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Create Undead 5e

Level 6 Necromancy

Create Undead is a level 6 necromancy spell in D&D 5e. Casting time: 1 minute, range: 10 feet, duration: Instantaneous. Available to Cleric, Warlock, Wizard.

Casting Time

1 minute

Range

10 feet

Duration

Instantaneous

Components

V, S, M (one clay pot filled with grave dirt, one clay pot filled with brackish water, and one 150 gp black onyx stone for each corpse)

Necromancy Level 6

You can cast this spell only at night. Choose up to three corpses of Medium or Small humanoids within range. Each corpse becomes a ghoul under your control. (The GM has game statistics for these creatures.)

As a bonus action on each of your turns, you can mentally command any creature you animated with this spell if the creature is within 120 feet of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.

The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you have given it. To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a 7th-level spell slot, you can animate or reassert control over four ghouls. When you cast this spell using an 8th-level spell slot, you can animate or reassert control over five ghouls or two ghasts or wights. When you cast this spell using a 9th-level spell slot, you can animate or reassert control over six ghouls, three ghasts or wights, or two mummies.

Material Components one clay pot filled with grave dirt, one clay pot filled with brackish water, and one 150 gp black onyx stone for each corpse
Classes Cleric, Warlock, Wizard

Spellcasting & Tactical Insights

Action Economy

Standard Action • Primary turn investment.

Concentration

No Concentration • Safe to stack with persistent effects.

School Role

Necromancy: Manipulates life, death, and vitality. Inflicts status effects, drains hit points, or animates undead minions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What level spell is Create Undead and what school does it belong to?

Create Undead is a Level 6 spell belonging to the school of Necromancy in D&D 5e.

What are the casting time, range, and duration of Create Undead?

Create Undead has a casting time of 1 minute, range of 10 feet, and duration of Instantaneous.

Does Create Undead require concentration or ritual casting?

No, Create Undead does not require Concentration. It cannot be cast as a ritual.

Use Create Undead in your campaign

Dungeon Manager lets you add Create Undead to your characters, reference it during sessions, and track spell slots across encounters — all free.