Speak with Dead 5e
Level 3 Necromancy
Speak with Dead is a level 3 necromancy spell in D&D 5e. Casting time: 1 action, range: 10 feet, duration: 10 minutes. Available to Bard, Cleric.
Casting Time
1 action
Range
10 feet
Duration
10 minutes
Components
V, S, M (burning incense)
You grant the semblance of life and intelligence to a corpse of your choice within range, allowing it to answer the questions you pose. The corpse must still have a mouth and can't be undead. The spell fails if the corpse was the target of this spell within the last 10 days.
Until the spell ends, you can ask the corpse up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew in life, including the languages it knew. Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy. This spell doesn't return the creature's soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events.
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 Speak with Dead and what school does it belong to?
Speak with Dead is a Level 3 spell belonging to the school of Necromancy in D&D 5e.
What are the casting time, range, and duration of Speak with Dead?
Speak with Dead has a casting time of 1 action, range of 10 feet, and duration of 10 minutes.
Does Speak with Dead require concentration or ritual casting?
No, Speak with Dead does not require Concentration. It cannot be cast as a ritual.
Use Speak with Dead in your campaign
Dungeon Manager lets you add Speak with Dead to your characters, reference it during sessions, and track spell slots across encounters — all free.