This page is about the wizard version of the spell. For the priest version, see Animate Dead (priest).
Animate Dead brings forth skeleton warrior(s) who follows the caster's every command.
Description[]
BG & TotSC:
| “ | 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. | ” |
BG2 & after:
| “ | 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 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 caster begins casting this spell, which takes 1 round to complete.
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 opponents 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[]
- The summoned skeleton's combat stats are shown in the table below.
- All skeletons have good saving throws, 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 owners of the undroppable RING95.
- The level 15+ skeleton is immune to normal weapons.
- Like all summons, they can be instantly killed by the Death Spell or Death Fog, which ignores their magic resistance.
- Skeleton warriors are not immune to the Mind Flayer Devour Brain attack.
| 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 | ||||
Notes[]
BG & TotSC:
- 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
Where to obtain its scroll[]
The Black Pits[]
Sold by[]
- Dinguer the Mad (×3)
Baldur's Gate[]
- Sorcerous Sundries Baldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
Shadows of Amn[]
- Galoomp's Store
- Mae'Var's Guildhall { if it is your stronghold }
- City of Caverns
- Carlig
- Ust Natha Bazaar
- Reirra's Shop
Treasure
- Cult of the Eyeless domain in Investigate and Destroy the Cult of the Eyeless. Locked chest in first room north of entrance to the lair of the Unseeing Eye.
Throne of Bhaal[]
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset has more than one spell that can animate skeletons or zombies. The Wizard can have a 2nd-level spell titled Animate Skeletons as well as a 3rd-lvel spell titled Animate Zombies.
The 5th-level Wizard spell Animate Dead differs from the BG video game version.
The main differences between the PnP and video game version are the requirement for actual animal, creature, and humanoid cadaverous remains that can be animated into zombies or skeletons.
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
- This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has replaced the arcane Animate Dead spell with Summon Shadow. See below for description:
Summon Shadow
Level: 5
School: Necromancy
Range: Long
Duration: 3 turns
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
By means of this spell, the caster summons a number of shadows, undead monsters which serve the mage under any conditions. The type and number of creatures that appear depend upon the level of the wizard casting the spell.
9th : 3 shadows
12th+ : 2 wraiths
The undead creatures will remain under the wizard’s control until they are slain, or the spell duration expires.
Shadow (3 Hit Dice):
STR -, DEX 14, CON -, INT 6, WIS 12, CHA 11; AL Chaotic Evil
HP 36, AC 5, THAC0 13, Saving Throws 11/13/11/13/13
1 Attack Per Round, 1d6+1 Cold Damage (Touch +1)
Combat Abilities:
Chill Touch: creatures struck must save vs. death or lose 1 point of strength for 1 hour
Special Qualities:
Immune to normal weapons
Immune to backstab, charm, confusion, hold, poison, sleep, stun, & death effects
Cold Resistance 100%; Physical Damage Resistance 50%
Wraith (5 Hit Dice):
STR -, DEX 15, CON -, INT 11, WIS 13, CHA 12; AL Lawful Evil
HP 60, AC 4, THAC0 12, Saving Throws 10/13/10/13/13
1 Attack Per Round, 1d8+1 Cold Damage (Touch +1)
Combat Abilities:
Life Drain: each successful hit raises the wraith’s hit points by 5 for 1 turn and causes the target to save vs. death or lose 1 level
Special Qualities:
Immune to normal weapons
Immune to backstab, blindness, charm, confusion, hold, poison, sleep, stun, & death effects
Cold Resistance 100%; Physical Damage Resistance 50%
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 (arcane) 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 (Wizard Spell)