Is an undead a "living creature?"

[Keeganwilson]

They're UNdead so I'm not 100 percent sure on this.
To answer the question....
Can a vampire make a clone of itself in 5e?

[CheddarChampion]

Short answer: no.
Long answer: Clone is a "Safeguard against death," undead can't "Die" instead they are destroyed. Also, the spell "Grows" a creature. If we're talking biologically grown, the cells would have to be alive.

[Naanomi]

I could imagine a scholarly undead creating some equivalent though

[ProsecutorGodot]

I could imagine a scholarly undead creating some equivalent though

I believe those are called Liches.

[Naanomi]

I believe those are called Liches.
Maybe, though hard to become a lich when you are already a vampire

[ProsecutorGodot]

Maybe, though hard to become a lich when you are already a vampire

Being a bit technical here, but Strahd could be considered some form of Vampire lich. Even in the event that you successfully destroy him in a way that a Vampire is meant to be permanently destroyed, the Dark Power that created him can actually bring him back tied to Barovia.

He can't truly be destroyed by any method known to mortals.

[Sigreid]

A vampire who is also an archmage should be able to use wish to clone himself, but the clone would be a living body replacement. As DM I'd rule that he could wish for a clone and if he was destroyed his soul would head for the clone body and he would be alive and mortal again.

Edit: Also if he has a wish granting item I suppose.

[Naanomi]

Being a bit technical here, but Strahd could be considered some form of Vampire lich. Even in the event that you successfully destroy him in a way that a Vampire is meant to be permanently destroyed, the Dark Power that created him can actually bring him back tied to Barovia.

He can't truly be destroyed by any method known to mortals.
That is a power of the Dark Powers, not of Strahd the Vampire

[Dalebert]

That is a power of the Dark Powers, not of Strahd the Vampire

Troof. Strahd is being punished. He didn't do rituals to achieve his status.

This question is not clearly answered in the RAW so I think it ultimately has to be decided by the DM. Another case where it comes up is with a Cube of Force. If I select to block living matter, does that include undead? So far all DMs have said it does not. Picking non-living matter is my most common choice because sentient creatures are almost always wearing or carrying some and they become a lot less of a threat if they have to drop their weapons and armor to get to me.

[JoeJ]

Undead are specifically defined in the MM as "once-living" creatures. So not currently living.

[ProsecutorGodot]

That is a power of the Dark Powers, not of Strahd the Vampire

And many Liches are created by Orcus' power, not their own.

It's an example of a Vampire who, for one reason or another, is able to reconstitute his form after being "destroyed" in the way that undead are meant to be. That means it's possible for a Vampire to have an effect that is at least comparable to having a backup clone or phylactery that would reconstitute them.

Barovia (or the dread plane it's housed on, it's never been 100% clear) is basically Strahd's phylactery, does it really matter if he's returning through his own power if the end result is that he keeps coming back?

EDIT: To really touch on the question in the thread, the answer to the Title Question is: No, Undead are not considered living creatures. Spells, effects and features that look for a living creature as a target won't work on them.

The answer to "Can a Vampire make a clone of itself" is: Technically not, but there's nothing stopping your DM from deciding that a God/Sufficiently powerful undead can do such a thing. Either because it's a dark "god" like the Dark Powers that brought Strahd to be what he is or a Death Cleric has petitioned Orcus using Diving Intervention to allow such a thing. They're restricted from using the spell Clone but there's no reason a similar method can't be used.

[Tetrasodium]

A vampire who is also an archmage should be able to use wish to clone himself, but the clone would be a living body replacement. As DM I'd rule that he could wish for a clone and if he was destroyed his soul would head for the clone body and he would be alive and mortal again.

Edit: Also if he has a wish granting item I suppose.

depends on the setting. Others have mentioned Ravenloft (where barovia is only one of many domains (https://www.fraternityofshadows.com/wiki/Category:Domain) that each have their own darklord (https://ravenloft.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Darklords)). In eberron, vampirism & lycanthropy are both a curse that destroys the original personality (http://keith-baker.com/dragonmarks-lycanthropes/) & replaces it with something else. Adding to that is the fact that Erandis Vol in the setting wants to return to being a living creature or find a way to activate her dragonmark while a lich. She's also about 2,300 year or so old half dragon lich with considerable power (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/The_Emerald_Claw), knowledge, & resources. It's almost certainly not as easy as casting wish to go back to being mortal there. Also a soul that came back fromDolurrh (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/Dolurrh) is not likely to still be (or even remember) the person it once was unless you did it very quick.

Getting back to the OP's question though, no a vampire is not living. In eberron they are a form of mabaran (http://keith-baker.com/the-endless-night/) undead that is very much not alive :D At the other end of the spectrum in eberron sit the positive energy fueled deathless (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Deathless) who are also very much not alive but not quite something that fits within the normal cookie cutter for "undead"either.

[Yora]

I believe the term "living creature" only exist in the game to mean "all creatures except undead and constructs".

[Millstone85]

I am going to offer a dissenting voice.

Going by some of Crawford's tweets, which are no longer official statements but still an insight into RAI, undead is just a creature type. "If you cast revivify on a zombie, the creature returns as a zombie (https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/709791324656902144)", even though the spell speaks of returning a creature to life.

[ProsecutorGodot]

I am going to offer a dissenting voice.

Going by some of Crawford's tweets, which are no longer official statements but still an insight into RAI, undead is just a creature type. "If you cast revivify on a zombie, the creature returns as a zombie (https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/709791324656902144)", even though the spell speaks of returning a creature to life.

I would argue that the wording of Revivify is used in that way because a "dead" (mechanically) creature cannot regain hit points.

The zombie description also says "Most zombies are made from humanoid remains, though the flesh and bones of any formerly living creature can be imbued with a semblance of life."

So saying "back to life" isn't entirely innacurate, even if they wouldn't be considered alive.

[Sigreid]

depends on the setting. Others have mentioned Ravenloft (where barovia is only one of many domains (https://www.fraternityofshadows.com/wiki/Category:Domain) that each have their own darklord (https://ravenloft.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Darklords)). In eberron, vampirism & lycanthropy are both a curse that destroys the original personality (http://keith-baker.com/dragonmarks-lycanthropes/) & replaces it with something else. Adding to that is the fact that Erandis Vol in the setting wants to return to being a living creature or find a way to activate her dragonmark while a lich. She's also about 2,300 year or so old half dragon lich with considerable power (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/The_Emerald_Claw), knowledge, & resources. It's almost certainly not as easy as casting wish to go back to being mortal there. Also a soul that came back fromDolurrh (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/Dolurrh) is not likely to still be (or even remember) the person it once was unless you did it very quick.

Getting back to the OP's question though, no a vampire is not living. In eberron they are a form of mabaran (http://keith-baker.com/the-endless-night/) undead that is very much not alive :D At the other end of the spectrum in eberron sit the positive energy fueled deathless (https://eberron.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Deathless) who are also very much not alive but not quite something that fits within the normal cookie cutter for "undead"either.

All this is true, but Strahd was not part of the original question.

[Unoriginal]

And many Liches are created by Orcus' power, not their own.


Orcus doesn't provide the power, just the knowledge to do the rituals needed.

[ProsecutorGodot]

Orcus doesn't provide the power, just the knowledge to do the rituals needed.

"Wizards that seek lichdom must make bargains with fiends, evil gods, or other foul entities. Many turn to Orcus, Demon Prince of Undeath, whose power has created countless liches."

Some of them are made by Orcus' power.

[Porcupinata]

I could imagine a scholarly undead creating some equivalent though


I believe those are called Liches.

In one of my camaigns I had an NPC who created a simulacrum of herself before she did the ritual to make herself into a lich. That way she could remain hidden and gather power while using the simulacrum to present a "still living" public face, both for political reasons and to throw people off the scent so that she wouldn't have pesky adventurers and clerics coming to destroy her for becoming an undead.

[Xihirli]

I think that would be Simulacrum, not Clone.

[Porcupinata]

I think that would be Simulacrum, not Clone.

You're right. It was.

[Particle_Man]

In one of my camaigns I had an NPC who created a simulacrum of herself before she did the ritual to make herself into a lich. That way she could remain hidden and gather power while using the simulacrum to present a "still living" public face, both for political reasons and to throw people off the scent so that she wouldn't have pesky adventurers and clerics coming to destroy her for becoming an undead.

I think I may "borrow" this idea. :smallcool: