damage, including the use of certain spells and abilities.
Death Rules
When a character dies, they become unconscious and near death. Each round on their turn, they must make a Fortitude save (DC 10, +1 per turn after the first) to become stable. If they fail the save, they die. If they succeed on the save by less than 5, they do not die but do not improve.
Avoiding Death
There are several ways to avoid death in D&D, including:
- Magical Spells: Spells such as Death Ward, which protects a character from death for up to eight hours, can be used to avoid death.
- Healing Spells: Spells such as Cure Wounds and Prayer of Healing can be used to restore a character’s health and avoid death.
- Temporary HP: Temporary hit points can be used to absorb damage and avoid death.
- Short and Long Rests: Short and long rests can be used to recover from injuries and avoid death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to heal undead creatures in D&D, but it requires careful planning and execution. By using the right spells, abilities, and circumstances, it is possible to revive and heal undead creatures. Remember to always follow the rules and consult with your DM to ensure that your character’s undead revival is done in a way that is fair and balanced.
Table: Healing Undead
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Cure Wounds | A common healing spell that can be used to revive an undead creature |
| Temporary HP | Undead creatures can receive temporary hit points through various means |
| Short and Long Rests | Undead creatures can use short and long rests to recover from injuries |
| Inspiring Leader | The Inspiring Leader feat allows a character to inspire their allies, including undead creatures, to fight on and recover from injuries |
Table: Avoiding Death
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Magical Spells | Spells such as Death Ward can be used to avoid death |
| Healing Spells | Spells such as Cure Wounds and Prayer of Healing can be used to restore a character’s health and avoid death |
| Temporary HP | Temporary hit points can be used to absorb damage and avoid death |
| Short and Long Rests | Short and long rests can be used to recover from injuries and avoid death |