Which Classes Get Animate Dead?
In the world of fantasy role-playing games, magic and the undead are often intertwined. Animate Dead is a popular 3rd-level necromancy spell that allows wizards to bring the dead back to life. But which classes can learn and cast this spell? In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question.
Direct Answer
According to the official 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) rulebook, Animate Dead is a spell available to two classes: Cleric and Wizard. However, there are some exceptions and special cases that we’ll discuss later in this article.
Cleric
Clerics are devoted followers of a higher power, and as such, they have access to a range of magical abilities, including Animate Dead. Clerics can learn the spell at 5th level and use it to bring the dead back to life. Animate Dead is particularly useful for clerics who serve patrons or deities associated with death or the afterlife.
Wizard
Wizards, on the other hand, are masters of arcane magic and have access to a wide range of spells, including Animate Dead. Wizards can learn the spell at 3rd level and use it to add undead minions to their arsenal.
Exceptions and Special Cases
While Clerics and Wizards are the only classes that can learn Animate Dead through the standard spellcasting system, there are some exceptions and special cases worth mentioning:
- Warlocks: Warlocks can access a variation of Animate Dead as a 6th-level Eldritch Invocation, called Create Undead. This spell allows warlocks to bring the dead back to life as undead minions.
- Bard: Bards are jack-of-all-trades, and while they don’t have direct access to Animate Dead, they can learn the spell through the "Scribe Scroll" feature.
Table: Classes that can cast Animate Dead
| Class | Level | Access Method |
|---|---|---|
| Cleric | 5th | Standard Spellcasting |
| Wizard | 3rd | Standard Spellcasting |
| Warlock | 6th | Eldritch Invocation (Create Undead) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Animate Dead is a powerful and fascinating spell, it’s only available to Clerics and Wizards through the standard spellcasting system. However, Warlocks can access a variation of the spell through Eldritch Invocation, and Bards can learn the spell through the "Scribe Scroll" feature.