Choose a pile of bones or a corpse of a Medium or Small Humanoid within range. The target becomes an Undead creature: a Skeleton if you chose bones or a Zombie if you chose a corpse.
On each of your turns, you can take a Bonus Action to mentally command any creature you made with this spell if the creature is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the creature will take and where it will move on its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature takes the Dodge action and moves only to avoid harm. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.
The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you’ve given it. To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to four creatures you have animated with this spell rather than animating a new creature.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You animate or reassert control over two additional Undead creatures for each spell slot level above 3. Each of the creatures must come from a different corpse or pile of bones.
* - (a drop of blood, a piece of flesh, and a pinch of bone dust)
Nothing changed from 2014, kind of wanting something new to it, but at least nothing was ruined at the same time.
I think this should be updated to read, "Choose a pile of bones or a corpse of a Medium or Small Humanoid you can see within range."
I have seen people try to abuse this by claiming a person sleeping is technically a pile of bones..."
NO! Stop it!
Pile: a heap of things laid or lying one on top of another.
Thing: an inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being.
In no capacity, can Animate Dead work on a living person, as a Creature (a living person) isn't considered an Object.
Why on gods green earth is this not in the warlocks spell list. THE DEFEACTO occult spell user. I know wizards are traditionally the necromancer/liches…but come on
Actually, the 2014 version said, "If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures." That's more open-ended than this version's, "If you issue no commands, the creature takes the Dodge action and moves only to avoid harm."
At least it continues following the last order you gave it, which is better than the companions of the Drakewarden or the Beast Master.
What happened with that?
If I animate a dead castle guard could I instruct it to show me the secret entrance into the castle? Could I instruct it to write down all the passwords for me? Can I tell an animated dead to show me where it hid its treasure? etc.
What are the limits to the abuse of this spell?
They need to make it so you can get a specter with this. Ghost flavored Necromancy is cool.
I know it shouldn't surprise me or anything, but the spell is called Animate Dead. Not Animate "Technically Incapacitated for the Next 8 Hours"