Necromancer

School of Necromancy explores the cosmic forces of life, death, and undeath. As you focus your studies in this tradition, you learn to manipulate the energy that animates all living things. As you progress, you learn to sap the life force from a creature as your magic destroys its body, transforming that vital energy into magical power you can manipulate.

Most people see necromancers as menacing, or even villainous, due to the close association with death. Not all necromancers are evil, but the forces they manipulate are considered taboo by many societies.

Level 3: Necromancy Savant

3rd-level Necromancer feature

Choose two Wizard spells from the Necromancy school, each of which must be no higher than level 2, and add them to your spellbook for free.

In addition, whenever you gain access to a new level of spell slots in this class, you can add one Wizard spell from the Necromancy school to your spellbook for free. The chosen spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Level 3: Life Points

3rd-level Necromancer feature

You gain a pool of life force called Life Points that replenishes when you reduce an enemy to 0 HP by an amount equal to its CR (a minimum of 1) and completely when you finish a Long Rest. You have a number of Life Points equal to five times your Wizard level. You can spend a number of Life Points to perform the following effects.

Rejuvenate (5-15 Life Points). As a Bonus action, you can spend at least 5 (to a maximum of 15) Life Points to increase a creature you touch's Hit Point maximum and current Hit Points by the amount you spent for 1 hour. You cannot target the same creature with this feature while its duration is active unless you end this effect early on the target (no action).

Death Sentence (1-5 Life Points). If you cast a spell that deals damage, you can spend up to 5 Life Points to deal additional Necrotic damage on a damage roll equal to the amount you spent.

Level 6: Undying Horde

6th-level Necromancer feature

You can use your Life Points to create battalions of undead. You gain a new way to spend Life Points.

Summon Horde (10 Life Points). As a Bonus action, you can create one of the following horde types in the form of a 10 foot Cube in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of yourself. It lasts for 1 minute, but it ends early if you dismiss it (no action) or have the Incapacitated condition. As a Bonus action, you can move your horde(s) 15 feet to an unoccupied space.

•Decayed. Creatures of your choice Large or smaller who start its turn within the Cube must succeed on a Strength saving throw equal to your Spell Save DC or become Grappled and have Disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws. Creatures that end its turn while Grappled take Necrotic damage equal to half your Class level (round up).

•Spirits. Creatures of your choice that start its turn within 10 feet of the Cube must succeed on an Wisdom saving throw equal to your Spell Save DC or take Psychic damage equal to half your Class level (round up), become Frightened, and have Disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws until the end of its next turn.

Level 10: Reanimator

10th-level Necromancer feature

The concept of death has become a calculated study. You gain the following features.

Edge of Death. You have Advantage on Death Saving Throws and when you make a damage roll that deals Necrotic damage, it ignores Resistance to Necrotic Damage.

Bring Back. You always have the Revivify and Raise Dead spells prepared. You can cast these spells without expending a spell slot or requiring Material components by spending Life Points equal 5 times the spell’s level.

Level 14: Necromantic Genius

14th-level Necromancer feature

You have cracked the secrets of death. You gain the following benefits.

Cheat Death. When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, you can instead drop to a number of Hit Points equal to your Wizard level plus your Intelligence modifier. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long rest.

Grim Army. When you use your Summon Horde feature, you can create an additional number of hordes as part of the same Bonus action up to your Intelligence modifier provided you spend the appropriate amount of Life Points for each horde. Once you use your Summon Horde feature this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a Long rest.