Death Spell

Death Spell
Spell
Spellbook	Wizard
Not usable by	Illusionist
School	Necromancy
Spell type	Offensive damage
Spell level	6
Specifics
Range	50 ft.
Casting time	6
Projectile specs	Medium speed
Area of effect	30-ft. radius
Affected allegiances	Hostile
Bypass MR	Non-summons: No Summons: Yes
Saving throws	lv8 and below & summons: no save lv9 and above: unaffected
Duration	Instant
Special
Aggroes NPCs	No
Icons
Technical data
Spell code	SPWI605.spl
Scroll code	SCRL7I.itm

Death Spell kills instantly all creatures with fewer than 9 Hit Dice and most summoned creatures.

The Expanded Edition spell version has a 15-foot radius area of effect. The spell's internal op-coding removes hostile creatures that are classified as "summoned" within the area of effect. The spell also plays a Finger of Death animation over creatures with less than 9 Hit Dice in the AOE.

Description

“

When a Death Spell is cast, it snuffs out the life force of creatures within the area of effect, instantly and irrevocably. Creatures with more than 8 Hit Dice are immune to this spell with the exception of summoned creatures, which are automatically slain. Only enemies are affected by this spell.

”

Gameplay

Summoned demons, devas and planetars are gated/plane shifted and are thus immune to this spell. Familiars are not automatically affected and can block it with magic resistance, but their low hit die make them vulnerable even in Throne of Bhaal. All other summons are automatically killed; this cannot be prevented by Death Ward or magic resistance.

It is particularly effective early in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, as it is party-friendly AoE spell that can outright kill enemies like trolls and Umber Hulks.

Keep in mind that it is also possible to use this spell as a no-save instant kill against enemies with more than 9 hit dice by utilizing level drain effects (such as those inflicted by the spell Energy Drain, the Black Blade of Disaster, Blackrazor, the Totemic Druid's Spirit Wolf summon (level 10+) and so on) so that their level meets the threshold.

Where to obtain its scroll

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

• Degardan
• Therndle Daglefodd
• Von'ith, Planar Prison Bounty Hunter
• Random treasure

Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal

• Arcana Archives

Mod content

This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Spell Revisions mod has replaced the arcane Death Spell with Banishment. See below for description:
Banishment
Level: 6
School: Abjuration
Range: Long
Duration: Instant
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 30’ radius
Saving Throw: None

This spell forces hostile summoned creatures in the area back to their proper plane. Magic resistance does not affect this spell.

Note:	This spell replaces the Death Spell, which is removed from the game. Scrolls are changed to the replacement variety. The Banishment spell does not affect creatures classified as "gated", which in SR are conjured Djinni, Efreeti, Death Knight and Demons. Banishment has no assigned secondary type.

External links

• Circle of death on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
• Death Spell on the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the first Icewind Dale game.