The Toll the Dead Spell in the Dungeons and Dragons games is more like the “Bring out your dead” scene in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It is less of a damaging spell. If you are more concerned about the aesthetics of the D&D games rather than the damage dealing, this spell is just a perfect one for you.
In this article, we will elaborate more on this spell and get you started on how to use it effectively and efficiently in your next campaign.
What is Toll the Dead Spell?
The Toll The Dead spell is a damaging cantrip from the DND’s Necromancy School of Magic. You point at one creature you can see within range, and the sound of a dolorous bell fills the air around it for a moment. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d8 necrotic damage. If the target is missing any of its hit points, it instead takes 1d12 necrotic damage.
The spell’s damage increases by one die when you reach the 5th level (2d8 or 2d12), the 11th level (3d8 or 3d12), and the 17th level (4d8 or 4d12).
It is important to get a Xanathar’s handbook. If you don’t already have one, you can get it through this link. However, if you don’t have the funds at this time to purchase one, we got you covered as we will supply you with the most important statistics for the Toll the Dead spell excerpted from the Xanathar’s handbook. See also the Dungeons and Dragons Spell cards
Spell Level: Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Spell List: Warlock, Wizard, Cleric
Delving into the Toll the Dead spell
The Toll the Dead is an instantaneous cantrip. A cantrip is a spell that can be cast at will, without using a spell slot, and without being prepared in advance. Repeated practice has fixed the spell in the caster’s mind and infused the caster with the magic needed to produce the Effect over and over. A cantrip’s Spell Level is 0.
This cantrip is used by the Wizards, Warlocks, and Clerics. It has a range of 60 feet. This means that for the spell to be effective on the target, the target must be within this 60 feet range. Furthermore, it has a verbal and somatic component and takes an action to be cast.
When the Toll the dead spell is cast, the caster points at a creature that is within a 60 feet range and the sound of a bell fills the air around this range. The target must perform a wisdom saving throw. If at the end of the throw and the target passes, nothing will happen. Nevertheless, if they fail the saving throw, then they take 1d8 necrotic damage. If the creature has lost any of its hit points, then they take 1d12 damage instead. Now, the spell cannot be upcasted, but it does get a damage increase by one die whenever it reaches the 5th, 11th, and 17th levels.
Effects of the Toll the Dead spell
If you are a lover of Epic movies, I presume you must have watched the series titled “The Legend of the Seeker”, an American television series created by Sam Raimi which is based on the fantasy novel series “The Sword of Truth” by Terry Goodkind. There are magical weapons which according to the movie are voices of dead souls in the underworld (Shadow people) that are trapped and contained in the vessel. Upon opening of the vessel, the voices scream in a loud pitch which causes every living thing within a league or so to die with a subsequent gushing of blood through the ears.
However, When the Toll the dead spell is cast, the caster points at a creature that is within a 60 feet range and the sound of a bell fills the air around this range. It is almost the same concept however in the movie there is a sound of the shadow people’s voice and the range is a league whereas in Toll the dead it is a sound of the bell within a 60 feet range.
Nevertheless, they have their differences. The Voice of the shadow people in the movie automatically kills any creature within a league while the Sound of the Bell in the Toll of the dead merely drives the enemy crazy. Furthermore, it is not clear if every creature within the 6o feet range hears this sound of the bell.
When to use the Toll of the dead spell
The Toll of the dead spell is beneficial when the enemy has sustained an injury. This could be an enemy who has sustained an injury as a result of the combat between an ally. You could turn this spell to your advantage.
Who is immune to the Toll of the dead spell?
This spell does not have any effect on the undead creatures and Zombies. However, it is the Undead creatures that will be casting this spell on you for the most part. Generally, most evil forces are resistant to necrotic damages while some are immune to it.