You animate a dead, small or smaller creature within range, giving it the mimicry of life for 24 hours. The creature has a speed of 30 feet. It has an AC of 10 and 1 hit point. The animation ends if the creature leaves range of you, at the end of 24 hours, if the creature drops to zero hit points, if you cast the spell again on another creature, or if you use your action to dismiss it.

When you cast the spell, and again as an action any time after that, you can command the creature to act. It cannot attack but can take other actions in combat. It can only engage in actions that the creature can realistically have performed in life. For example, an animated mouse skeleton will not be able to carry a heavy weapon. A recently deceased bird may still be able to fly, but a long-deceased bird will have lost that ability with the decaying of its feathers. What tasks the creature can perform is up to your DM’s discretion.

If the creature is reduced to zero hit points the corpse is destroyed and that creature can no longer be animated using this spell.

The creature makes saving throws with no bonus or penalty, but is immune to being charmed, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, and exhausted. It is immune to necrotic damage and poison damage.