Attributes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Casting time: <\/strong>1 action<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Level: <\/strong>3rd level necromancy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Range: <\/strong>self<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Target: <\/strong>Target within reach<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Components: <\/strong>Verbal and Somatic<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Duration: <\/strong>Concentration, no more than 1 minute<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Classes: <\/strong>Warlock and Wizard<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"5e](\"https:\/\/creaturecollege.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/5e-vampiric-touch-600x323.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSpell description<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you say the enchantment and make the hand movement, your hand is cloaked in a shadow, and your Touch can siphon life power from your targets and heal your hitpoints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a melee spell attack<\/a> against a creature that is within your reach. If you hit the target, you will deal 3d6 of necrotic damage. You will also restore your hitpoints for 50% of the necrotic damage you have dealt. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFor as long as Vampiric Touch is active, you can use it again on each turn by expending your action. It is also possible to upcast this spell<\/a>. You can add a 1d6 die for extra necrotic damage for every spell slot above the third. You will also heal half of the additional damage you deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdvantages and disadvantages<\/h2>\n\n\n\nAdvantages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Healing<\/strong>: You get 50% of the hitpoints you deal in damage as restored health. This effect is helpful if you have disposable minions and want to heal a bit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- No materials needed<\/strong>: The spell is free to cast because you only need a V and S component.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can be<\/strong> upcast<\/strong>: If you want to increase the damage of the spell, you can put it in a higher spell slot. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Low damage<\/strong>: Vampiric Touch deals about 40% of the damage a Fireball does and isn’t an AOE spell. The damage output is way too low, and the 50% healing does not make up for this. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Niche uses<\/strong>: There are almost no situations where this spell is the best option. The number of great spells you can unlock from level 3 is overwhelming, and most of them are better. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Melee range<\/strong>: you need to be within melee range to use Vampiric Touch; this is at least 30 feet too close to combat for a Wizard or Warlock. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best uses for Vampiric Touch 5e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Draining minions for health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One use for the vampiric touch spell is to heal yourself by using the spell on your minions. For example, you have used Finger of Death<\/a> on a humanoid, and now you have a zombie at your disposal. While you can send him into battle, you can also siphon your minion for health by casting Vampiric Touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can use this extra health to restore your hitpoints but also use them for Life Transference<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Using a familiar to deliver the Touch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In 5e DnD and other editions, you can have a familiar deliver a touch spell to the target. For example, your Owl Familiar<\/a> can use its skill ‘Flyby’ to safely attack a target with Vampiric Touch. You will stay out of harm’s way, still, deal damage, and heal your hitpoints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Building a Life or Death Cleric<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vampiric Touch is a good spell for a Life Cleric or a Death Cleric built. <\/a>You can combine the spell with Disciple of Life, so you get an extra +5HP for every attack, in addition to the 50% HP restoration based on the damage you have done.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Incorporate it into an item<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a Dungeon Master, the world is yours to mold. I enjoy incorporating Vampiric Touch as a kind of trap and reanimation mechanism. For example, I have a\u00a0Helmed Horror\u00a0<\/a>that has no hitpoints left. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, it is imbued with the Vampiric Touch, which activates as a reanimation mechanism. A player touches the armor, gets dealt 3d8 of necrotic damage, and the armor comes to life with 50% of 3d8 hitpoints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Vampiric](\"https:\/\/creaturecollege.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Vampiric-touch-best-uses-600x333.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAdvice and final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While there are some exciting ways to make the most of Vampiric Touch in 5e DnD, these are all niche situations. If you have unlocked the 3rd spell slot, there are a ton of much better spells to choose from, which all deal more damage or are much more helpful if you are a creative player.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSpell description<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you say the enchantment and make the hand movement, your hand is cloaked in a shadow, and your Touch can siphon life power from your targets and heal your hitpoints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a melee spell attack<\/a> against a creature that is within your reach. If you hit the target, you will deal 3d6 of necrotic damage. You will also restore your hitpoints for 50% of the necrotic damage you have dealt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For as long as Vampiric Touch is active, you can use it again on each turn by expending your action. It is also possible to upcast this spell<\/a>. You can add a 1d6 die for extra necrotic damage for every spell slot above the third. You will also heal half of the additional damage you deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n One use for the vampiric touch spell is to heal yourself by using the spell on your minions. For example, you have used Finger of Death<\/a> on a humanoid, and now you have a zombie at your disposal. While you can send him into battle, you can also siphon your minion for health by casting Vampiric Touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use this extra health to restore your hitpoints but also use them for Life Transference<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 5e DnD and other editions, you can have a familiar deliver a touch spell to the target. For example, your Owl Familiar<\/a> can use its skill ‘Flyby’ to safely attack a target with Vampiric Touch. You will stay out of harm’s way, still, deal damage, and heal your hitpoints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vampiric Touch is a good spell for a Life Cleric or a Death Cleric built. <\/a>You can combine the spell with Disciple of Life, so you get an extra +5HP for every attack, in addition to the 50% HP restoration based on the damage you have done.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Dungeon Master, the world is yours to mold. I enjoy incorporating Vampiric Touch as a kind of trap and reanimation mechanism. For example, I have a\u00a0Helmed Horror\u00a0<\/a>that has no hitpoints left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is imbued with the Vampiric Touch, which activates as a reanimation mechanism. A player touches the armor, gets dealt 3d8 of necrotic damage, and the armor comes to life with 50% of 3d8 hitpoints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are some exciting ways to make the most of Vampiric Touch in 5e DnD, these are all niche situations. If you have unlocked the 3rd spell slot, there are a ton of much better spells to choose from, which all deal more damage or are much more helpful if you are a creative player.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdvantages and disadvantages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Advantages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Disadvantages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Best uses for Vampiric Touch 5e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Draining minions for health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Using a familiar to deliver the Touch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Building a Life or Death Cleric<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Incorporate it into an item<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAdvice and final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Vampiric](\"https:\/\/creaturecollege.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Vampiric-touch-worth-it-600x387.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n