This page is about the priest version of the spell. For the wizard version, see Animate Dead (wizard).
Animate Dead is a 3rd level priest spell. It calls forth one or more skeleton warriors (depending on the game) who follows the caster's every command.
It is identical to its 5th level wizard spell counterpart.
Description[]
Baldur's Gate[]
| “ | This spell creates the lowest of the undead monsters, skeletons or zombies, usually from the bones or bodies of dead humans, demihumans, or humanoids. The spell causes these remains to become animated and obey the simple verbal commands of the caster, regardless of how they communicated in life. The skeletons or zombies can follow the caster, remain in an area and attack any creature (or just a specific type of creature) entering the place, etc. The undead remain animated until they are destroyed in combat, 8 hours pass, or are turned; the magic cannot be dispelled. The priest can animate one skeleton for each experience level he has attained. | ” |
Shadows of Amn[]
| “ | This spell creates 1-2 undead monsters to rise and serve the priest under any conditions. One undead servant automatically rises and there is a 5% change per level of the caster that another will rise and join the first. However, at 15th level the caster will be able to summon a Skeleton Warrior (only one), a very powerful ally indeed.
The undead can follow the caster, remain in an area and attack any creature (or just a specific type of creature) entering the place, etc. The undead remain animated until they are destroyed in combat, 8 hours pass, or are turned. The magic cannot be dispelled. |
” |
Enhanced Editions[]
| “ | This spell causes a skeleton warrior to rise and serve the caster under any conditions. The type of skeleton warrior that appears depends upon the level of the priest casting the spell.
1st – 6th: a 3 HD skeleton warrior wielding a long sword. 7th – 10th: a 5 HD skeleton warrior wielding a long sword +1. 11th – 14th: a 7 HD skeleton warrior wielding a bastard sword +1. 15th and up: a 9 HD skeleton warrior wielding a two-handed sword +1. The skeleton warrior can follow the caster, remain in an area and attack any creature entering the place, etc. It remains animated until it is destroyed in combat, 8 hours pass, or it is turned. This spell cannot be dispelled. |
” |
Gameplay[]
The caster begins casting this spell, which takes 1 round to complete.
The player selects a location for the skeleton(s) to rise from the ground on the area map by using the selection cursor and clicking it.
The player can select a skeleton spawning map location up to 30 feet distance from the caster.
When the spell is finished, the skeleton(s) rise from the selected spawning point, taking several seconds to do so before the creatures are able to receive orders and move.
The skeleton(s) have a duration of 8 hours before they expire.
As summoned creatures, they must conform to the various rules implemented in the game for this type of controlled creature, including the 5-summoned creature per area map limit.
The skeleton(s) cannot open doors or chests, interact with objects such as switches and control panels, nor do they clear the fog of war.
These creatures will remain in the area map where they were spawned and cannot transition to different area maps with the party.
Animated dead can be destroyed with a Death Spell, Death Fog and can be affected by both the party's and opponent Turn Undead mechanics.
The caster's level determines the type of skeleton summoned. The game version can determine the number of animated dead summoned. See below for a summary:
Enhanced Editions summary[]
- The summoned skeleton's combat stats are shown in the table below.
- All skeletons have satisfactory saving throw values, physical damage resistance (except against crushing damage), immunity to cold, and scale into very high magic resistance.
- They all have immunity to many status effects as provided by the undroppable RING95.
- The level 15+ skeleton is immune to normal weapons.
| Caster Lvl |
Ability Scores |
Combat Stats |
Special | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 6 | STR | 16 | HD | 3 |
Saving throws: D5 / W7 / P6 / B5 / S8 Resistances: Immunities: | |
| DEX | 9 | HP | 20 | |||
| CON | 9 | THAC0 | 18 | |||
| INT | 16 | AC | 6 | |||
| WIS | 9 | APR | 1 | |||
| CHA | 9 | Long Sword | ||||
| 7 - 10 | STR | 17 | HD | 5 |
Saving throws: D5 / W7 / P6 / B5 / S8 Resistances: Immunities: | |
| DEX | 9 | HP | 40 | |||
| CON | 9 | THAC0 | 15 | |||
| INT | 16 | AC | 4 | |||
| WIS | 9 | APR | 1½ | |||
| CHA | 9 | Long Sword +1 | ||||
| 11 - 14 | STR | 18 | HD | 7 |
Saving throws: D5 / W7 / P6 / B5 / S8 Resistances: Immunities: | |
| DEX | 9 | HP | 60 | |||
| CON | 9 | THAC0 | 13 | |||
| INT | 16 | AC | 3 | |||
| WIS | 9 | APR | 1½ | |||
| CHA | 9 | Bastard Sword +1 | ||||
| 15+ | STR | 18/51 | HD | 9 |
Saving throws: D5 / W7 / P6 / B5 / S8 Resistances: Immunities: | |
| DEX | 9 | HP | 80 | |||
| CON | 9 | THAC0 | 10 | |||
| INT | 16 | AC | 2 | |||
| WIS | 9 | APR | 2 | |||
| CHA | 9 | Two-Handed Sword +1 | ||||
Older game spell version notes[]
Baldur's Gate[]
- Despite the description, this spell only summons skeletons; no zombies.
- The skeletons have 1 Hit Dice and 8 HP.
- There's no summoned creature map limit in classic BG & TotSC, and this spell functions differently in those versions, summoning only 1HD Skeletons (8HP) but with overwhelming numbers, from 1 at lv1, increasing 1 by each level, up to 13 at lv13.
Shadows of Amn[]
- Ordinary skeletons have 3 HD, 29 HP, immunity to cold and lightning, 30% missile resistance, and attack with a +1 club.
- Skeleton warriors are basically the same as the level 15+ EE version below. Their sword hits as a +3 weapon.
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset Priest spell, Animate Dead has some similarities to the BG Video game version, but also several major differences.
In the PnP game the priest animates the cadaverous or skeletal remains of animals or humanoid creatures - raising zombies or skeletons. The spell doesn't create these creatures out of thin air or from another plane for instance.
The statistic of the animated dead are tied to the Priest's level, and the dead's racial baseline - for instance, a 12th-level priest could animate 12 dwarven skeletons (or six zombies), four zombie gnolls, or a single zombie fire giant. Note that this is based on the standard racial Hit Die norm;
Casting this spell is not a good act in the PnP game, and only evil priests use it frequently.
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
- This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has changed this divine spell, revising its effects, undead creatures summoned, and description. See below:
Animate Dead
Level: 3
School: Necromancy
Sphere: Necromantic
Range: Medium
Duration: 8 hours
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
This spell causes a number of animated skeletons to rise up and serve the priest. The number and type of skeletons that appear depend upon the level of the cleric casting the spell.
5th : 2 skeletons
7th : 3 skeletons
9th : 4 skeletons
12th+ : 2 greater skeletons
The undead creatures will remain under the priest’s control until they are slain, or the spell duration expires.
Skeleton (2 Hit Dice):
STR 15, DEX 14, CON -, INT -, WIS 10, CHA 1; AL Chaotic Evil
HP 24, AC 6, THAC0 18, Saving Throws 10/12/11/13/13
1 Attack Per Round, 1d6+2 Crushing Damage (Mace +1)
Special Qualities:
Immune to charm, confusion, hold, poison, sleep, stun, & death effects
Cold Resistance 100%
Slashing & Piercing Resistance 20%; Missile Resistance 40%
Greater Skeleton (5 Hit Dice):
STR 16, DEX 14, CON -, INT -, WIS 10, CHA 1; AL Chaotic Evil
HP 60, AC 4, THAC0 16, Saving Throws 9/11/10/12/12
1 Attack Per Round, 2d6+2 Slashing Damage (Two-Handed Sword +1)
Special Qualities:
Immune to charm, confusion, hold, poison, sleep, stun, & death effects
Cold Resistance 100%
Slashing & Piercing Resistance 40%; Missile Resistance 60%
With the Sword Coast Stratagems mod, skeleton warriors are instantly destroyed by the Psionic Ability Detonate, per the Advanced D&D 2nd Edition ruleset.
External links[]
- Animate Dead (priest) on the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the first Icewind Dale game.
- Animate dead on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
- Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Wiki - Animate Dead (Priest Spell)