Spell Reference All Spells

March of the Dead

3rd-level · Necromancy

Source Warlock Zine

Casting Time
1 Minute
Range
50 feet
Duration
Instantaneous
Components
V, S, M
Source Information
Combat Reference
Target
1 creature
Description

This spell animates the recently dead to remove them from a battlefield. Choose one corpse of a Medium or Small humanoid per level of the caster (within range). Your spell imbues the targets with an animating spirit, raising them as construct creatures similar in appearance to flesh golems, though with the strength and abilities of zombies. Dwarves use this to return the bodies of the fallen to clan tombs and to deny the corpses the foul attention of ghouls, necromancers, and similar foes. On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command all the creatures you made with this spell if the creatures are within 60 feet of you. You decide what action the creatures will take and where they will move during the next day; you cannot command them to guard. If you issue no commands, the creatures only defend themselves against hostile creatures. Once given an order and direction of march, the creatures continue to follow it until they arrive at the destination you named or until 24 hours have elapsed when the spell ends and the corpses fall lifeless once more. To tell creatures to move for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creatures again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to 50 creatures you have animated with this spell rather than animating a new one.

At Higher Levels

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you animate or reassert control over two additional construct creatures for each slot level above 3rd (two creatures/level at 4th, three creatures/level at 5th). Each of the creatures must come from a different corpse.

About March of the Dead

March of the Dead is a Level 3 level spell from the school of Necromancy.

This spell has a casting time of 1minute , and a range of 50.0 ft (15.2 m) . It has a duration of Instantaneous.

Spell Details

Complete details

Complete details about this spell:

  • At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you animate or reassert control over two additional construct creatures for each slot level above 3rd (two creatures/level at 4th, three creatures/level at 5th).

Casting Tips

1 tips

Consider these tips when casting this spell:

  • Tactical Use: Mid-tier spell with significant tactical impact. Great for resource management challenges.

School of Magic: Necromancy

Learn more

Necromancy spells manipulate life force, death, and the undead.

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