False Life
Level 1 · Necromancy
- Buff
False Life (sorcerer and wizard) casts from a 1st-level slot in the necromancy school. Cast time: Action. Range Self, components V/S/M, duration instantaneous. Material: a drop of alcohol. At higher levels: You gain 5 additional Temporary Hit Points for each spell slot level above 1.
Stat Block
- Level
- 1
- School
- Necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Sorcerer, Wizard
- Material
- a drop of alcohol
Description
You gain 2d4 + 4 Temporary Hit Points.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
The Necromancy tradition carries narrative weight whether the caster wants it or not. NPCs notice; the church notices; the dead notice. The Necromancy school is the right home for False Life thanks to the spell works on the boundary between life and death — draining, raising, or extending vitality. Level-1 slots come back on every long rest; False Life is one of the spells the slot column fills first.
Class Fit
- Sorcerer: Subtle Spell removes the verbal and somatic components; if False Life normally has both, Subtle lets the Sorcerer cast in chains or in a noble's parlor. Upcasting False Life changes the effect; the spell page lists the per-slot scaling.
- Wizard: The Wizard's daily prep list is the class's flexibility lever — every long rest is a chance to reconsider what False Life is doing on the sheet. The higher-level scaling on False Life is described in the spell text; check it before upcasting.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about False Life
- What level spell is False Life?
- In D&D 5e, False Life is classified as a level 1 spell of the Necromancy school. Available classes: Sorcerer, Wizard.
- What is the range of False Life?
- As a self-target spell, False Life affects only the caster.
- What components and casting time does False Life need?
- For False Life: False Life requires V, S, M; on top of that, Material component: a drop of alcohol.
- Can False Life be upcast?
- Yes — You gain 5 additional Temporary Hit Points for each spell slot level above 1.