[RPG] way to animate undead creatures beyond existing spells’ restrictions, such as size

dnd-5enecromancyundead

In Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition they introduced skeletons with all kinds of sizes such as Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, Gargantuan, and Colossal.

As a necromancer, it would be really entertaining to have undead of all kinds and sizes. However, Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition limits the abilities of a necromancer, as the spell animate dead only allows the caster to reanimate Small and Medium humanoid creatures. Though it's understandable that WOTC made it this way as a way of balancing to prevent the creation of overpowered undead armies, it would be interesting for some sort of way of animating a creature larger than medium.

Personally, I like the idea of having a Gargantuan humanoid skeleton; however, I would not be sure how to apply statistics to an undead or create a proper way of balancing.

There is a section in DMG p. 282 for skeleton and zombie templates, however, the largest creature that exists with a humanoid body is a hill giant categorized as huge. Even then the challenge rating is 5 making thinking of a way of balancing difficult.

Even beyond my desires, I'm sure there are many other necromancer-loving individuals who would desire to animate and control a minotaur skeleton, or any other undead such as beasts or monstrosities.

Is there a way (even house or homebrew rules) of animating undead beyond these restrictions?

Best Answer

If your intention is to control Large and larger undead: that's pretty easy.

If your intention is to create Large and larger undead: you will either have to wait for WotC to produce the appropriate material, or... get creative with your DM's world.

A wizard of the school of necromancy is given little restriction on their use of their Command Undead feature other than the undead's Charisma and Intelligence (Player's Handbook, pg. 119):

Starting at 14th level, you can use magic to bring undead under your control, even those created by other wizards. As an action, you can choose one undead that you can see within 60 feet of you. That creature must make a Charisma saving throw against your wizard spell save DC.

...

If the target has an Intelligence of 8 or higher, it has advantage on the saving throw. If it fails the saving throw and has an Intelligence of 12 or higher, it can repeat the saving throw at the end of every hour until it succeeds and breaks free.

Therefore, any undead you can see can be yours, as long as it is dumb and ugly enough and you are powerful enough.

Unfortunately, there are no spells or abilities published yet that allow creation of giant undead. However, if they exist in the world you inhabit, they must come from somewhere, right?

Therefore, your first task would be to find out what makes giant undead creatures in the world. Find out what is creating them and where:

  • Is it an NPC necromancer who stumbled across an ancient artifact that can amplify the effects of necrotic spells (as in my campaign)?
  • Is there a haunted graveyard where the restless dead can't help but stretch their legs? (common trope)
  • Or is there a particularly unholy bog somewhere nearby that just imbues corpses in it with undeath?

Once you find that answer, simply harness that energy, adapt it to meet your needs, and you will be churning out giant undead slaves in no time.

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