# The Necromancer
A High Elf stands on a bluff overlooking the battle below. Her allies are being slaughtered, and she must intervene. Summoning necromantic energies from the ether, she raises her fallen allies and turns the tide of battle.
A fierce orc wades into battle wielding a fearsome scythe. As he cuts through swaths of enemies, he uses their life essence as fuel to continue his rampage.
A halfling chants a special prayer to the dead, raising long dead spirits and gleaning insight from the knowledge of their past lives.
#### Often Misunderstood and Sometimes Hated
Necromancy is almost universally hated and reviled. Even so, there are those who are fascinated by its use and the oft forbidden magics that go with it. Those who study the inner workings of raising the dead, for whatever reason, must always have care when pursuing their craft, never knowing the reaction those around them may have. Though often seen as an evil act, there are those who aim to do good with their necromantic spells, even going so far as to swear never to raise a corpse, instead relying on the life-stealing power of their spells to regain life energy. Still other necromancers focus their energy on divining the knowledge and wisdom of the dead. These great minds choose to learn from their ancestors in the most direct way possible.
#### Necromancers in Calypso
Necromancers in the world of Calypso most often worship Kremation, though they are not required to do so. Their allegiance is their own to choose, and while many pursue noble goals, some seek knowledge and power for their own evil ends.
Many who follow the necromantic arts don't summon or control undead; rather they seek out those who would corrupt the order of life and death. They know that death is not an end, but a new beginning, and they seek to swiftly carry death to those who have it coming.
During the Great War, most necromancers focused on dealing necrotic damage to the fiendish armies invading the realm, as well as raising the fallen to beat back the seemingly endless tide of demons pouring through the gate. Since the war's end, necromancers have expanded their learning to include damage of nearly any type and skills more suited to a world at peace.
<div class='classTable wide'>
##### The Necromancer
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|:---:|:---:|:---|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| 1st | +2 | Spellcasting, Death Lore | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Necromaner's School; Sacrificial Life | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Dread Rites (2) | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | Ritual Spaces | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Archetype Feature | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | Seeker after Knowledge | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | Dread Rites (4) | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Endurance of the Grave | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | — | 4 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | — | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | Archetype Feature | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | Dread Rites (6) | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | +6 | — | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Archetype Feature | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | Archetype Capstone | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
</div>
#### Creating a Necromancer
When creating a necromancer, think about why you chose to pursue this restricted form of magic, and how you learned. Did you want to learn from your ancestors at the Black Rose? Or perhaps you wanted to emulate your progenitors in the Arcanum. Did you decide to take up study in secret, without formal acknowledgment or permission?
#### Quick Build
You can build a Necromancer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the Acolyte or Hermit background.
### Class Features
As a Necromancer, you gain the following class features.
#### Hit Points
**Hit Dice:** 1d6 per Necromancer Level
**Hit points at 1st level:** 6 + your Constitution modifier
**Hit points at higher levels:** 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per Necromancer level after first.
#### Proficiencies
**Armor:** None
**Weapons:** Dagger, Quarterstaff, Sickle, Scythe (Glaive)
**Tools:** None
**Saving Throws:** Intelligence, Wisdom
**Skills:** Choose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Religion, and Survival
**Multiclass:** Necromancers require a score of 13 Intelligence.
#### Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a scythe (glaive), or (b) a sickle
- (a) a component pouch or (b) a spellcasting focus
- (a) a Dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an Explorer’s Pack
#### Spellcasting:
See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting and the end of this class description for the necromancer spell list.
**Cantrips**
At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the necromancer spell list. You learn additional necromancer cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the necromancer table.
**Spell Slots**
The necromancer table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these necromancer spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. For example, if you know the 1st-level spell *Fog Cloud* and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast *Fog Cloud* using either slot.
**Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher**
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the necromancer spell list. The Spells Known column of the necromancer table shows when you learn more necromancer spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level. Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the necromancer spells you know and replace it with another spell from the necromancer spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
**Spellcasting Ability**
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your necromancer spells, since the power of your magic relies on your ability to interpret and coerce the forces of life and death. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a necromancer spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
**Spell save DC** = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
**Spell attack modifier** = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
**Spellcasting Focus**
You can use an arcane focus (found in chapter 5) as a spellcasting focus for your necromancer spells. Many necromancers prefer to use a bleached skull or small talisman as a focus, though you may choose whatever fits your character.
#### Ritual Casting
You can cast a necromancer spell that you know as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.
#### Death Lore
At 1st level, your knowledge of life and death gives you heightened knowledge of undeath. You have advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) and Intelligence (Religion) checks related to necromancy, undeath, and the occult.
#### Necromancer's School
At 2nd level, you choose a magical school to follow. You may choose the School of the Summoner, School of the Skullslinger, School of the Scythe, School of Undead Divination, or the School of Blood Magic. This choice grants you features at 2nd level, and again at 6th, 14th, 18th, and 20th levels.
#### Sacrificial Life
Also at 2nd level, you are able to channel your life essence into your necromantic magic. Several Necromancer features require the use of one or more Necromancer hit dice, as detailed in the feature description. Hit dice expended for these features are unavailable for any other purpose, and are regained upon completion of a long rest. If you expend your last hit die to fuel a necromancer spell or feature, you take necrotic damage equal to three times your necromancer level. Damage or detrimental effects you suffer as a result of expending a necromancer hit die cannot be reduced or avoided in any way.
#### Dread Rites
In your study of life and death, you have unearthed Dread Rites, fragments of knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability.
At 3rd level, you gain two Dread Rite options of your choice. Your Rite options are detailed at the end of the class description. You gain two additional Dread Rites at 9th level, and two again at 15th level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the Rites you know and replace it with another of your choice.
#### Ritual Spaces
At 5th level, your knowledge of rituals and their symbols, circles, and components increases. You may cast any necromancer spell with the ritual tag as a ritual in half the normal time.
Alternatively, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit die to cast a necromancer ritual spell as an action. You take necrotic damage equal to the number rolled. Once used, you cannot use this feature to cast a ritual as an action again until you complete a short or long rest.
#### Seeker after Knowledge
At 7th level, your ability to seek out the knowledge you need grows. You have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks to search for information in a library, study, athenaeum, or other similar place.
#### Endurance of the Grave
By 10th level your study of the workings of death and undeath gives you exceptional endurance. You are immune to exhaustion.
## Necromantic Schools
### School of the Summoner
While necromancers of other schools may dabble in summoning undead, those following the School of the Summoner seek to master it. Their focus falls on their minions, sometimes to the detriment of their own physical self.
#### Undead Familiar
When you follow this School at 2nd level, you gain the ability to summon a ghastly, floating undead skull to follow you on your travels; your Undead Familiar. You gain the *find familiar* spell, and it does not count against your total number of spells known. When summoned, your familiar takes the form of a ghastly, floating skull. The skull has a fly speed equal to your walking speed and may hover. It otherwise follows the rules and statistics of the familiar choices listed in the spell description.
Additionally, you may speak and converse with the skull. It is friendly to you and knows basic lore of the world and undeath. The skull cannot lie to you, but its answers may be cryptic or incomplete.
#### Powerful Dead
Upon reaching 6th level, you are able to sacrifice your own life essence to create more powerful minions. Upon creating, raising, or summoning an undead creature via any spell or feature, you may choose to expend up to two necromancer hit dice. Roll the dice and record the number rolled. Both your current and maximum hit points are reduced by the number rolled. Additionally, undead creatures summoned in this way gain a bonus to their AC, attack, and damage rolls equal to half the number rolled (rounded down, minimum 1), and gain current and maximum hit points equal to the number rolled. Once used, you cannot regain your maximum hit points nor the expended hit dice until you complete a long rest.
#### Advanced Animation
Upon reaching 14th level, your ability to summon undead is unmatched. You gain the *animate dead* spell, and it does not count against your total number of spells known. When you cast *animate dead*, you may choose to create a **Ghast** (the stats for which can be found in the *Monster Manual*) instead of a zombie or skeleton with each corpse or pile of bones.
#### Singular Purpose
By 18th level, your summoned undead become nearly unstoppable. While within sight of you, your summoned undead are immune to spells and effects that turn undead. Additionally, you are immune to the frightened condition, as your time around undeath makes you fearless.
#### Master of Summoning
At 20th level, you are the pinnacle of summoner's knowledge. When you cast *summon undead* you may instead summon a **Revenant**. A Revenant summoned in this way cannot use its Rejuvenation feature. Alternatively, when you cast *animate dead*, you create a **Wight** for each corpse or pile of bones available. A Wight summoned in this way cannot raise zombies via its Life Drain feature. These spells otherwise function as normal, and the stats for the summoned undead are in the *Monster Manual*.
### School of the Skullslinger
A Skullslinger focuses her efforts on an intimate knowledge of ways to use necromantic energy to scorch and destroy her enemies. She doesn't waste precious time or effort on summoning, and blades are for those too stupid to wield the power of life and death.
#### Siphon Life
Upon choosing the School of the Skullslinger at 2nd level, you learn to siphon the life out of those you target. Once on each of your turns when you deal necrotic damage to a creature other than a construct or undead using a necromancy spell of first level or higher, you gain temporary hit points equal to twice your level in this class.
#### Piercing Necrosis
At 6th level the potency of your necromantic spells becomes greater. Your necromancer spells and features that deal necrotic damage ignore resistance to necrotic damage.
#### Undead Rebuke
At 14th level, your bond with the forces of life and death allows you to punish those who would harm you. When you are hit with a melee attack, you may use your reaction to cause the attacker to take 2d6 necrotic damage. You may expend up to two necromancer hit dice as a part of this reaction to increase the damage. If you expend hit dice, the attacker has disadvantage on attack rolls against you until the beginning of your next turn.
#### Necrotic Control
At 18th level, your control over your necrotic spells is at its peak. When you cast a spell that targets an area, deals necrotic damage, and requires a saving throw, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit dice. You may choose a number of creatures up to the number rolled to automatically succeed on the saving throw against that spell.
Alternatively, when you cast a spell that targets a single creature and deals necrotic damage, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit die. If the spell requires an attack roll, you gain a bonus to the attack equal to the amount rolled on the hit die. If the spell requires a saving throw, the target takes a penalty on the saving throw equal to the amount rolled on the hit die.
#### Ultimate Necrosis
Upon reaching 20th level, your necromancy spells carry the power of legend. When you deal necrotic damage with a necromancer spell or feature, you may expend a necromancer hit die to deal maximum damage, instead of rolling.
### School of the Scythe
*"I am become death, destroyer of worlds"*
Necromancers choosing to follow the School of the Scythe usually forgo the raising of undead. Rather, they focus their learning and knowledge on the body and soul, using this knowledge to enhance their martial abilities. Though called the School of the Scythe, not all who follow this school choose to wield the archetypical weapon of death.
#### Undead Fortitude
Upon following this school at 2nd level, your ability to emulate the resilience of the undead increases. You gain 1 additional hit point per level in this class, and you gain proficiency with light and medium armor and simple and martial weapons.
Additionally, when you make a melee weapon attack using a melee weapon with which you are proficient, you may use your intelligence modifier for the attack and damage rolls.
#### Extra attack
Upon reaching 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, you can cast one of your cantrips in place of one of those attacks.
#### Necrotic Blade
Upon reaching 6th level, you are able to channel your life force into your weapon attacks. On a successful melee weapon attack, you may expend and roll a number of necromancer hit dice up to your intelligence modifier. That attack deals additional necrotic damage equal to the amount rolled, and you take necrotic damage equal to the single highest die roll among the hit dice expended.
#### Ghostly Scythe
Upon reaching 14th level, you are able to reach into the unknown to form a ghostly scythe with which to shear your enemies and steal their life essence. As an action, you may force all creatures in a 15 foot cone in front of you to make a constitution saving throw, taking 4d6 necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful save. You regain hit points equal to your intelligence modifier for each creature that fails the saving throw. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your intelligence modifier, and regain expended uses upon completion of a long rest.
#### Ghostly Weakness
Beginning at 18th level, you are able to sacrifice your life essence to prevent your enemies from attacking you and your allies. As an action, you may choose a creature you can see within 15 feet of you and expend a necromancer hit die. The targeted creature must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, for the next minute it can use either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both. Regardless of the creature’s abilities or magic items, it can’t make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn. On a successful save, the target takes necrotic damage equal to three times the number rolled on the hit die. In either case, you sap your own life energy to create the magical effect, taking necrotic damage equal to the number rolled on the hit die.
#### Spectre of Death
Upon reaching 20th level, you emulate a spectre of death itself. You no longer walk upon the ground, instead hovering a few inches above it and silently gliding along; an inexorable bringer of death.
As an action, you may expend and roll one necromancer hit die to call upon the powers of life and death to transform into a spectre of death. For one minute, you gain the following benefits.
- Your melee weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
- When used, and at the beginning of each of your turns while active, you regain hit points equal to the number rolled on the hit die.
- You gain a bonus to damage rolls with melee weapons equal to the number rolled on the hit die.
Once used, you may not use this feature again until you complete a long rest.
### School of Undead Divination
Those following the School of Undead Divination usually choose to focus their incredible intellect on speaking with the dead to learn from them. They know that as useful as damaging spells and summoning minions may be, knowledge is the real power. They seek out the most well known ghosts, ancestors, and other deceased to learn their biggest secrets or how to defeat a difficult foe.
During the Great War, those of this school were mostly used to gather insight from the fallen soldiers fighting the fiendish hordes, allowing others a greater chance of survival in the next battle.
#### Ghostly Foresight
When you choose to follow this School at 2nd level, you are able to call upon undead spirits to aid you. When you make an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may expend a necromancer hit die to invoke the power of life and death and gain a bonus on the roll equal to the number rolled on the hit die. You choose to use this feature after you roll the d20, but before the results are known. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your intelligence modifier, and regain expended uses when you complete a long rest.
#### Eyes of the Grave
At 6th level, you learn to gain brief glimpses into the past lives of the dead. As an action, you may look into the soul of a dead or undead creature within 1 foot of you. You gain shadowy insights into the minutes before the creature's death. These may be images, sounds, voices, feelings, thoughts, or other glimpses into the creature's past life immediately before it died. This feature does not work on constructs. If you use this feature more than twice before completing a long rest, you must make a wisdom saving throw against your own spell save DC. On a success, the feature works normally. On a failure, you take 4d10 necrotic damage and are paralyzed for 10 minutes as the echoes of death pervade your soul.
#### Words with Death
At 14th level your ability to communicate with the dead becomes more precise. You gain the *speak with dead* spell, it does not count against your total number of spells known, you may cast the spell at-will, without expending a spell slot or material components, and may target undead corpses as well.
#### Impending Doom
Beginning at 18th level, your insight into life and death spells doom for those who would attempt to harm you. As an action, you may expend and roll one necromancer hit die. For the next minute, the ghosts and spirits you speak with share knowledge of your enemies. You take necrotic damage equal to twice the number rolled, and you gain a bonus to your spell attack rolls and saving throw DC equal to the number rolled. Once used, you cannot use this feature again until you complete a long rest.
#### Seance
At 20th level, your ability to communicate with the dead is unrivaled. You can perform a ritual to bring a ghostly image of a dead humanoid to life. To do so, you must know the name of the deceased and possess something of theirs that was dear to them, such as a favored weapon, book, piece of clothing, or the like. The ritual takes 8 hours and 1000 gp worth of expensive incense and other components to cast, at the end of which you must expend and roll a necromancer hit dice. The deceased's ghostly form remains with you for a number of days equal to the number rolled. You may not recover the hit dice until you have completed a long rest after the ghostly deceased has faded and the ritual has ended.
The ghostly deceased knows only what it knew in life, though you are not required to share a language to communicate with it. It is bound to your service and must tell the truth, though its answers may be cryptic or incomplete. It can neither damage or be damaged by corporeal creatures. While with you, you know up to 3 skill, weapon, armor, or tool proficiencies of your choice that it knew in life. Additionally, while it is with you, you are considered to be under the effects of the *foresight* spell.
Once used, you cannot cast this ritual again for 7 days after it ends.
### School of Blood Magic
A mortician in the bad part of town begins to experiment on the fallen soldiers that come through his door. After a while, he finds new magical secrets within the blood, allowing him to use blood magic to restore life energy to the living and the undead.
#### Blood healer
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to heal those around you using your own life essence. You gain the *cure wounds* and *healing word* spells, they count as necromancer spells for you, and do not count against your total number of spells known.
Additionally, as an action, you can heal one creature you can see within 60 feet of you, expending your necromancer hit dice. The maximum number of dice you can expend at once equals your Intelligence modifier (minimum of one die). Roll the dice you spend, add them together, and restore a number of hit points equal to the total. When used in this way, you may restore hit points to living or undead creatures.
#### Healing Blood
At 6th level, you gain insight into the workings of life and death and are more easily able to stave off death. You learn the medicine skill if you do not already have it, or you may add twice your proficiency bonus to medicine check if you are already proficient.
Additionally, when you make a medicine check to care for a creature, you may expend a necromancer hit die and restore hit points equal to the number rolled.
#### Blood Shield
At 14th level, you are able to project your blood magic to protect yourself or an ally. As a reaction when you or an ally within 60 feet that you can see would be hit by an attack, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit die to shield that creature. Until the start of its next turn, the target gains a bonsu to AC equal to 1 + the number rolled, potentially causing the attack to miss. If the triggering attack still hits, the lingering blood shield grants resistance to the damage for that attack.
#### Refreshing Blood
By 18th level you are able to recover your vitality more quickly. At the end of a short rest, you may recover a number of hit dice expended via Sacrificial Life equal to your intelligence modifier. Once used, you may not benefit from this feature again until you complete a long rest.
#### Blood Bond
At 20th level, the power of your blood allows you to bond with another soul, granting you both extraordinary abilities. As an action, choose one living humanoid within 10 feet with whom to pair your blood magic, and roll one necromancer hit die. For the next minute, you both gain the following benefits.
- You both gain a bonus to your AC and saving throws equal to the number rolled on the hit die.
- The first time on a turn when either of you deal damage with an attack, spell, or feature, you deal additional necrotic damage equal to twice the number rolled on the hit die.
- When one of the joined pair takes damage, the other takes half the damage received (rounded down).
Once used, you must complete a long rest before using this feature again.
### Dread Rites
The Dread Rites presented here are shown in alphabetical order. If a Rite has prerequisites, you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the Rite at the same time that you meet its prerequisites.
#### Arcanum Trained
*Prerequisite: Arcanum Student background*
You studied at the Arcanum with some of the best spellcasters in the world. Pick two cantrips and one 1st level spell from any spell list. You learn these spells, they count as necromancer spells for you, and do not count against your total number of spells known.
#### Assert Dominance
*Prerequisite: 9th level*
You may invoke this rite as an action to assert your dominance over an undead creature you can see within 60 feet of you. The target must make a wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, you gain control of the undead creature for 10 minutes. On a successful save, the creature takes 2d6 necrotic damage and is not controlled. An undead that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this Rite for 24 hours. You must complete a short or long rest before invoking this Rite again.
#### Black Rose Trained
*Prerequisite: 17th level and the Black Rose Student background*
Your training with the Black Rose allows you to call on the deity Kremation seeking knowledge or strength. As an action, you may ask one question of Kremation and receive a truthful answer. Kremation, like the other 11 deities, is not omniscient. If he does not know the answer, he will say so, but may also offer insights on where and how to find the answer.
Alternatively, you may request Kremation's strength in battle for 1 minute, receiving immunity to necrotic damage and dealing additional necrotic damage equal to your level when you deal damage with a weapon attack, spell, or feature. Once used, you may not invoke this rite again until 7 days have passed.
#### Blood Lust
*Prerequisite: 5th level*
You learn to sacrifice your life energy to enhance your weapon or spell attacks. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack or a spell attack that damages a single creature, you may expend and roll a number of necromancer hit dice up to your intelligence modifier. The target takes additional necrotic damage equal to the number rolled, and you take necrotic damage equal to half the amount rolled.
#### Blood Mage
*Prerequisite: 11th level*
Your experience maiming yourself allows you to cast spells otherwise unknown to you. Pick one spell of up to 4th level from any classes spell list. You gain this spell, it counts as a necromancer spell for you, and does not count against your total number of spells known. However, you may not cast this spell using spell slots. Instead, to cast the spell you must expend and roll a number of necromancer hit dice equal to the level at which you cast the spell, and you take necrotic damage equal to the total rolled on the hit dice. When cast in this way, the spell does not require material components except those consumed by the spell, but does require concentration if the spell description notates concentration.
#### Bloody Regeneration
Your skill at manipulating your own blood magic can prevent your demise. When you would be reduced to 0 hit points, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit die. You are instead reduced to a number of hit points equal to the number rolled. Once used, you must complete a long rest before using this Rite again.
#### Corpse Explosion
*Prerequisite: 11th level*
You learn to use the negative energy of death to overload a corpse, causing it to explode in a shower of bone and ichor. As an action, select one corpse you can see within 60 feet. All creatures within a 15 foot radius of the corpse must make a dexterity saving throw, taking 3d6 piercing and 3d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. You may use this Rite twice, and must complete a short or long rest before using it again.
#### Ethereal Sight
*Prerequisite: 5th level*
You can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when on the Material Plane, and vice versa.
#### Final Retribution
Your hold over life and death allows you to secure a final act for those suffering death. When an ally you can see within 60 feet is reduced to 0 hit points, you may use your reaction to expend and roll a number of necromancer hit dice up to your intelligence modifier. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of the dying ally take necrotic damage equal to the amount rolled, and the ally on whom this Rite is used is immediately stabilized. Once used, you must complete a short or long rest before using this Rite again.
#### Ghostly Disguise
Your understanding of undeath allows you to appear as the dead for a brief time. You may use this Rite to cast *disguise self* at-will, without expending a spell slot. When used in this way, you appear ghostly and incorporeal, though you remain solid to the touch and gain none of the benefits of being incorporeal.
#### Healing Rite
*Prerequisite: 5th level*
When you take this Rite, you learn to channel the life forces of the aether around you to heal your allies. As an action, you may restore 1d6 hit points to one non-undead creature you can see within 60 feet. If there is a corpse, pile of bones, or other dead creature within 30 feet of the target, the healing increases by 1d6 for each corpse or pile of bones, up to 3. The initial hit points restored increase at 5th (2d6), 11th (3d6), and 17th (4d6) levels. You may use this Rite twice, and must complete a long rest before using it again.
#### Necrotic Potency
You are able to channel more of your necrotic will into your spells. When you deal necrotic damage with a Necromancer spell, you may add your intelligence modifier to the damage dealt.
#### Life from Death
You can cast *false life* on yourself at will as a 1st-level spell, without expending a spell slot or material components.
#### Prolonged Life
*Prerequisite: 9th level*
The time you spend around and studying the dead has infused you with some of their essence. You age at half the normal rate, and no longer require air, food, or water to survive.
#### Reaper's Companion
You learn the *find familiar* spell. It counts as a necromancer spell for you, and does not count against your number of spells known. When summoned, your familiar's creature type is undead.
#### Regiment Trained
*Prerequisite: Regiment Student background*
The Regiment trains some of the best foot soldiers in the world, and you are no different. You gain proficiency with light and medium armor, and simple weapons.
#### Shared Torment
You are able to more directly control the life force of yourself and your raised undead servants. When you take damage from any source, you may use your reaction to cause an undead creature under your control to take half the damage received, rounded down.
#### Undead Control
*Prerequisite: 13th level; must know the summon undead spell*
You have learned a deeper control over undead spirits. When you cast *summon undead*, the spell no longer requires concentration and lasts for 24 hours. This effect ends early if you use *summon undead* again, or use any other spell or feature to summon, create, or control an undead creature.
#### Undead Resilience
Bony armor forms on your body. While not wearing armor, your AC is equal to 13 + your dexterity modifier. You may use a shield and still gain this benefit.
#### Undead Sacrifice
As an action, you may sacrifice an undead creature that is under your control. The undead creature instantly dies and you regain hit points equal to half its hit point maximum.
#### Undead Uprising
*Prerequisite: 5th level*
Your control over the undead buried beneath you increases. So long as you are standing upon soft earth or a similar area, you do not require a corpse or pile of bones to cast *animate dead*. The zombie or skeleton summoned (your choice) claws its way up from underground to serve you. Additionally, you may cast *animate dead* as an action.
#### Voices of the Grave
*Prerequisite: 5th level; must know the speak with dead spell*
As part of the action to cast *speak with dead*, you may expend and roll a necromancer hit die. You take necrotic damage equal to the number rolled, and the spell affects a number of targets up to the number rolled. You may ask each targeted corpse 5 questions (for up to 30 total questions), however, the spell duration does not increase.
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### Necromancer Spells
#### Flaming Skull
**Necromancy cantrip**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 120 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Instantaneous
You conjure and hurl a flaming, screaming skull at a creature you can see within range. Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 fire or necrotic damage (your choice). This spell’s damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).
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#### Animate Minor Dead
**1st Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 minute
**Range:** 10 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Instantaneous
This spell creates a tiny undead servant. Choose a hand, foot, or other small appendage within range. Your spell imbues the target with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an undead creature. Regardless of the target's shape, it uses the game statistics of a **Crawling Claw**.
On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command any appendage you made with this spell if the appendage is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple appendages, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the appendage will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the appendage only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the appendage continues to follow it until its task is complete.
The appendage is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you’ve given it. To maintain control of the appendage for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the appendage again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to four appendages 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 2nd level or higher, you animate or reassert control over two additional undead appendages for each slot level above 1st. Each of the appendages must be unique.
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#### Bone Spikes
**1st Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 60 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Concentration, up to 1 minute
You summon bones from the ground to pierce an area you can see within range. Shattered bones pierce through the earth in an area within a 10 foot radius of that point. Creatures within the area must make a dexterity saving throw, taking 1d10 piercing damage on a failed save and half as much damage on a successful save. When a creature enters the area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn in the area, it must make the dexterity saving throw, taking the same damage. While the spell lasts, the affected area is difficult terrain.
**At Higher Levels:** When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 1st.
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#### Shattered Bone Spear
**1st Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 90 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Instantaneous
You rip a ghostly bone from the aether and hurl it at a target you can see within range. Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, the target takes 2d4 piercing and 3d4 necrotic damage.
**At Higher Levels:** When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the piercing and necrotic damage increase by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.
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#### Strangulation
**2nd Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 30 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** 1 round
You cause ghastly necrotic tendrils to form around the neck of a creature you can see within range. The creature must make a constitution saving throw. The creature takes 3d8 necrotic damage on a failed save, and half as much on a success.
**At Higher Levels:** When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 2nd.
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#### Wall of Bone
**4th Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 120 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Concentration, up to 1 minute
You summon the bones of the dead to create a wall at a point you can see within range. You can make the wall up to 40 feet long, 10 feet high, and 6 inches thick, or you can make a cubed wall up to 20 feet on a side and 6 inches thick. The wall vanishes when the spell ends. The bones are 1 inch apart, allowing creatures to see through them, but not squeeze through.
Any ranged weapon attack that fires through the wall has disadvantage on the attack roll. Each 5-foot-square section has AC 15, 30 hit points, is immune to piercing damage, and is vulnerable to bludgeoning damage. Reducing a section to 0 hit points destroys that section.
If there is a corpse or pile of bones within 30 feet of the point at which you summon the wall, the spell pulls bones from them. The wall can then be 10 feet larger and each section gains 10 hit points.
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#### Desecration
**7th Level Necromancy**
**Casting Time:** 1 action
**Range:** 120 feet
**Components:** V, S
**Duration:** Concentration, up to 1 minute
You conjure foul, necromantic energy to desecrate the ground at an area you can see. Choose a point within range. In a 30 foot radius ceneted on that point, necromantic energy rises from the ground. Creatures within the area or that start their turn within the area must make a constitution saving throw, taking 6d8 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful save. If there is a corpse or pile of bones within the area of affect, the damage is increased by 2d8 per corpse or pile of bones, up to a maximum increase of 6d8. Creatures who fail the save additionally have disadvantage on the next saving throw they make before the end of their next turn.
**At Higher Levels:** When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the base damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 7th.
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### Necromancer Spell List
##### Cantrips (0 Level)
Chill Touch
Control Flames
Flaming Skull*
Friends
Infestation
Mage Hand
Poison Spray
Ray of Frost
Spare the Dying
Thaumaturgy
Toll the Dead
##### 1st Level
Animate Minor Dead*
Armor of Agathys
Bane
Bone Spikes*
Cause Fear
Comprehend Languages
Detect Evil and Good
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Disease
False Life
Find Familiar
Fog Cloud
Hex
Identify
Illusory Script
Inflict Wounds
Protection from Evil and Good
Ray of Sickness
Shattered Bone Spear*
Unseen Servant
##### 2nd Level
Augury
Blindness/Deafness
Detect Thoughts
Enthrall
Gentle Repose
Invisibility
Ray of Enfeeblement
Strangulation*
Suggestion
##### 3rd Level
Animate Dead
Bestow Curse
Clairvoyance
Dispel Magic
Fear
Feign Death
Life Transference
Revivify
Speak with Dead
Spirit Shroud
Summon Undead
Tongues
Vampiric Touch
##### 4th Level
Arcane Eye
Banishment
Blight
Death Ward
Divination
Shadow of Moil
Sickening Radiance
Wall of Bone*
##### 5th Level
Antilife Shell
Cloudkill
Commune
Contagion
Danse Macabre
Enervation
Negative Energy Flood
Raise Dead
Scrying
##### 6th Level
Bones of the Earth
Circle of Death
Contingency
Create Undead
Eyebite
Find the Path
Harm
Magic Jar
Soul Cage
True Seeing
##### 7th Level
Desecration*
Etherealness
Finger of Death
Resurrection
##### 8th Level
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
Antimagic Field
Antipathy/Sympathy
Clone
Mind Blank
##### 9th Level
Astral Projection
Power Word Kill
True Resurrection
*These spells are outlined in this class description.