Spare the Dying
Cantrip · Necromancy
- Utility
A cantrip in the necromancy school, Spare the Dying appears on the cleric and druid lists. Cast time: Action. Range 15 feet, components V/S, duration instantaneous. Effect: Choose a creature within range that has 0 Hit Points and isn't dead.
Stat Block
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Necromancy
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 15 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Cleric, Druid
- Material
- —
Description
Choose a creature within range that has 0 Hit Points and isn't dead. The creature becomes Stable.
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
Necromancy is the school of the boundary between life and death. Some spells push creatures across it; others bring back what was on the wrong side. Spare the Dying reads as Necromancy because the spell works on the boundary between life and death — draining, raising, or extending vitality. As a cantrip, Spare the Dying stays on-tier at every level of play.
Class Fit
- Cleric: Clerics often prep Spare the Dying for a single arc — a kidnapping arc, a planar arc, a politics arc — and swap it out when the arc ends. 15 feet is enough range that Spare the Dying doesn't pull the caster forward.
- Druid: At tier 2, Druids juggle Pass Without Trace, Conjure Animals, and Spike Growth for concentration; Spare the Dying fits in if it doesn't compete. Spare the Dying reaches 15 feet, which lets the caster stay clear of the front line.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Cantrip; stabilize a dying creature without burning a slot.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Spare the Dying
- What level spell is Spare the Dying?
- In D&D 5e, Spare the Dying is classified as a cantrip of the Necromancy school. Available classes: Cleric, Druid.
- What is the range of Spare the Dying?
- Spare the Dying has a range of 15 feet from the caster.
- What components and casting time does Spare the Dying need?
- Spare the Dying requires V, S, on a standard one-action cast.