Level 2 •
Necromancy (Ritual
)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 10 days
You touch a corpse or other remains. For the duration, the target is protected from decay and can't become undead.
The spell also effectively extends the time limit on raising the target from the dead, since days spent under the influence of this spell don't count against the time limit of spells such as raise dead.
Material Component:
a pinch of salt and one copper piece placed on each of the corpse's eyes, which must remain there for the duration
Verbal Component:
Putrefacio Desisto
Verbal Component (Alternative):
By these words, deaths grip now slows, body lie now in gentle repose.
Classes: Cleric, Wizard, Rogue
Tags: Warding
Source: Player's Handbook [5th Edition] (page 245)
View Gentle Repose Spell Card
(New Window? )
Return to Previous Page
Spell FAQs
Below are commonly asked questions about this spell. Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to spell questions. If you have a FAQ about this spell that you feel other DM's may wish to know, please send us the message!
Does Gentle Repose have costly material components?
The material component for the spell are
a pinch of salt and one copper piece placed on each of the corpse's eyes, which must remain there for the duration
However no monetary value is explicitly associated with the components. As stated in the PHB, p. 203...
Casting some spells requires particular objects, specified in parentheses in the component entry. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5) in place of the components specified for a spell. But if a cost is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell.
Officially, since no cost is listed, no coin is needed (if a focus or component pouch is used).
Although the writers were almost certainly referring to historical burial rites where coins were places on the eyes of the dead ... there's no indication this was meant as an actual "cost". The 5e authors consistently use the term "worth" or "value" whenever an actual material component cost is indicated, and they express that cost in gp (I've yet to find one costing less than 5 gp). In addition, not all pieces of copper are copper coins worth 1 cp. But, as always, it is up to the DM to decide the final ruling.
Other Planes and Effects
Below is information about this spell as it relates to other planes and area of effects (i.e. underwater). Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to handle spell effects.
Underwater - Verbal Component
Official rules have been verified by Jeremy Crawford - "No rule prohibits verbal components from working underwater. Keep in mind that if you're talking, you're not holding your breath." Hence, while submerged underwater and holding its breath, a creature can cast a spell that requires a verbal component. After casting the spell, if the creature can't breathe underwater, it immediately runs out of breath. The creature can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round).
